Cooperative Research Centres Program
Selection Round Application Instructions
Selection Round 16 (2013)
(Revised April 2013)
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1Purpose
1.2Before you start
1.3Application closing date
1.4Successful application commencement date
1.5Lodging your application
1.6Technical issues
1.7Amending applications
1.8Application contact officer
1.9Contacting the CRC program
2 Selection Round Application Instructions
2.1False or misleading information
2.216th CRC selection round priority areas
2.3Extension and new applications
2.4CRC online
2.5Response to Selection Criteria Form
2.6CVs for key personnel
2.7Impact tool
2.8Participant declaration
2.9Application checklist
1 Introduction
1.1Purpose
The Cooperative Research Centres Program Selection Round Application Instructions, Selection Round 16 (2013) (application instructions) provide guidance to applicants on how to complete the application requirements for Australian Government funding through the CRC program. The guidance covers the five key elements of an application:
- CRC online (CRC details, participant and contributions, key personnel, financial details) – section 2.4
- Response to Selection Criteria form – section 2.5
- CVs for key personnel – section 2.7
- Impact tool – section 2.8
- Participant declarations – section 2.9
The guidance also discusses other relevant information to your application, including the implications of provision of false or misleading information, formatting requirements and the CRC program priorities for the 16th selection round.
The CRC Online Applicant’s User Guide is a separate document that will assist applicants to input and upload all application material to CRC online.
The Impact Tool User Guide is also available and provides instructions and advice on completing the impact tool.
1.2Before you start
CRC program application instructions should be read in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centres Program Guidelines (CRC program guidelines) which are available, along with all the selection round documentation, on the CRC program website at:
The CRC program guidelines describe the application process, selection process and general funding conditions for CRCs. Potential applicants are encouraged to view further information about the CRC program and currently operating CRCs (available on the CRC program website) to avoid duplicating their activities. Applicants should also be familiar with the selection round timetable and critical dates.
There is a strong interplay between all parts of the application. Before starting to complete the application material, applicants should map out their proposed CRC structure including research programs, milestones, outputs, usages, and projected impacts to ensure clarity in the structure and consistency across the application.
1.3Application closing date
Applications for the 16th selection round must be lodged by 5:00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on 13 June 2013. Late applications will not be accepted.
1.4Successful application commencement date
CRCs that are successful in the 16th selection round should anticipate a contract commencement date of 1 July 2014. Successful CRCs with an existing agreement that goes beyond this date will be required to sign a deed of termination, effective from 30June2014. Please ensure all planning in your application reflects this commencement date.
1.5Lodging your application
Applications must be completed and lodged using the CRC program online system, CRC online (at Applicants should begin their application and data entry as early as possible to allow sufficient time to complete all application requirements. It is recommended that applicants begin data entry well before the closing date of the selection round.
1.6Technical issues
CRC online supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and above for both Windows and Apple Macintosh systems. Problems may be encountered if older versions or different browsers are used.
The Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (the department) does not accept responsibility for applications not able to be lodged due to technical issues or fault. However, the department will work with applicants to attempt to resolve any technical issues prior to the close of applications.
1.7Amending applications
Applicants wishing to make amendments to a submitted application prior to the closing time and date can make a request to the CRC program to have their application ‘unsubmitted’ to allow changes. However, the applicant must ensure the application is re-submitted prior to the close time and date. The department will accept no responsibility for late re-submission.
The department will not accept any changes to applications after the application closing date.
Should an applicant become aware of any changes that may have an impact on the ability of the proposed CRC to undertake its activities or deliver its outcomes, such as the withdrawal of a participant or key personnel, they should contact the CRC program immediately. The CRC program will advise if formal notification is required.
1.8Application contact officer
Contact details for a primary and secondary application contact officer must be provided as part of the online application. The department will liaise with the primary application contact officer throughout the application process and the contact officer must, therefore, be familiar with the CRC application and be available from the date applications close until the announcement of the outcome of the selection round. Should the primary application contact officer be unavailable during this time, the department must be notified so that the secondary contact officer can be contacted.
1.9Contacting the CRC program
For information relating to the CRC program or application process please contact the CRC program helpdesk on:
Phone: (02) 6213 7177
Fax: (02) 6213 6414
Email:
2 Selection Round Application Instructions
2.1False or misleading information
The CRC program is an Australian Government funding program administered by the department. The department is authorised to collect all items of information in an application to this program for its administration and for publicity in relation to persons funded. Information provided by applicants tothe department is regulated by the relevant provisions and penalties of the Public Service Act 1999, the Public Service Regulations, the Privacy Act 1988, the Crimes Act 1914, Freedom of Information Act 1982, the Criminal Code and general law.
Under section 137 of the Criminal Code, giving false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity is an offence. In addition to prosecution, if the department is satisfied that any statement made in an application for funding is incorrect, incomplete, false or misleading, the department may, at its absolute discretion, take appropriate action. Such action may include: excluding an application from further consideration; withdrawing an offer of funding; and/or terminating any agreement between the Commonwealth and the recipient.
The CRC program guidelines provide information about privacy and confidentiality (Section10) and freedom of information (Section11), and the use or disclosure of the information provided in applications. Applicants should advise the department on the Response to Selection Criteria Form if there are particular parts of their application that they want kept confidential. Those parts should be clearly identified in the application.
2.216th CRC selection round priority areas
The priority areas for the 16th CRC selection round are innovative manufacturing, sustainable regional communities and social innovation.
The CRC program priority areas are in place to encourage applications that address issues of particular importance to the Australian Government and to Australia.
Consistent with the CRC program guidelines, the CRC committee will consider the extent to which applications address and will contribute to the CRC program priority areas as part of the process to determine its recommendations for applications to progress to stage two of the application process and for applications to be funded.
On 28 November 2012 the former Minister announced that up to $240 million will be available for the 16th selection round. Of this amount, up to $50 million will be available initially for the innovative manufacturing priority area. Applicants may nominate the priority area(s) they consider their application addresses and justify this nomination in their Response to Selection Criteria Form. In the assessment of applications, the CRC committee will determine whether an application falls within a priority area. Applications will be assessed on a competitive merit basis noting that applications which the CRC committee decides address the innovative manufacturing priority area will be eligible for a share of the $50 million funding set aside for that priority area as well as the remaining funding based upon the merit of that application. Should there be insufficient competitive applications within the innovative manufacturing priority area; any remaining funds from the $50 million set aside for this priority area will be added to the pool of funds available for all other applications.
The innovative manufacturing priority area will be interpreted broadly. Proposals in this priority area should address the challenges faced by industry in the manufacturing sector. The challenges may include the development of capabilities and products in knowledge-intensive manufacturing or niche high tech areas, and enhanced processes and products that reduce emissions, consumption and costs. Other areas could include capitalising on upstream processing. Proposals should be focussed on end users maximising opportunities through innovative sustainable practices that will underpin growth and competitiveness over the longer term.
The sustainable regional communities priority area will be interpreted broadly. Proposals in this priority area may address any of the challenges-economic, environmental or social-faced by Australia's regional communities. Proposals could be focussed on securing future prosperity and maximising opportunities for regional communities through sectors with long term competitive advantages, investment in climate and biosecurity resilience, agriculture, infrastructure, health, jobs, education and increased participation. Proposals could also contribute to sustainable regional communities through investigation of trade opportunities and value-adding to raw products, digital applications, investment in clean energy, water and carbon efficient technologies as well as community leadership and resilience.
The social innovation priority area will be interpreted broadly. Proposals in this priority area may focus on new and sustainable solutions to societal challenges faced by end users in areas such as education, health or community wellbeing and development. Innovations may include products, models, processes or services that seek to strengthen society at a local, national and global level. Proposals in this priority area should address public good as a key objective of the CRC program and also align with the government’s broader social inclusion agenda.
2.3Extension and new applications
The CRC program guidelines (clause 4.3.5) provide for the CRC committee to make a recommendation to the Minister as to whether an application from existing CRC participants is an extension of an existing CRC or a new CRC. Therefore the Minister is the final decision maker on whether an application is classified as an extension or new application. A recommendation to the Minister will only be made based on a full application following the close of applications.
Factors that may be considered when assessing whether an application is an extension or new include:
- The degree of overlap between the major challenge to be addressed by the proposed new CRC and that of an existing CRC
- The scale and scope of the proposed CRC
- Research, education and/or utilisation activities that are effectively a continuation of existing work
- The extent of changes in participants
- The extent of changes in key personnel
- Governance and management arrangements
- IP arrangements, in particular, the nature and proposed management strategy for background IP
- Any other relevant factors.
The CRC committee is able to provide applicants with a preliminary view as to whether an application may be classified as a new or an extension application prior to the close of applications. The preliminary view of the committee will be based on information relevant to the points above that is provided by the applicant through a form specifically for this purpose. The form will be available on the CRC website and must be submitted by the required date (28 March 2013) to enable the CRC committee to consider the information and provide a preliminary view in a timely manner to the applicant. The preliminary view will be based on information made available by the applicant on the form and is intended to assist an applicant in the classification of their application. Following receipt of the full application, the CRC committee will exercise its judgment and will make a recommendation to the Minister as to whether an application constitutes an application for an extension of an existing CRC or for a new CRC. Should the CRC committee’s recommendation following the submission of the applicant’s full application be different from its preliminary view, the CRC committee will provide this advice to the applicant with reasons for this change. The CRC committee’s recommendation is final.
2.4CRC online
Applications must be completed and lodged using the CRC program's secure website, CRC online. Applicants who are not current users of the system must first register as a 'new user' before creating a new application. Current users of the system are provided with links to create a new or supplementary application via the internal navigation menu after logging on.
The CRC online component of the application process requires applicants, including applicants for supplementary funding, to complete a number of fields and provide a range of information on the proposed CRC, including: contact details and research area; identification of proposed research programs and the National Research Priorities they address; participants; key personnel; participant contributions and other budgetary information including firm cash and expenditure.
The CRC Online Applicant’s User Guide provides instructions and will assist applicants in completing the required fields.
Applicants must also upload, using the specific upload functions in CRC online, their completed: Response to Selection Criteria Form, CVs for key personnel, signed participant declarations for all participants, and impact tool.
Applicants must complete each CRC online data screen and ensure it has a status of 'completed' before the application is lodged. Applicants should allocate sufficient timeto enter data and upload documents to the system. Once each screen has a status of 'completed' you may use the Lodge Application button on this screen. Applications must be lodged by 5:00pm (AEST) on 13 June 2013.
2.5Response to Selection Criteria Form
The Response to Selection Criteria Form is part of the selection round application pack which is available for download from the CRC program website at Applicants must carefully consider the information provided in the CRC program guidelines and describe their proposal against the three selection criteria set out in the CRC program guidelines (section 6.4), and address all the considerations described therein.
There are different versions of the Response to Selection Criteria Form for new/extension applications and for supplementary applications and the versions have different page limits. The number of pages permitted for the response to selection criteria section for new/extension applications is ten pages and for supplementary applications is five pages.
Drafting notes and headings are provided to assist applicants in developing their application. The headings may be used by applicants to enable easy identification of the parts of the form that address the issues. Any relevant additional information may also be included in the form.
In addressing the selection criteria supplementary applications should primarily focus on the new activities they are proposing rather than the CRC’s activities generally. Should the proposal be only to undertake new utilisation activities then it would be appropriate to provide additional focus on the results criterion.
A key aspect of extension applications and supplementary applications is that the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the CRC committee that they meet the exceptional circumstances requirement outlined in sections 4.3 and 4.6 of the CRC program guidelines respectively.
The formatting instructions apply to both new/extension applications and supplementary applications.
- Margins must all be at least 2cm
- Line spacing must be set to single
- Font must be Arial 11
- Character space formatting must be set to scale 100% and spacing normal.
Do not include any diagrams, graphics, images, tables, graphs, footnotes, etc in the executive summary or the CRC priority areas sections of the Response to Selection Criteria Form. You may include supporting diagrams, graphics, images, tables, graphs, etc. in the response to selection criteria section, however, footnotes are not permitted. You should keep in mind that the electronic file may be printed and photocopied in black and white potentially leading to some loss of definition and colour in the images.
Labelling of axes of graphs and labelling of parts of images may be in a reduced font. However, the description and/or legends of all graphs, text within tables and all other text must be in single-spaced Arial 11 font.
All drafting notes should be deleted from the Response to Selection Criteria Form before it is lodged.
Specific word limits must be observed in the CRC title, executive summary and CRC priority area sections. The response to selection criteria section page limit includes any supporting diagrams, graphics, images, tables, graphs, etc.
If required, a maximum of one additional page is permitted for references cited in the executive summary and response to selection criterion sections. All references must be in standard journal format.
No additional material will be accepted.
Your completed Response to Selection Criteria Form must be converted to a PDF file (ensuring that the executive summary, CRC priority areas section and responses to all three criteria are included in the one file) and uploaded to CRC online. The final PDF file should not exceed 5MB in size.
Completed Response to Selection Criteria Forms which fail to comply with these instructions may, at the department’s absolute discretion, not be considered in the selection process.
2.6CVs for key personnel
Curriculum vitae (CV) forms must be completed for all key personnel identified in the Key Personnel Details screen in CRC online (where known, the proposed CEO, proposed chair, programleaders/senior managers and key researchers/managers). A maximum of 12 key personnel can be listed. Additional staff at these levels can be accounted for, without being named, as part of participant contributions.