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Selection Report: Linkage Projects 2020 Round 3

Overview

The Linkage Projects scheme supports projects which initiate or develop long term strategic research alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.

The objectives of the Linkage Projects scheme are to:

  • support the development of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education organisations and industry and other research end-users, in order to apply advanced knowledge to problems;
  • provide opportunities for internationally competitive research projects to be conducted in collaboration with organisations outside the higher education sector; and
  • enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

 

Selection process

Applications for Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 3 opened on 13 August 2020 and closed on 17 December 2020. Applications were submitted using a continuous application process, this is the third and final of the three assessment rounds for this scheme. 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 Committees (SAC) which:

  • assigned independent assessors to review the applications
  • 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 Unless otherwise specified, data presented in this report exclude withdrawn applications.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 Projects 2020 (Round 3) were assessed and merit ranked using the following assessment criteria:

a. Investigator(s)/Capability (25%)

Describe the quality of the candidates’ Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) including evidence of:

  • potential to engage in collaborative research with end-users;
  • experience in research training, mentoring and supervision; and
  • time and capacity to undertake and manage the proposed research in collaboration with the Partner Organisation(s).

b. Project quality and innovation (25%)

Describe the extent to which the project is significant and innovative including:

  • any new methods or technologies to be developed that address a specific market opportunity;
  • how the anticipated outcomes will advance the knowledge base to address an important problem and/or provide an end-user and/or industry advantage;
  • how the project’s aims and concepts are novel and innovative; and
  • how the project will significantly enhance links with industry and/or other organisations outside the Australian publicly-funded research and higher education sectors.

Describe the research approach and training including:

  • the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses, demonstrating these are adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the project; and
  • the intellectual content and scale of the work proposed is appropriate to a higher degree by research student where relevant.

c. Feasibility and commitment (20%)

Describe:

  • the extent to which the project represents value for money;
  • the supportive and high quality environment for this research in the Administering Organisation and the Partner Organisation(s);
  • the availability of the necessary facilities to conduct the research;
  • the commitment of each Partner Organisation to collaboration in the research project and capacity to implement the outcomes of the research; and
  • the adequacy of the budget, including cash and in-kind contributions pledged by the participating organisations.

If the project involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research describe:

  • the strategies for enabling collaboration with Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where appropriate (for example, dialogue/collaboration with an Indigenous cultural mentor); and
  • any existing or developing, supportive and high quality research communities.

d. Benefit (30%)

Describe:

  • the new or advanced knowledge resulting from outcomes of the research;
  • the economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for relevant Australian research end-users (including relevant industry sectors);
  • the potential contribution to building capacity in the Australian Government’s National Science and Research Priorities and other priorities identified by Government;
  • benefits of the research for Partner Organisation(s) and other relevant end-users;
  • the contribution of the research to developing strategic research alliances between the higher education organisation(s) and industry and/or other organisation(s);
  • strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, and if appropriate, the promotion of research outcomes; 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 and/or end-users.

 

Assessment process

The ARC assessment process for Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) involved 17 SAC members as part of one multidisciplinary panel and was managed in RMS. A total of 1040 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC.

 

Funding levels and duration

Funding of between $50,000 and $300,000 per annum for up to five years may be awarded for each Linkage Projects application.

 

Summary of outcomes

The ARC received a total of 277 applications for Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3), one of which was withdrawn.

The overall success rate for Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2020 (Round 3) is 24.3 per cent.

Of the unsuccessful applications, 12 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 Projects applications from 2019 and 2020 (Rounds 1, 2 and 3)

Scheme RoundApplications consideredApplications
approved
Success 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 (%)
201943217540.5$217,620,359$92,200,635$78,187,26984.8
2020 (Round 1)1806133.9$87,268,182$30,685,046$26,881,00187.6
2020 (Round 2)2596725.9$138,269,232$36,054,450$30,666,57585.1
2020 (Round 3)2766724.3$140,742,080$36,563,401$31,724,73886.8

*May include indicative funds 

 

Outcomes by discipline

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

Table 2. Application numbers, success rates and requested and allocated funds for approved Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) 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 over project life for approved applications ($)Return
Rate for approved applications (%)
BEM51611.8$31,013,568$3,814,140$2,913,12676.4
ET802430.0$40,604,815$12,997,016$11,016,37184.8
HSE872629.9$38,245,744$12,955,923$11,957,40992.3
PMI581119.0$30,877,953$6,796,322$5,837,83285.9
Total2766724.3$140,742,080$36,563,401$31,724,73886.8

*BEM = Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Environmental, Medical and Health Sciences; ET = Engineering and Technology; HSE = Humanities and Creative Arts, Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences; PMI = Physical, Mathematical and Information 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 Projects 2020 (Round 3) applications by Science and Research Priorities

Science and Research PrioritiesApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Approved funds over project life ($)
Advanced Manufacturing631625.4$7,068,103
Cybersecurity1200-
Energy21838.1$4,146,851
Environmental Change321134.4$4,797,235
Food17529.4$2,985,837
Health28517.9$2,397,057
Resources12541.7$2,172,841
Soil and Water1200-
Transport11436.4$2,054,562
None selected681319.1$6,102,252
Total Applications2766724.3$31,724,738
Total Applications within Science and Research Priorities2085426.0$25,622,486
Percentage within Science and Research Priorities (%)75.480.6 80.8

 

Leverage of ARC Funding

Of the 276 applications considered, 67 were approved with a total approved funding, of $31.7 million over the life of these projects. There are 172 unique Partner Organisations involved with these projects and they have pledged a total (cash and in-kind) of $52.0 million. This represents $1.64 from Partner Organisations for every dollar funded by the ARC.

 

Outcomes by Administering Organisation

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

Table 4. Numbers of applications, success rates, ARC approved funding and Partner Organisation contributions for approved Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) applications by Administering Organisation

Administering OrganisationApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)ARC approved funding over project life (approved applications)Partner Organisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)
Australian Capital Territory11327.3$1,496,974$2,301,119
The Australian National University9222.2$1,152,272$1,895,288
University of Canberra2150.0$344,702*
New South Wales801822.5$8,579,452$14,038,460
Australian Catholic University100--
Macquarie University13323.1$1,441,809$2,328,070
Southern Cross University100--
The University of New South Wales23626.1$3,193,626$4,750,863
The University of Newcastle500--
The University of Sydney13323.1$1,438,118$3,135,208
University of Technology Sydney12216.7$970,408$1,619,254
University of Wollongong8112.5$418,601*
Western Sydney University4375.0$1,116,890$1,593,065
Northern Territory200--
Charles Darwin University200--
Queensland501224.0$4,941,698$6,767,243
Griffith University5120.0$384,924*
Queensland University of Technology15213.3$843,854$1,105,993
The University of Queensland29827.6$3,284,379$4,810,270
The University of Southern Queensland11100.0$428,541*
South Australia20840.0$3,952,172$6,523,278
Flinders University5240.0$1,218,653$1,635,000
The University of Adelaide10440.0$1,965,291$3,741,576
University of South Australia5240.0$768,228$1,146,702
Tasmania3133.3$242,783*
University of Tasmania3133.3$242,783*
Victoria942122.3$10,202,727$15,240,633
Deakin University10220.0$925,256$1,462,375
Federation University Australia100--
La Trobe University2150.0$561,297*
Monash University20525.0$1,960,023$2,988,855
RMIT University1516.7$338,595*
Swinburne University of Technology8562.5$2,630,426$3,343,611
The University of Melbourne36719.4$3,787,130$6,089,933
Victoria University200--
Western Australia16425.0$2,308,932$6,886,941
Curtin University2150.0$396,000*
Edith Cowan University100--
Murdoch University200--
The University of Western Australia11327.3$1,912,932$6,353,174
Total2766724.3$31,724,738$52,018,787

* For confidentiality reasons, total contributions by Partner Organisations are not shown in instances in which Administering Organisations are associated with one approved application only. The Table 4 total does, however, include the total contributions by Partner Organisations on approved Projects associated with those Administering Organisations.

Partner Organisations were identified as Australian, international, government, non-profit, industry or overseas higher education organisations. The Partner Organisation contributions in these categories for Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) applications approved for funding are shown below in Table 5.

Table 5.    Partner Organisation contributions by sector for approved Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) applications

Type CashIn-KindTotal
  $%$%$%
Government 
Australian Federal $375,0002.4$1,372,4263.8$1,747,4263.4
Australian state, territory and local $696,0004.4$4,887,28913.4$5,583,28910.7
 Sub-total$1,071,0006.8$6,259,71517.2$7,330,71514.1
Industry Body 
Australian $11,176,54671.4$16,989,43346.7$28,165,97954.1
International $2,161,80113.8$3,745,73610.3$5,907,53711.4
 Sub-total$13,338,34785.2$20,735,16957.0$34,073,51665.5
Non-profit 
Australian $891,1475.7$6,707,09418.4$7,598,24114.6
International $130,0000.8$208,0000.6$338,0000.6
 Sub-total$1,021,1476.5$6,915,09419.0$7,936,24115.3
Higher Education 
International $00.0$537,0511.5$537,0511.0
 Sub-total$00.0$537,0511.5$537,0511.0
Other 
Other $222,0001.4$1,919,2645.3$2,141,2644.1
 Sub-total$222,0001.4$1,919,2645.3$2,141,2644.1
 Total$15,652,494100$36,366,293100$52,018,787100

Note: All percentages are shown using rounded figures, and as such may not sum to 100%.

 

Partnerships

Linkage Projects applications represent partnerships between researchers, higher education organisations and other organisations, as well as collaborations between Partner Organisations within projects. There are a total of 174 instances of collaboration with Partner Organisations (including multiple collaborations with a number of organisations) in Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) giving an average of 2.60 Partner Organisations involved in each application. These partnerships form congruent and/or complementary linkages in Fields of Research (FoR). A summary of the FoR categories identified by applicants of approved applications and the total Partner Organisation contributions are shown below in Table 6.

Table 6. Application data by Field of Research category for Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3)

Field of Research categoryNumber of applications approved#Partner Organisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)
Physical Sciences3$2,257,617
Chemical Sciences4$3,851,546
Earth Sciences1*
Environmental Sciences2$1,505,770
Biological Sciences1*
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences3$2,271,345
Information and Computing Sciences3$2,241,490
Engineering19$14,181,500
Technology5$3,664,077
Built Environment and Design2$788,000
Education3$1,542,320
Economics2$1,893,888
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services5$3,083,293
Studies in Human Society4$2,486,288
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences2$1,505,959
Studies in Creative Arts and Writing2$672,061
Language, Communication and Culture4$3,086,860
History and Archaeology2$5,738,195
Total67$52,018,787

# Based on the primary FoR
*For confidentiality reasons, total contributions by Partner Organisations are not shown in instances in which FoR codes are associated with one approved application only. The Table 6 total does, however, include the total contributions by Partner Organisations on approved Projects associated with those FoR codes.

 

Career age and gender

Of the 987 Chief Investigators (CIs) in this round, 352 were female, 631 were male and 4 chose not to specify their gender. The success rate for female, male and unspecified CIs in Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) is 27.0 per cent, 24.2 and 50.0 per cent respectively. 

Success rates of CIs by career age and gender in Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) are presented in Figure 1. CIs who did not provide gender information (0.4 per cent) and CIs who did not specify the date of completion of their PhD (or equivalent) or who do not hold a PhD (1.1 per cent) are not represented in the figure below.

Figure 1. Participation and success rate of Chief Investigators (CIs) in Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) by gender and career age*

 

Participation and success rate of Chief Investigators (CIs) in Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) by gender and career age

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

 

International collaboration

In the 276 applications considered, applicants foreshadowed 221 instances of collaboration with researchers in 44 overseas locations. Of the applications approved for funding, 36 foreshadowed 56 instances of collaboration with researchers in 23 overseas locations (Figure 2).

Figure 2. International collaborations by location on approved Linkage Projects 2020 (Round 3) applications*

Pie Graph

*The top 11 international collaboration locations are listed in Figure 2 and the remaining locations are grouped in the ‘Other’ category.