Industrial Transformation Research Hubs

The Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme engages Australia's best researchers in issues facing the new industrial economies and training the future workforce. The scheme supports collaborative research activity, between the Australian higher education sector and industry, designed to focus on strategic outcomes that are not independently realisable.

The Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme provides funding to Eligible Organisations to engage in cutting-edge research on new technologies and economic, commercial and social transformation which support the development of research outcomes that benefit industry partners in the Industrial Transformation Priorities.

The Industrial Transformation Priorities are priority research areas identified by the ARC that are updated from round to round. The current Industrial Transformation Priorities are:

Advanced Manufacturing
Cyber Security
Food and Agribusiness
Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals
Mining Equipment, Technology and Services
Oil, Gas and Energy Resources.

A strong collaboration and commitment of resources from innovative national and international industries is required. Proposals for funding under the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme must include at least one Australian Partner Organisation. Each Partner Organisation must make a contribution in cash and/or in kind to the project. The combined Partner Organisation contributions for a Proposal (i.e. the total of the cash and in-kind contributions of the Partner Organisations) must at least match the total funding requested from the ARC.

The objectives of the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme are to:

encourage collaborative R&D projects between universities and organisations outside the Australian higher education sector that will solve challenging industry issues relevant to the Industrial Transformation Priorities
drive growth, productivity and competitiveness within key growth sectors
leverage national and international investment in targeted industry sectors, including from industry and other research end-users.

The Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme provides project funding of $500,000 to $1 million per year for three to five years. Project funding may be used for: personnel, for example, Hub Manager, research associates and assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants; stipends for higher degree by research candidates; teaching relief; access to research and infrastructure facilities and technical workshop services; essential field research; expert third party services; equipment and consumables; publication and dissemination of outputs and outreach; specialised computer equipment and software; travel costs essential to the project; web hosting and development; workshops, focus groups and conferences; and essential support costs for researchers who are carers or who themselves require care.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant Funding Rules and Funding Agreements. Grants from the ARC are made to organisations, not individual researchers or research teams. The Funding Rules contain the list of Eligible Organisations.

Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2017
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2015
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2014
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2013—Round 2
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2013—Round 1
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs Funded in 2012