Linkage Projects 2020 Round 3 Announcement Banner

Selection Report: Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Selection Report for Funding Commencing in 2023

Overview

The Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities to Eligible Organisations. It enables researchers to participate in cooperative initiatives so that expensive research infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared between higher education organisations and also with industry. The scheme also fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of international or national research facilities.

The objectives of the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme are to:

  • support excellent basic and applied research and research training through the acquisition of research equipment and infrastructure and access to national and international research facilities; and
  • encourage Eligible Organisations to develop collaborative arrangements with other Eligible Organisations and/or Partner Organisations for the acquisition and use of research equipment and infrastructure or access to national and international facilities.

 

Selection Process

Applications for funding commencing in 2023 opened on 30 March 2022 and closed on
1 June 2022. Applications were submitted through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Management System (RMS). This report outlines outcomes from the selection process for that round.

These outcomes are based on advice from the ARC Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which:

  • assessed applications and reviewed assessments made by independent assessors
  • reviewed applicants’ comments on assessors’ reports
  • ranked each application relative to the others on the basis of the application, the assessors’ reports and applicants’ responses to those assessments
  • assessed and recommended budgets;

and, advice from the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Eligibility Committee which:

  • considered eligibility issues identified by ARC staff, the members of the ARC College of Experts or independent assessors
  • where required, sought advice from the ARC’s Medical Research Advisory Group
  • made recommendations to the CEO in respect of ineligible applications.

This report reflects the outcomes approved by the Minister. Unless otherwise specified, data presented in this report exclude withdrawn applications.

 

Assessment Criteria

All applications that meet the eligibility criteria for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 were assessed and merit ranked using the following assessment criteria:

  1. Investigator(s)/Capability (20%)

Describe the:

  • demonstrated record in these activities (for CIs and PIs who will manage the purchase, design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and coordination of access to the proposed research infrastructure); and
  • relevance of the research infrastructure to the research capacity and planned activities of each CI and PI on the application and, where relevant, to the research groups represented on the application.
  1. Project quality and innovation (25%)

Describe the:

  • aims and significance of the research that will be supported by LIEF funding;
  • relevance of the proposed research infrastructure to the needs of ARC and other competitively funded research projects/programs;
  • importance of equipment for the training of research students;
  • enhancement of support for areas of existing and/or emerging research strength; and
  • demonstrated national or international focus for large scale cooperative initiatives.
  1. Feasibility and strategic alignment (25%)

Describe the:

  • extent to which the project represents value for money;
  • feasibility of the plan to use the research infrastructure;
  • relevance of the research to the strategic priorities of the organisations;
  • evidence that each of the organisations is genuinely committed to, and prepared to collaborate in, the project;
  • existing or planned strategic research alliances between the higher education organisation(s) and other organisation(s);
  • effectiveness of cooperative arrangements for the management and sharing of the proposed research infrastructure, including arrangements for ongoing operational expenditure where applicable; and
  • extent to which the project aligns with Australian Government priority areas.

If the project involves research infrastructure pertaining to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities describe:

  • the strategies for enabling collaboration with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities (for example, dialogue/collaboration with an Indigenous cultural mentor);
  • any existing or developing, supportive and high-quality research relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander research communities; and
  • any personal affiliations with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities that can facilitate the proposed research infrastructure.
  1. Benefit (10%)

Describe the:

  • benefit of the proposed research infrastructure to the broader research community;
  • capacity to contribute to Australian Government priority areas, such as the National Manufacturing Priorities; and
  • where relevant, the extent to which the applicants have identified the freedom to operate in the Intellectual Property and patent landscape to enable future benefits to industry.
  1. Suitability/Need (20%)

Describe the:

  • demonstrated needs from the researchers and/or research projects that they will utilise the proposed research infrastructure, including level of demand and likely measurable impact on the research program, including beyond the project activity period;
  • availability of and access to similar research infrastructure at organisational, regional, national and/or international level;
  • planned rate of use of the proposed research infrastructure, including proposed arrangements for broader access to individuals not named on the application;
  • alignment of the planned use with other similar existing infrastructure within Australia and/or internationally; and
  • special needs for regional or otherwise remote institutions.

 

Assessment process

The ARC assessment process for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 involved 20 SAC members as a part of one multidisciplinary panel and was managed in the RMS. A total of 457 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC.

 

Funding levels and duration

The minimum level of funding provided by the ARC under Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 is $150,000 per annum and the maximum level of funding cannot exceed 75 per cent of the total direct cost of the eligible budget item(s). Funding is provided for up to one year; or, up to 5 years for leasing infrastructure, equipment or facilities, the construction of research infrastructure, or subscription or coordinated access to international facilities and major national facilities.

 

Summary of Outcomes

The ARC received a total of 133 applications for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2023. No applications were withdrawn.

The overall success rate for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2023 is 33.8 per cent.

Of the unsuccessful applications, 2 were found to not meet eligibility requirements.

A comparison of success rates and funding amounts is shown in Table 1.

Table 1.    Comparison of application numbers, success rates, requested and allocated funds for approved Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities applications from 2022 and 2023.

Funding yearApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($)Requested funds over project life for approved applications ($)Funds allocated over project life for approved applications*($)Return rate for approved applications (%)
20221384633.3$127,970,814$34,910,236$32,611,77293.4
20231334533.8$133,141,926$42,942,422$39,515,94292.0

*May include indicative funds

 

Outcomes by discipline

A summary of outcomes by discipline is shown in Table 2.

Table 2.     Application numbers, success rates and requested and allocated funds for approved Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 applications by discipline.

Discipline*Applications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($)Requested funds over project life for approved applications ($)Funds allocated over project life for approved applications*($)Return rate for approved applications (%)
BSB25936.0$23,351,774$7,889,912$6,934,62287.9
EIC611829.5$61,015,852$16,798,404$14,926,96488.9
HCA5360.0$2,509,173$1,050,017$1,006,58995.9
MPCE381436.8$42,202,613$16,273,876$15,717,55496.6
SBE4125.0$4,062,514$930,213$930,213100.0
Total1334533.8$133,141,926$42,942,422$39,515,94292.0

* BSB – Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EIC – Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences; HCA – Humanities and Creative Arts; MPCE – Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; SBE – Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences

 

Outcomes by Science and Research Priorities

 A summary of outcomes by Science and Research Priorities is shown in Table 3.

Table 3.     Approved funding and success rate for Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 applications by Science and Research Priorities.

Science and Research PrioritiesApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Approved funds over project life ($)
Advanced manufacturing661928.8$17,756,107
Cybersecurity5240.0$760,000
Energy14857.1$7,515,204
Environmental change6233.3$1,218,450
Food8450.0$2,349,559
Health800-
Resources5240.0$4,771,677
Soil and water200-
Transport100-
Unspecified18844.4$5,144,945
Total1334533.8$39,515,942
Total within Science and Research Priorities1153732.2$34,370,997
Percentage within Science and Research Priorities (%)86.582.2-87.0

 

Outcomes by Administering Organisation

A summary of outcomes by Administering Organisation is shown in Table 4.

Table 4.    Number of applications and success rates for approved Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 applications by Administering Organisation.

Administering OrganisationApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Funds over project life for approved applications ($)
Australian Capital Territory10660.0$8,011,934
The Australian National University10660.0$8,011,934
New South Wales461123.9$8,040,780
Macquarie University3133.3$682,792
The University of New England100 -
The University of New South Wales10220.0$2,319,614
The University of Newcastle6233.3$866,024
The University of Sydney14428.6$2,266,686
University of Technology, Sydney300-
University of Wollongong4125.0$440,145
Western Sydney University5120.0$1,465,519
Northern Territory200-
Charles Darwin University200 -
Queensland20840.0$5,667,512
Griffith University4125.0$1,078,770
James Cook University11100.0$234,438
Queensland University of Technology4250.0$1,417,979
The University of Queensland9333.3$2,440,825
University of Southern Queensland2150.0$495,500
South Australia13753.8$9,471,848
Flinders University3266.7$1,007,250
The University of Adelaide9555.6$8,464,598
University of South Australia100
Tasmania11100.0$682,749
University of Tasmania11100.0$682,749
Victoria30723.3$5,178,878
Deakin University3133.3$731,584
Federation University Australia100-
La Trobe University100 -
Monash University7114.3$984,000
RMIT University5240.0$1,303,081
Swinburne University of Technology300-
The University of Melbourne10330.0$2,160,213
Western Australia11545.5$2,462,241
Curtin University4125.0$783,000
The University of Western Australia7457.1$1,679,241
Total1334533.8$39,515,942

 

Career age and gender

Of the 1409 Chief Investigators (CIs) in this round, 371 were female, 1037 were male and 1 chose not to specify their gender. The success rate for female and male and unspecified CIs in Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 is 37.7 per cent, 34.5 per cent and 0 per cent respectively.

Success rates of CIs by career age and gender in Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 are presented in Figure 1. CIs who did not provide gender information (0.1 per cent) and CIs who did not specify the date of completion of their PhD or who do not hold a PhD (0.6 per cent) are not represented in the figure below.

Figure 1. Participation and success rate of Chief Investigators (CIs) in Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 by gender and career age*

Bar and Line Graph

*Career age is calculated as years since PhD (or equivalent). The earliest PhD award date was used where there was more than one PhD.

 

Collaboration with Other Eligible Organisations, Partner Organisations and Other Organisations

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities applications are expected to develop collaborative arrangements with Other Eligible Organisations and/or Partner Organisations and Other Organisations.

A summary of success rates by number of Eligible Organisations is shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 application success rates by number of Eligible Organisations.

Number of Eligible Organisations*Number of applications consideredNumber of applications approvedSuccess rate within band (%)
15240.0
217317.6
3271348.1
424833.3
526726.9
69333.3
717635.3
84125.0
92150.0
11100
1311100.0
Total1334533.8

 * An application with only one Eligible Organisation (the Administering Organisation) may or may not include Partner Organisations and/or Other Organisations. There were no applications with 10 or 12 Eligible Organisations.

A summary of application success rates by number of collaborating organisations is shown in Table 6.

Table 6.    Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 application success rates by number of collaborating organisations.

Number of collaborating organisations*Number of applications consideredNumber of applications approvedSuccess rate within band (%)
12150.0
210220.0
321733.3
419842.1
524937.5
619736.8
716637.5
811327.3
9200
105120.0
11200
1411100.0
24100
Total1334533.8

 * Collaborating organisations include the Administering Organisation, Other Eligible Organisations, Partner Organisations and Other Organisations. There were no applications with 12, 13, or 15-23 collaborating organisations.

 

International Collaboration

In the 133 applications considered, applicants foreshadowed 182 instances of collaboration with researchers in 33 overseas locations. Of the applications approved for funding, 20 foreshadowed 84 instances of collaboration with researchers in 26 overseas locations (Figure 2).

Figure 2.   International collaborations by location in approved Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 applications*.

Pie chart

*The top 14 international collaboration locations are listed in Figure 1 and the remaining locations are grouped in the ‘Other’ category.

 

Leverage of ARC funding

On Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2023 applications approved for funding, for every dollar funded by the ARC the proposed dollar contribution of the collaborating organisations listed on these applications is $0.98. The leverage of ARC funds for approved applications is shown in Table 7.

Table 7.    Leverage of ARC funds for approved applications.

Number of applications approvedApproved ARC fundingNumber of unique collaborating organisations*Incidence of involvement of collaborating organisations*Collaborating organisation* Cash and In-kind contributionLeverage (Collaborating organisation* contribution/ARC approved funding)
45$39,515,94259235$38,806,601$0.98

*Collaborating organisations include the Administering Organisation, Other Eligible Organisations, Partner Organisations and Other Organisations.

 

Summary of Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities applications approved for funding

A summary of the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities applications approved for funding commencing in 2023, by Administering Organisation is outlined in Table 8. The application titles indicate the variety of equipment, infrastructure and facilities supported in this scheme round.

Table 8.    Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities applications approved for funding commencing in 2023.

Applications approved for fundingAdministering OrganisationLead CI
Hot Properties: Thermal Analysis Equipment for Western AustraliaCurtin UniversityBuckley, Prof Craig
Ultra-High Resolution 3D Printing of Micron-Sized Structures and VoidsDeakin UniversityGuijt, Prof Rosanne
Coastal Bathymetry with Advanced Technologies (CoastBAT)Flinders UniversityMiot da Silva, Dr Graziela
Materials for Sustainability Analysis FacilityJia, Dr Zhongfan
Enhancing Australian biodiscovery molecule generation, storage and accessGriffith UniversityAndrews, Prof Katherine
Single cell sequencing facility at James Cook UniversityJames Cook UniversityMiller, Prof David
A multifaceted technology platform to enhance single cell genomicsMacquarie UniversityPaulsen, Prof Ian
High-Precision Mass Spectrometry Imaging FacilityMonash UniversityVoelcker, Prof Nicolas
Real-time mass spectrometry for advanced aerosol chemical characterisationQueensland University of TechnologyMiljevic, A/Prof Branka
Versatile Physical Property Measurement System for South-East QueenslandShahbazi, Dr Mahboobeh
Free Float or support free: a new generation metal 3D printing facilityRMIT UniversityMa, Prof Qian
Dual-comb Hyperspectral Imaging FacilityMitchell, Prof Arnan
Expanded Horizons for the Anglo-Australian TelescopeThe Australian National UniversityLidman, A/Prof Christopher
Explosive Astrophysics from Siding Spring ObservatoryLidman, A/Prof Christopher
A cryogenic multifunctional multiscale material characterisation facilityLiu, Prof Yun
Cryogenic Near-Field Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility at the 10-nm-ScaleLu, Prof Yuerui
National Facility for Electricity Grid Security and Resilience ResearchRatnam, Dr Elizabeth
Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program 2023-24Rohling, Prof Eelco
Integrated facility for underground hydrogen storage researchThe University of AdelaideBedrikovetski, Prof Pavel
A customized surface chemistry study system in realistic working conditionGuo, Prof Zaiping
Enabling the future of the Australian collider physics programJackson, Prof Paul
Adaptive Optics for Advanced Gravitational Wave DetectorsOttaway, Prof David
A multi-environment phenotyping site for biotech plantsRoy, A/Prof Stuart
Whole-head optically-pumped room-temperature magnetoencephalographyThe University of MelbourneGarrido, A/Prof Marta
Cryo correlative Focused Ion Beam, a new frontier in structural biologyHanssen, Prof Eric
Photonic Computing Architecture ValidatorLim, Prof Christina
Facility for growth and characterisation of advanced materials and devicesThe University of New South WalesHamilton, Prof Alexander
Bioprinting and advanced visualisation of novel 3D model systemsPoole, A/Prof Kathryn
Time Layered Cultural Map of Australia: Advanced Techniques and Big DataThe University of NewcastleCraig, Em/Prof Hugh
4D Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry for Multiphase Flow MeasurementDoroodchi, A/Prof Elham
High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and SpectroscopyThe University of QueenslandHarmer, A/Prof Jeffrey
Nanocrystal Electron Diffraction FacilityKobe, Prof Bostjan
Integrated high-throughput material synthesis and characterisation systemWang, Prof Lianzhou
The International Digital Policy ObservatoryThe University of SydneyFlew, Prof Terry
High performance chalcogenide processing addressing grand challengesHo-Baillie, Prof Anita
Radiochemistry Facility for Biomolecule Characterisation in Living SystemsKassiou, Prof Michael
Comprehensive and Versatile In-house X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy FacilityLing, Prof Chris
Integrated Crystallisation FacilityThe University of Western AustraliaBond, Prof Charles
National Facility for Performance Characterisation of Infrared TechnologiesFaraone, Prof Lorenzo
Transforming the Zadko Observatory into a Space Surveillance HubGendre, Dr Bruce
Digitising the Drafting of the Australian ConstitutionWesson, Dr Murray
Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope for High Temperature AnalysisUniversity of Southern QueenslandWang, Prof Hao
I can see clearly now: An Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Imaging facilityUniversity of TasmaniaFoo, A/Prof Eloise
Towards a Green and Sustainable Energy-efficient MetaverseUniversity of WollongongSusilo, Prof Willy
A Reconfigurable Neuromorphic Compute System for Brain-Scale SimulationsWestern Sydney Universityvan Schaik, Prof André