TYRE STEWARDSHIP AUSTRALIA

Tyre Stewardship Research Fund – Round 1

PhD Scholarship Stream

Guidelines and Application Form

Tyre Stewardship Australia

Suite 6, Level 4, 372-376 Albert Street,

East Melbourne Vic 3002

Tel +61 3 9077 2791

ABN: 44 164 971 939

This application, including attachments, must be submitted via email, with ‘Scholarship Stream’ in the subject line, to:

  1. About TSA

Australia generates a significant quantity of waste tyres every year, many of which are not managed in an environmentally sound manner. Poor practice by some operators has led to incidents of illegal dumping and dangerous stockpiling which poses a very real risk to environment and human health.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) is a not-for-profit company established to administer the national Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme (‘the scheme’), the objectives of which are to:

  • increase resource recovery and recycling and minimise the environmental, health and safety impacts of end-of-life tyres generated in Australia, and
  • develop Australia’s tyre recycling industry and markets for tyre-derived products.

The scheme provides an industry led and government supportedframework to effectively reduce the environmental, health and safety impacts of the 52 million equivalent passenger units (EPU), which reach the end of their life in Australia each year.

TSA is supported by a 25 centper EPU levy on new tyres coming into Australia and uses these funds to deliver a robust audit and compliance scheme and support research and development projects.

The Tyre Stewardship Research Fund (‘the fund’) is a mechanism for TSA to facilitate research and support to develop Australia’s tyre recycling industry and markets for tyre derived products.

The fund is being delivered in two streams:

PhD Scholarship Stream – Specific PhD scholarships to investigate future technology and solutions that may transform markets for tyre recycling and tyre-derived products (this document pertains to the PhD Scholarship Stream)

Project Stream – Funding to support research and development projects that will lead to increased uptake of tyre derived products (guidelines and an application form for the Project Stream can be found here)

This document contains the guidelines and applicationform for the ‘PhD Scholarship Stream’ of the fund. Interested applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines in detail prior to lodging any application for funding.

For more information on TSA or the scheme please visit

If you’d like to talk to someone about the Tyre Stewardship Scholarship Fund, contact:

Liam O’Keefe - Market Development Manager

E-mail:

  1. Tyre Stewardship Research Fund objectives

The Australian tyre recycling industry produces a number of tyre-derived products (TDP)such as crumb rubber and rubber granules that can be used in applications from road construction and playground surfacing to adhesives and binders, and even as an additive into explosives. However, at this point the market for these products is not large enough to absorb all of the waste tyres being created in Australia.

The TSA Board has therefore established the fund as a means of stimulating research that will support exciting new developments in the application of TDP and lead to an expansion of new products, applications and markets for local recyclers and manufacturers.

  1. RESEARCH THEMES

TSA aims to support research and development that is practical, feasible and will have commercial outcomes that benefit the market. At this stage, this means that a significant proportion of our R&D funding is focused on “applied” research – for example research into the use of crumb rubber in engineering applications such as road, rail and general construction. However, the TSA Board recognises the role TSA has in being future focused and supporting projects that can lead the long term transformation of the tyre recycling industry through innovative, cutting edge research.

Therefore, the PhD Scholarship Stream of the fund is seeking proposals which are more exploratory in nature. That is, research projectsthat look for new ideas and technologies and/or new applications for existing ideas and technologies, thatwill benefit the waste tyre and associated manufacturing industries.

Beyond that, TSA has no desire to constrain thinking about what might be involved. It is, however, crucial that the research targets one of more of the overarching objectives of TSA funding which is:

  • advance innovative technologies in Australia by supporting focused, collaborative research in high priority technologies;
  • retain local expertise in, and attract international expertise to, Australia in technologies related to end-of-life tyres;
  • support the growth of skills and capacity in Australia in technologies related to end of life tyres for the domestic and international markets; and
  • share the results of that research with the wider industry as appropriate whilst respecting intellectual property rights.

Industry Linkages

Whilst the nature of the PhD Scholarship Stream of the fund is to look at future technologies and trends, TSA still believes that working with industry and/or government organisations remains critical. Therefore, TSA will look favourably on candidates that can show relevant linkages to and from within industry.

  1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applications must:

  • be submitted in accordance with the requirements of this document
  • include a clear research development opportunity
  • be for bona-fide research and not for seed capital for a commercial or product development venture
  • address one or more of the aspects listed under ‘research themes’
  • reflect a project that is well advanced in its planning and executable in the indicated time- frames
  • be from a researcher employed at a university in Australia.
  1. FUNDING LEVEL

There are 2 x $75,000 scholarships available.

This will be paid out as $25,000 a year for 3 years.

This could be stand-alone funding or as a co-contribution to an industry project or other scholarship.

  1. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
  1. Alignment with TSA objectives and research themes (20%)
  2. Quality and relevance of the method and research plan (20%)
  3. Applicability of relevant earlier work (10%)
  4. Innovation of thought, method or approach to problem solving (10%)
  5. Quality of team and project lead (10%)
  6. Capacity to be utilised commercially and/or relationship with an industry partner (15%)
  7. Feasibility/risks/risk management of the proposed method (15%)
  1. ASSESSMENT PROCESS

In line with the TSA Guidelines, the TSA Board will engage a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to assess project proposals.

The Research Advisory Committee is an advisory body specifically convened to provide additional support and technical expertise to the TSA Board on matters of funding. It should be noted that whilst the RAC will provide recommendations and advice, it is the sole responsibility of the TSA Board to make final decisions regarding scholarship funding.

All assessments by the RAC will be made using a weighted scoring system, with additional commentary for clarity and/or feedback. The RAC reserves the right to ask for supplementary information from any applicant.

POST SELECTION FEEDBACK

Unsuccessful applicants for funding may seek feedback from TSA management – but detailed scoring information will NOT be provided.

TSA management will provide qualitative feedback on why a proposal was not successful using the assessment criteria described earlier.

CONFIDENTIALITY

TSA treats all information relating to fund applications that it receives confidentially.

  1. KEY DATES

The following are the target dates but these are subject to change at the discretion of the TSA:

October 23:Fund Opens

5pm, Wednesday December 16, 2015: Closing date for applications

February 2016: Assessment, ranking and recommendation to Board by RAC

March 2016: Applicants advised of outcome

  1. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

TSA recognises that this is a new fund with new objectives and it is our intent to work closely with potential applicants to provide adequate guidance. TSA is available to answer questions from applicants over the phone and by email during the preparation of EOIs and full proposals.

Where appropriate, TSA may be able to assist potential applicants in linking up with relevant industry partners and/or tyre recyclers.

If you have any queries regarding this process, please contact TSA:

Email:

Tel +61 3 9077 2791

Disclaimer: Information in this document is current as of October 2015. While all professional care has been taken in preparing this document, Tyre Stewardship Australia accepts no liability for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance upon its content.

Tyre Stewardship ResearchFund

PhD Scholarship Stream

APPLICATION TEMPLATE – RESEARCH SUPPORT GRANT

PROJECT TITLE
DURATION / start / end

PROJECT LEADER’S DETAILS

Name
University
Faculty/school
Position
Phone
e-mail
Mobile

Other key members of research team

Name
University
Faculty/ school
Position
e-mail
Name
University
Faculty/ school
Position
e-mail

Industry partner/s (if relevant)

Name
University
Faculty/ school
Position
e-mail

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH

In 1,000 words or less provide a clear summary of the justification for undertaking the research, its aims, method and expected benefits to Tyre Stewardship Australia. Please also outline the potential long-term value to tyre recycling in Australia. Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of support from supervisors and industry partners where relevant (see below).

RESEARCH BACKGROUND & BASIS

In 300 words or less, describe previous research and initiatives that may underpin this proposal. If relevant, describe other broader research opportunities this proposal may support or relate to.

EXTENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT SOUGHT

2014 / $ / 2015 / $ / 2016 / $

CO-CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES (i.e. INDUSTRY FUNDING, ARC GRANT)

2014 / $ / 2015 / $ / 2016 / $

TSA expects that support maximums will be $25,000 in any one year; $75,000 in total. Please state if this is otherwise and the justification for the altered proposal if alternative arrangements are sought.

INDUSTRY REFEREE

It is most beneficial to an application if it is supported by a practitioner from outside academia, e.g. a tyre recycler, end user, government agency or manufacturer. If one or more such persons are involved, then please provide a letter (or letters) of support for the application if it will strengthen your application. Note that an absence of an industry partner is not a barrier to endorsement of the application.

Signatures of project leader and DVC (Research) or delegate

PROJECT LEADER:
Signature / Name / Date
DVC Research or delegate signature
Signature / Name / Date

This application, including attachments, must be submitted via email, with ‘Scholarship Stream’ in the subject line, to: