Research Programs

National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy 2025 Guidelines (2024-25 to 2027-28 only)

This grant supports short-term (up to 3 years), industry-led research collaborations. Projects must: develop a product, service or process that will solve problems for industry and deliver real outcomes benefit small to medium enterprises (SMEs). You can use the funding to cover costs directly related to your project including: new research proof of concept activities pre-commercialisation of research outcomes industry-focused education and training activities conferences, workshops, symposia related to the joint research information sharing and communications related to the research. This is not a complete list and other costs may also be eligible. There is no specific amount of funding allocated to each CRC-P round. The number of CRC Projects we fund in each selection round depends on the applications received and available Program funding. Applicants must at least match the amount of grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions.

CRC Grants are part of the CRC Program. The CRC Program supports industry, research and the community in 2 ways: CRC Grants – support medium to long term industry-led collaborative research of between 3 and 10 years. CRC Projects (CRC-P) grants – support short term, industry-led collaborative research, for up to 3 years. CRC Grants provide funding for collaborations to solve industry identified problems. CRCs must: be a medium to long-term industry-led collaborative research program aim to solve industry identified problems and improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries include an industry-focused education and training program, including a PhD program that builds capability and capacity increase research and development (R&D) capacity in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) encourage industry take up of research There is no specified limit to funding for each CRC. However, the number of CRC Grants we fund in each selection round depends on the applications received and available funding. Applicants must at least match the amount of grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions.

The Discovery Projects scheme provides grant funding to support research projects that may be undertaken by individual researchers or research teams. The Discovery Projects scheme objectives are to: support excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research, and research training, across all disciplines excluding clinical and other medical research, that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge and represents value for money; expand research capacity in Australia by supporting excellent researchers and teams; foster national and international research collaboration; create new knowledge with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia; and enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

The Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities to Eligible Organisations. It enables researchers to participate in cooperative initiatives so that expensive research infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared between higher education organisations and also with industry. The scheme also fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of international or national research facilities. LIEF grant applications are accepted once a year. The minimum level of funding provided by the ARC is $150,000 per year. The LIEF scheme objectives are to: support excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research and research training, across all disciplines excluding clinical and other medical research, through the acquisition (purchase, upgrade, construction, transportation, installation, and/or maintenance) of research equipment and infrastructure and access to national and international research facilities; encourage Eligible Organisations to develop collaborative arrangements with other Eligible Organisations and/or Partner Organisations for the acquisition and use of research equipment and infrastructure or access to national and international facilities; enhance the scale and focus of research in areas of existing and/or emerging research strength; and expand the availability of research infrastructure for the broader research community.