Linkage Projects

Overview

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

The scheme aims to:

• support internationally competitive research projects and teams on challenges or opportunities of relevance to research end-users;
• foster the establishment and strengthening of research alliances between higher education organisations and research end-users; and
• enhance the scale and focus of research, including in Australian Government priority areas.

While applications are open continuously, Linkage Project applications made in 2024 will be assessed in two rounds. The first round has now closed. The relevant dates for the second are listed on the Grants Calendar on the ARC website and under Critical Dates at the top of this page.

Draft applications will carry over in the ARC's Research Management System (RMS) between rounds (ie, an application started but not submitted for assessment during Round 1 can be submitted in Round 2).

Funding

The scheme provides a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $300,000 of funding for each year of the project. Projects can be 2 to 5 years long. The amount requested from the ARC must be at least matched by the cash and in-kind support provided by partner organisations. The cash component of this support must be at least 25 per cent of the funding requested from the ARC. For more information, see Sections 4.3(c,d) and 4.9 of the Grant Guidelines.

Selection criteria

The selection criteria and their weightings are as follows:

• Project quality and innovation: 30%
• Impact: 20%
• Investigator(s’) capability and quality of team: 20%
• Strength of the proposed research alliance: 30%

Eligibility

To be eligible to be a Chief Investigator (CI) on a Linkage Project applied for in 2024, you must at the grant commencement date (and, if successful, for the whole project activity period):

• be an employee for at least 0.2 FTE (full-time equivalent) at an Eligible Organisation,

or

• be a holder of an honorary academic appointment (as defined below) at an Eligible Organisation.

For eligibility purposes, honorary academic appointment means any unpaid position with full academic status. You must have access to research support comparable to employees, eg an emeritus appointment. You are not eligible to be a CI using your honorary academic appointment if you are also employed by another organisation at 0.2 FTE or more.

All honorary appointments must be certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (DVC-R) or equivalent before application

If you wish to apply as a CI and you believe you have an honorary appointment that satisfies this definition, please contact ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au as soon as possible to arrange certification.

Active project assessment date

The active project assessment date for Linkage Projects applied for in Round 2 2024 is 1 January 2026.

You should review the limits on the number of possible projects and applications in Section 4.23-25  of the Grant Guidelines.

Research outputs

Research outputs must first be added to your RMS profile before they can be selected for inclusion on an application. To keep bibliographical data organised, we recommend exporting research outputs from Elements as a BibTeX file and then importing this file into RMS. For help with this process or with Elements, please contact your faculty research office or research-outputs@unimelb.edu.au.

Further resources to assist with managing research outputs are available below.

Request not to assess

If you have a conflict of interest with a researcher from an external institution, it is possible to request that they not be considered as a detailed assessor for your application. More details can be found on the ARC Request Not to Assess webpage.

How to apply

1. 1. Submit a Notice of Intent

   The Notice of Intent (NOI) should be completed early so that Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC) can contact your lead CI if necessary.

2. 2. Update RMS profile

   Ensure each CI and Partner Investigator (PI) has access to RMS and has updated their profile information (see RMS information)

3. 3. Review documentation

   Review the Linkage Project Grant Guidelines and the Instructions to Applicants.

4. 4. Complete the application

   Log in to RMS and complete the application, including all PI sections.

5. 5. Reach out if you encounter issues

   If questions arise while you are drafting your application, you can seek advice from RIC by emailing the Linkage Project team. RIC is especially well placed to answer questions around eligibility and compliance with the scheme guidelines and can follow up issues with the ARC on your behalf.

6. 6. Upload National Interest Test Statement to RMS

   Unless you are an FEIT applicant, it is mandatory to upload your National Interest Test (NIT) Statement to Section A5 in RMS by 21 August for Round 2.

   Your faculty will review it and return an approved version. Make any changes required by your faculty in RMS before the submission deadline. Please do not modify the faculty-approved text.

   Each faculty has its own process for reviewing and approving statements. Any questions about this aspect of your application should be directed to your faculty research office.

7. 7. Submit your application to RIC for review

   Email RIC (ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au) before 21 August (for Round 2) to request a review of your application. Attach a complete draft application downloaded from RMS as a pdf.

   A review-ready draft application should include the following:
   
   Part A - Administrative Summary
   Part B -  Participant Details including ROPE (It is especially important that the profile of each CI and PI be complete as the RMS uses these to auto-populate other parts of the application.)
   Part C - Project Description (This can be incomplete, but should include Investigator/Capability and Communication of Results sections)
   Part D - Project Cost
   Part E - Classifications and Other Statistical Information
   Part F - Project Eligibility
   Part G - Partner Organisation Details

   Two RIC staff members will review the application and provide you with feedback via email.

8. 8. Complete the application

   After taking feedback from the RIC team into consideration, complete your application in RMS. We suggest that you also seek advice from colleagues, faculty mentors, etc, before finalising the application.

9. 9. Submit the UOM Authority to Submit form

   This form should include:

   • A complete compliance and eligibility section
   • The signature of the Head of Department for each CI
   • The signature of the DVC-R or CEO (or delegate thereof) for all Participating Organisations

   Electronic signatures are permitted.

   This is an ARC requirement. Your application cannot be submitted to ARC until we receive your Authority to Submit form.

10. 10. Submit to research office

    On 11 September (for Round 2), you must:

    • Email RIC (ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au) a pdf copy of the final application and a signed copy of your Authority to Submit form
    • Click ‘Submit to Research Office’ in RMS.

11. 11. RIC will submit the application

    We will email you to confirm once your application has been submitted to the ARC.

Supporting documents

ARC Documents and Resources

The ARC has made some minor changes to the grant guidelines since the first round of 2024. They have provided a summary of these changes.

• ARC Linkage Projects website
• ARC College of Experts
• ARC Medical Research Policy
• LP24 Draft Grant Agreement
• LP24 Linkage Projects Grant Guideline
• LP24 Frequently Asked Questions
• LP24 Instructions to Applicants
• LP24 Letter of Partner Organisation Certification
• LP24 Sample Application Form
• RMS User Guide - Requesting and Maintaining an RMS Account Jun 2022 (Version 3)
• RMS User Guide - Submitting an Application in RMS Jan 2024 (Version 4)
• RMS User Guide - Submitting a Request Not to Assess Aug 2021 (Version 3)
• Summary of changes to Grant Guidelines 2023-2024

RIC Documents and Resources

(UoM login required)

• Register an NOI (Notice of Intent)
• UoM Grants Library of Successful Applications
• LP24 Research Load Template (Part B3)
• LP24 RIC Applicant Guide
• LP24 Authority to Submit form
• LP24 Salary Scales and Budget Preparation Spreadsheet
• Partner Investigators information booklet – Include sample letter, RMS details, scheme information
• Linkage Projects Factsheet - Pre Award
• Linkage Agreements Factsheet - Post Award
• 2024 ARC College of Experts Members - FOR division 23 Jan 2024

Research Outputs

• RMS User Guide - Research Outputs Sep 2021 (Version 6)
• UoM Research Outputs and the ARC (see step-by-step instructions and video)
• UoM Manage your research outputs
• UoM Research Impact Library Advisory Service (RILAS)

Seminars

Recordings of past seminars (UoM login required)

• 2024: Navigating the LP24 application process (recording) (slides) An overview of  the major eligibility criteria and the submission process for Linkage Projects, touching on recent changes and focussing on the challenges presented by the budget and relative to opportunity (ROPE) sections (9/8/2024).
• 2024: Linkage Success Unveiled: Inside stories from successful applications (recording) (slides).  Prof. Chris Manzie (Head of Electrical & Electronic Engineering) and Prof. Marie Segrave (Professorial Fellow, Social and Political Sciences) speak on the challenges of putting together a persuasive proposal and deliver their tips and strategies for both STEM and HASS applications (30/7/2024).
• 2023: NITS Writing Workshop (recording) (slides) 7/11/2023.
• 2023: Insights from Successful Applications (recording) (slides) 4/10/2023.
• 2023: Linkage Projects Webinar (slides) 16/2/23.

Rejoinders

• ARC Rejoinders website
• ARC Rejoinder Assessment Review Request form
• RMS User Guide - Submitting a Rejoinder Aug 2021 (Version 4)
• UoM Rejoinder factsheet 01 Mar 2022

Note on rejoinders: Assessor comments should only address the assessment criteria: project quality and innovation,  investigator(s’) capability and quality of team, strength of the proposed research alliance, and impact. Assessors should not comment on eligibility and compliance. If your assessment contains inappropriate elements, you can appeal it by contacting RIC or your faculty within 3 working days of the opening of the rejoinder period and completing an ARC Assessment Review Request form.

You should not contact the ARC directly. Always speak to your faculty or RIC first.

Contacts