ARC Centres of Excellence Grant

Eligibility for the ARC Centres of Excellence Program is limited to organisations that are officially recognised as Eligible Organisations under the guidelines. The Administering Organisation, which is responsible for submitting the application and managing the grant if successful, must be an Eligible Organisation.

Eligible Organisations include:

• Australian Universities: Most of the leading Australian universities are eligible, including those in the Group of Eight (Go8), such as The University of Melbourne, The Australian National University, and The University of Sydney, among others.
• Research Institutes: Institutions like the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies are also eligible.
• Higher Education Institutions: Apart from universities, other higher education institutions recognized in the guidelines can participate.

The Administering Organisation must collaborate with at least one Other Eligible Organisation.

Partner Organisations, which can be from Australia or overseas, are also required. These can be businesses, government bodies, or non-profit organisations, contributing cash, in-kind support, or other material resources. However, Partner Organisations cannot be an Eligible Organisation or its controlled entity.

Each application must nominate a Centre Director, who must meet specific eligibility criteria and be employed by the Administering Organisation for at least 0.7 Full Time Equivalent (FTE).

Chief Investigators (CIs) must be employed or have an honorary academic appointment at an Eligible Organisation and commit a minimum of 0.2 FTE to the Centre’s activities.

See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.

For Expression of Interest (EOI) Applications:

Research Program – Quality and Innovation (70% weighting):

• The extent to which the proposed research program is innovative, transformative, and internationally competitive.
• How well the research program addresses significant and challenging research problems and advances knowledge in the field.

Investigators – Capability and Alignment (30% weighting):

• The capability and skills of the Centre Director and other Chief Investigators (CIs) and Partner Investigators (PIs).
• The alignment of the research team’s expertise with the proposed research program.
• The capacity of the Investigators to contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive Australian research workforce.

For Full Applications: The full application is assessed based on five key criteria, each carrying equal weight:

Research Program – Quality and Innovation (20% weighting):

• As with the EOI, the quality and innovation of the proposed research program are assessed, focusing on the program’s potential to undertake groundbreaking research.

Investigators – Capability & Alignment (20% weighting):

• The capability of the research team is further scrutinized, including their ability to deliver the proposed research outcomes and their track record in relevant fields.

Governance, Leadership & Institutional Support (20% weighting):

• The appropriateness of the organisational structure and governance model, including the leadership qualities of the Centre Director and the level of institutional support from the Administering Organisation and Partner Organisations.

Research Environment, Mentoring & Culture (20% weighting):

• The quality of the Centre’s research environment, including plans for mentoring early and mid-career researchers, promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion, and fostering a supportive research culture.

Outcomes and Linkages (20% weighting):

• The potential for the proposed research program to deliver significant outcomes and impacts, both in terms of advancing knowledge and in creating tangible benefits for partners and end-users.

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
• Provide complete information requirements.

Here are the information requirements and documents to prepare for the ARC Centres of Excellence application:

Research Proposal:

• Detailed project description (objectives, methodology, outcomes).
• National Interest Test statement (plain English benefits for Australia).

Organisational Information:

• Administering Organisation details (capabilities, support).
• Partner and Other Eligible Organisations’ roles and contributions (cash/in-kind).

Personnel Information:

• Centre Director resume/CV (experience, leadership).
• Chief Investigators (CIs) and Partner Investigators (PIs) details (roles, expertise).
• Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) for named participants.

Budget and Financial Information:

• Detailed budget (salaries, stipends, travel, equipment).
• Documentation of co-contributions (cash/in-kind from all organisations).

Governance and Management Plan:

• Governance structure (roles, responsibilities, reporting).
• Draft Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned with project objectives.

Ethical and Compliance Documentation:

• Ethics plan (adherence to research conduct codes).
• Data management plan (aligned with ARC’s Open Access Policy).

Supporting Documentation:

• Letters of support from all participating organisations.
• Additional certifications (if required for research conduct compliance).

Application Submission:

• Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via RMS with project overview.
• Prepare full application (if invited), addressing all criteria in detail.

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

To apply, researchers must complete the EOI and, if invited, the full application through the RMS (Research Management System) portal.

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