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 a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.

The Linkage  Projects 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, there will be two assessment rounds for applications for Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2023. Key dates for this scheme have been updated on the Grants Calendar available on the ARC website and under "Critical dates" above.

Please note: Draft LP22 applications will carry over in RMS between rounds (a draft application started during assessment Round 1 can be submitted in assessment Round 2 without the need to restart the application).

FUNDING

The scheme provides funding at a minimum of $50,000 per year and a maximum or $300,000 for each year of the project. Partner organisations are required to provide total cash and in-kind support equal to the amount requested from the ARC for project costs. The combined eligible Cash Contribution from partner organisations must be at least 25 per cent of the total funding requested from the ARC. See sections 4.3(c,d) and 4.9 of the Grant Guidelines for more information.

SELECTION CRITERIA - new weighting for LP23 round

The criteria weighting is 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 on a Linkage Project applied for in 2023  you must at the grant commencement date, and if successful, for the project activity period:
a. be an employee for at least 0.2 FTE at an Eligible Organisation; or
b. be a holder of an honorary academic appointment at an Eligible Organisation (as defined by the ARC).

Honorary academic appointment for eligibility purposes means any honorary position that gives full academic status, as certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent in the application. The researcher must have access to research support comparable to employees e.g. an emeritus appointment. The researcher is not eligible to be a Chief investigator using their honorary academic appointment if they are employed by an organisation other than an Eligible Organisation for more than 0.2 FTE.

If you hold an Honorary appointment (holding no more than 0.2 FTE paid appointment at an organisation other than an Eligible Organisation) and you wish to apply as a Chief Investigator please contact ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au as soon as possible to arrange DVCR certification.

ACTIVE PROJECT AND ACTIVE PROJECTS ASSESSMENT DATE

The active project assessment date for the Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2023 applications submitted by 30 June  2023 will be 1 January 2024 .

The active project assessment date for Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2023 applications submitted from 1 July 2023 will be 1 July 2024.

Applicants should review the limits on project and applications for Linkage Projects. See sections 4.23 - 4.25  of the Grant Guidelines.

OPTIONAL PROPOSAL REVIEW BY AN EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC) engages the services of an external consultant to review ARC Linkage proposals to improve application competitiveness. Please provide the responses to Parts A4, A5 and  the Project Description in Part D2 in one Microsoft Word or pdf document. Applicants should email their draft responses to ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au. Alternatively, applicants can email a pdf of the full proposal from RMS. Refer to the key dates for the  LP23 Assessment Rounds.

Applicants (especially Early Career Researchers and Linkage Project first-timers) are strongly encouraged to submit their draft as early as possible to allow the external consultant the time to provide feedback and for them to incorporate any changes before the final application due date.

Please note that requesting a review from an external consultant is optional. RIC will still review draft applications before the final due date.

RESEARCH OUTPUTS

Research outputs must first be added to an applicant's ARC Research Management System (RMS) profile before they can be selected for inclusion on an application. The University's recommended approach is to export research outputs from Elements as a BibTeX file and then import this file into RMS to achieve best data integrity.

Please contact your local Faculty Research Office or research-outputs@unimelb.edu.au for help with the process or to amend data in Elements.

Further esources to assist with managing Research Outputs are available below under Supporting documents > Research Outputs.

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 potential detailed assessor for your application. More details about this can be found on the ARC Request Not to Assess webpage.

How to apply

1. Submit a Notice of Intent (NOI)

   The NOI should be completed early to provide RIC with CIA contact details.

2. Update RMS profile

   Each CI and Partner Investigator (PI) must obtain access to RMS and update profile information (see RMS information)

3. Review documentation

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

4. Complete the application

   Log in to RMS and complete the application  with all PI sections included.

5. Upload National Interest Test Statement (NIT) to RMS

   It is mandatory to upload your National Interest Test Statement (NIT) to Part A5 in RMS by COB Monday 17 April (excluding FEIT applicants).

   RIC will then provide a copy of the uploaded NIT Statement to your Faculty who will then review and approve your statement. Once your Faculty has approved your Statement, please update RMS with any applicable changes prior to the final submission deadline.

   Important: it will not be possible to make changes to your Statement once Faculty approval has been granted.

   Note: Each Faculty has its own process for administering the review and approval of Statements. Any questions about this process should be directed to your Faculty Research Office.

6. Submit 'Review ready' application to RIC

   Submit application by emailing RIC (ric-arcLinkage@unimelb.edu.au) within the RIC submission date. Include the following:
   
   An electronic copy of the complete review ready draft application*, downloaded as a PDF from RMS.

   *A review ready draft application should include the following completed sections:
   
   Part A - Administrative Summary
   Part B - Classifications and Other Statistical Information
   Part C - Project Eligibility
   Part D - Project Description: This part can be incomplete, but should include Investigator/Capability and Communication of Results sections in D1.
   Part E - Participant Details including ROPE
   Part F - Project Cost
   Part G - Partner Organisation Details 
   
   Note: The RMS Profile for each CI and PI should be updated because some parts of the application are auto-populated from participant's RMS Profile.

7. Application review

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

8. Complete the application

   After taking feedback from the RIC team into consideration, complete the application in RMS. It is suggested that advice is sought from colleagues, Faculty Mentors, etc. before finalising the application.

9. Submit the UOM Authority to Submit form

   The form must be submitted to RIC electronically  on the final internal closing date. This form should include:

   • Complete the compliance and eligibility section
   • Signature of the Head of Department for each CI
   • Signature of the DVCR or CEO (or delegate) for all participating Organisations

   Electronic signatures are permitted.

   This is an ARC requirement and the application cannot be submitted to ARC until received.

10. Final submission

    On the final internal Closing due date, the applicant must:

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

    Note: Applications without a completed Authority to Submit form cannot be submitted to the ARC

11. RIC will submit the application

    Once the application has been submitted to ARC, you will receive an email from RIC confirming submission.

Supporting documents

ARC Documents and Resources

• ARC Linkage Projects website
• ARC College of Experts
• ARC Medical Research Policy
• LP23 Draft Grant Agreement
• LP23 Linkage Projects Grant Guidelines
• LP23 Changes to Grant Guidelines
• LP23 Frequently Asked Questions
• LP23 Instructions to Applicants
• LP23 Letter of Partner Organisation Certification
• LP23 Sample Application Form
• RMS User Guide - Requesting and Maintaining an RMS Account June 2022 (Version 3)
• RMS User Guide - Submitting an Application in RMS Sep 2022 (Version 3)
• RMS User Guide - Submitting a Request Not to Assess Aug 2021 (Version 3)
• Science and Research Priorities
• National Manufacturing Priorities

RIC Documents and Resources

(UoM login required for some of the following documents/links. Please email ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au or your faculty research office if you require copies)

• Register a NOI (Notice of Intent Submission)
• UoM Grants Library of Successful Applications
• LP23 Part E4 Research Load Template
• LP23 RIC Applicant guide
• LP23 Authority to Submit form
• LP23 Salary Scales and Budget Preparation  Spreadsheet
• LP23 Letter of Partner Organisation Certification Template
• Partner Investigators information booklet – Include sample letter, RMS details, scheme information
• Linkage Projects Factsheet - Pre Award
• Linkage Agreements Factsheet - Post Award

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

• RIC 2023 Linkage Projects Webinar slides 16/2/23 (UoM login required)
• RIC 2023 Linkage Projects Webinar recording 16/2/23 (UoM login required)

Rejoinders

• ARC Rejoinders website
• ARC Rejoinder Assessment Review Request Form
• RMS User Guide - Submitting a Rejoinder Aug 2021 (Version 4)
• UoM Rejoinder fact sheet 01 March 2022

RIC is hosting an ARC 2024 Discovery Project (DP24) Rejoinder Webinar on Tuesday 27 June 2023, 12-1pm. The webinar may also be beneficial to LP applicants. Further details including registration are available here.

Note: Assessor comments should only include details on Project Quality and Innovation, Impact, Investigator(s’) capability and quality of team and Strength of the proposed research alliance. Assessors should not be commenting on Eligibility and Compliance. If you identify an assessment that contains inappropriate elements you may wish to have this reviewed by the ARC. You can do this by completing an ARC Assessment Review Request form within 3 working days after the opening of the Rejoinder period. Please note that applicants should never contact the ARC directly. Always speak to your Faculty or RIC first.

Contacts