Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2027

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.