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Research Grant Incentive Scheme

Following discussions at the recent meeting of the Faculty Research Committee, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business and Law has instituted an incentive system for staff to obtain nationally-competitive research grants and funding for postgraduate research students.  The advantages of such funding for the Faculty, Schools and applicant's CVs are well known.

The scheme will come into effect immediately.  This means that applications for SPIRT grants (Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training-see http://www.detya.gov.au/highered/research/grants/grantap1.htm#spirt) commencing in 2001 and which have a UNE closing date of 14 April, 2000 are eligible for payments under the Scheme.  Since this incentive scheme had been foreshadowed last year, it will apply to applications for ARC Large Grants that were lodged this year.

The incentives will take the form of payments from the Faculty to APF accounts.  In the case of applications involving more than one staff member, the payment will be shared among them according to the wishes of those staff members.

The incentives that will operate are detailed below.  These may be modified through time in the light of experience.  Please note that the amounts for ARC Large Grants are generally greater than those for other grants because the former have a lower success rate.  In all cases it is assumed that the grant application is lodged through the UNE Research Grants Office and is forwarded by that Office to the funding body.

Individuals receiving incentive payments will be expected to meet certain requirements which are also detailed below.

(1)        ARC Large Grants

  1. In the case of an application that does not survive the first round of culling, $300.
  2. In the case of an application that survives the first round of culling but not the second, $1000.
  3. In the case of an application that is successful, $1000 plus one per cent of the value of the grant, with the maximum payment being $2000.
  4. In the case of an application that is successful and which has a postgraduate scholarship element sufficient to fund a full-time PhD student for three years, $1500 plus one per cent of the value of the grant, with the maximum payment being $2500.

(2)        ARC SPIRT Grants

  1. In the case of an application that does not survive the first round of culling, $300.
  2. In the case of an application that survives the first round of culling but not the second, $750.
  3. In the case of application that is successful, $750 plus one per cent of the value of the grant, with the maximum payment being $1500.
  4. In the case of an application that is successful and which has a postgraduate scholarship element sufficient to fund a full-time PhD student for three years, $1250 plus one per cent of the value of the grant, with the maximum payment being $2000.

(3)        Other ARC Grants

There are a variety of other grants available from the ARC (e.g., IREX grants).  Staff members contemplating making an application for one of these are invited to discuss incentive arrangements with the Associate Dean in the first instance who shall make a recommendation to the Dean concerning an incentive payment.

(4)        Non-ARC Nationally-Competitive Grants

There are a wide variety of non-ARC nationally-competitive research grants with differing application procedures and selection processes.  However, a somewhat common model consists of (a) lodgement of a preliminary proposal; (b) a call for "fully-blown" applications in the case of successful preliminary proposals; and (c) final selection of successful applications.  With this model in mind, the following incentives will apply.

  1. In the case of fully-blown applications that are eventually unsuccessful, $250 for applications where the amount requested is between $10 000 and $50 000, and $500 for applications where the amount requested is in excess of $50 000.
  2. In the case of successful applications, $500 plus one per cent of the value of the grant up to a maximum payment of $2000.
  3. In the case of an application that is successful and which has a postgraduate scholarship element sufficient to fund a full-time PhD student for three years, $1000 plus one per cent of the value of the grant, with the maximum payment being $2000.
  4. In the case of applications that have to proceed through a different cycle and applications that are basically for postgraduate scholarships, intending applicants should discuss incentive arrangements with the Associate Dean in the first instance who shall make a recommendation to the Dean concerning an incentive payment.

(5)        Requirements of those Receiving Incentives

  1. Those individuals receiving an incentive payment for an application that is eventually unsuccessful will be expected to submit a revised application at the first opportunity unless there are strong grounds for not doing so.  The Associate Dean will liaise with individuals in this category concerning follow-up action.
  2. In the case of those applicants who are successful in obtaining grants, there will be an expectation that they be available to assist other staff in their disciplinary area write grant applications (this might include an informal seminar on success in the application process).  They will also be expected to liaise with Public Affairs and Marketing concerning a possible press statement on the grant.

Any general inquiries about this incentive scheme should be addressed to the Associate Dean in the first instance.