SMALL GRANT SCHEME. Pilot Research Projects Proof of Concept Projects GUIDELINES AND FUNDING RULES FOR FUNDING COMMENCING JANUARY 2015 CLOSING DATE:

Transcription

1 SMALL GRANT SCHEME Pilot Research Projects Proof of Concept Projects GUIDELINES AND FUNDING RULES FOR FUNDING COMMENCING JANUARY 2015 CLOSING DATE: 4pm, 31 st October 2014 Page 1 of 9

2 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION SCOPE OF THE SCHEME CHIEF INVESTIGATOR ROLE AND ELIGIBILITY APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS BUDGET GRANTS OFFICE CONTACTS SUBMISSION PROCESS CLOSING DATE APPLICATION ASSESSMENT ETHICS APPROVAL PROJECT FUNDING REPORTING FURTHER INFORMATION... 9 Page 2 of 9

3 1. INTRODUCTION Murdoch University s Small Grants Scheme supports innovative and high quality novel ideas leading to competitive Australian Competitive Grant proposals and/or the translation of knowledge and technology from Murdoch s intellectual property: a. Pilot Research Projects (PRPs): Funding to support the development of innovative research where preliminary data, feasibility studies, pilot work, preparation of specialist material or data, the establishment of collaborative relationships, etc. is required to prepare the ground and improve the competitiveness of a larger application for an Australian Competitive Grant, e.g. ARC Discovery Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, NHMRC Project Grants within the following twelve months. b. Proof of Concept Projects (POCs) Funding to facilitate and improve the translation of knowledge and technology resulting from Murdoch University s intellectual property. The idea is to advance inventions on the pathway towards societal benefit. Funding will support early stage novel ideas with commercial potential or significant impact. Funding can cover costs for activities which will prove your technology and assess the commercial potential. 2. SCOPE OF THE SCHEME Funding for successful applicants commences in January 2015 and will be awarded for a maximum of 12 months (projects must start no later than 1 st March 2015). The maximum funding available for each award is $15,000. Applications are accepted from individuals or teams and each Chief Investigator must meet the eligibility requirements. To accept funding under this scheme, recipients must agree to the following conditions. Fifty per cent of the value of the award will be administered at the award commencement date, with the remainder to be reimbursed upon submission of an application for an Australian Competitive Grant (PRPs) or receipt of a final report (POCs). An application for an Australian Competitive Grant must be made within 12 months following completion of a PRP. A Final Report (including a financial acquittal) must be submitted to the Grants Office within two months of project completion. 3. CHIEF INVESTIGATOR ROLE AND ELIGIBILITY Chief Investigators must take intellectual, administrative and ethical responsibility for a research project, from its conception to its finalisation and the communication of its outcomes. Each named Chief Investigator must meet the following eligibility criteria: Where eligibility is in doubt or unclear, Chief Investigators must seek an eligibility ruling from the Manager, Grants and Contracts Services, in writing, at least two weeks prior to submission of the application. Page 3 of 9

4 hold a full-time or fractional (half-time or greater) Murdoch University research only or research & teaching appointment for the duration of the funded project. Staff on continuing or fixed term contracts are eligible as long as the latter extends beyond the term of the small grant. have the time and basic infrastructure to undertake the project, within the context of existing research, teaching and higher degree supervision responsibilities. take an active role in, and make a serious commitment to the project, and in the case of the lead Chief Investigator, undertake the role of project leader, with overall responsibility for all aspects of the project. 4. APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY Applicants may submit a maximum of one application as a lead Chief Investigator to both the PRP and the POC in any one round of the Small Grants scheme. Researchers cannot be named as a Chief Investigator on concurrent awards funded under the scheme. A second award will only be made to a Chief Investigator subject to satisfactory progress on, or completion of, the first award and the subsequent submission of an application for an Australian Competitive Grant. This includes the submission of the final report, and an assurance that the second project will also lead to the submission of an Australian Competitive Grant application. Applicants must disclose any related applications awarded, submitted or plans for submission to other internal or external schemes. Concurrent proposals to the Small Grants scheme and external funders may be submitted provided that any funds received under the Small Grants scheme are relinquished, as appropriate, on receipt of the external award. Funds may not be used to support research towards a higher degree. For POCs: Staff who have a product/service/process where there is a proven market and opportunity and where the intellectual property (IP) has already been identified, described and possibly protected. For advice on this and to notify IP please contact Sam Dymond in the R&D Office (x7481). Additionally: The IP must have been developed by Murdoch University staff (or Murdoch University postgraduate students willing to assign their IP to Murdoch). All inventors must be clearly identified on the application form. The applicant/s must agree to give notice of at least 4 weeks before disclosure or publication (including electronic publication) to Sam Dymond in the R&D Office to enable a consideration of IP protection. 5. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS IMPORTANT - Applicants must take note that applications are not assessed by experts in the field and therefore need to ensure that the proposal is accessible to a broad audience. Use of overly technical language, or language specific to a particular discipline, along with jargon and acronyms should be avoided. Please follow the guidance on the application form as indicated. The application should contain all the information necessary for an assessment of the project without the need for further information or explanation. Additional documentation must not be submitted with Page 4 of 9

5 the application, unless specified in this document. All questions are to be answered or marked not applicable. Do not leave any sections blank. Any application that does not fully comply with the eligibility criteria and the instructions provided in this document and in the scheme Funding Rules may be deemed ineligible. The application must be completed and formatted in accordance with the following: All text should be displayed in single column on white A4 paper Black, 12-point font size should be used throughout (unless otherwise indicated). This includes publication lists, figure captions, table captions and table contents. Text within figures may be any font size, but must be legible on paper copy. 6. BUDGET References may be reproduced in 10-point font size Do not adjust page margins on the application form All budget items must be fully justified and be shown in Australian Dollars. The following costs can be supported under this scheme: Short-term research assistance or technical support Maintenance/ Consumables and Equipment (providing it is clear these would not normally be purchased by the School) Costs (excluding capital costs) of performing the "proof of concept" experiment(s) or demonstrations to support further investigation or funding of the project. For example, to demonstrate that a particular experimental outcome is repeatable or applicable to more than one use Independent consultants or service providers to undertake: o Licensing; o development of a brief, commercially-focussed business case (up to $5,000); and o market research / market scoping (up to $5,000). Project-specific activities that help to build a case to show the concept will be commercially attractive. Travel and accommodation (economy class only), including: o Fieldwork, visiting major libraries, museums, data/lab access, visits to other research institutions to establish collaborations and write proposals All travel must be consistent with the Murdoch University Travel Policy (1502, a-f). The following costs will not be supported under the scheme: POC applicants: Funds will not be provided for patent prosecution. Salaries of Chief Investigators Capital equipment above $5,000 per item Postgraduate research projects Basic facilities, resources and infrastructure (e.g. laboratory and office accommodation, IT, photocopying and printing, etc) except where there is a clearly Page 5 of 9

6 demonstrated, project-specific requirement (e.g. specialised IT requirements, printing and mailing of questionnaires, etc.) Conference and seminar travel and associated costs Capital works Student stipends and fees Research support for non-mu investigators General advertising or promotional expenses Shortfalls on other awards Please note: The proposed budget must be checked by the relevant Finance Support Team member before your application is submitted. Please liaise with your School or Institution s Grants and Contracts Officer to arrange this. 7. GRANTS OFFICE CONTACTS Jane Crier Manager, Research Grant and Contract Services Phone: j.crier@murdoch.edu.au Janet Berriman Grants and Contracts Officer School of Engineering and IT Phone: j.berriman@murdoch.edu.au Luci Smith Grants and Contracts Officer All other schools Phone: l.smith@murdoch.edu.au Hinke Van Gelder Senior Grants and Contracts Officer IIID and CCG Phone: h.vangelder@murdoch.edu.au Naomi Arbon Grants and Contracts Officer School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Phone: n.arbon@murdoch.edu.au 8. SUBMISSION PROCESS Once your application budget has been reviewed by the Finance Support Team your completed application form and required attachments should be ed to your Grants and Contracts Officer for your School by 4pm on 31 st October All documents must be submitted in word. Please contact the Grants and Contracts Officer for your School for assistance with queries or administrative aspects as per details above. Page 6 of 9

7 9. CLOSING DATE The completed application and attachments must be ed to your Grants and Contracts Officer for your School by 4pm on 31 st October Late applications will not be accepted. 10. APPLICATION ASSESSMENT Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis by a Panel with membership drawn from Murdoch University s Research Development Committee, research community and external representatives as appropriate. The Panel reserves the right to adjust the level of financial support provided to successful applicants. Occasionally, the Panel will identify applications that could be funded on the provision that amendments are made. This is in keeping with the developmental nature of the scheme. In such cases the application will be returned to the first named Chief Investigator with feedback. The Chief Investigator will then have two weeks to submit a revised application. The revised application must be accompanied by a covering letter explaining the changes that have been made, in response to the feedback provided. The final assessment will then be carried out on the resubmitted application by delegated Panel members. Applications are not assessed by experts in the field. Applicants therefore need to ensure that the proposal is accessible to a broad academic audience. Use of overly technical language, or language specific to a particular discipline, along with jargon and acronyms should be avoided. In their deliberations, the Panel will consider any eligibility issues and the following criteria: PRPs Project Quality and Innovation Does the project address an important issue? Are the aims and conceptual/theoretical framework original and innovative? Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance knowledge within the field(s)? Approach and Methodology Is the proposed design, method and analysis adequate to achieve the stated aims? Are the aims achievable within the proposed time frame, and given the skills, experience and time commitment of the Chief Investigators? Is the budget appropriate and fully justified? Researcher(s) Track Record and Future Prospects Any recognised research performance background in terms of academic record, awards or refereed publications will be considered relative to career stage/opportunity Record of attracting resources for support of research, relative to career stage/opportunity. Other evidence of capacity and expertise to undertake the proposed research Page 7 of 9

8 Will the project outcomes enhance competitiveness in securing future external funding to support their research program? Will the project enhance capacity and provide the opportunity to develop the researcher(s) track record in innovative, high quality research? Outcomes The application demonstrates that there is a clear and achievable strategy and schedule for attracting substantial external funding, including commercial sources for POC applications. Will the project produce economic, environmental, social and/or cultural benefit? 11. ETHICS APPROVAL Some research projects will require human and/or animal ethics approval. It is the responsibility of researchers to ensure they have appropriate approval for their research project prior to commencing and evidence of application will be required. Please contact the Ethics staff in the R&D Directorate for advice. 12. PROJECT FUNDING A project may not begin, nor may the funds be expended, until the Chief Investigator has accepted the award and all required ethical and other clearances have been obtained. 50% of the value of any award will then be administered with the remainder to be reimbursed upon submission of application for an Australian Competitive Grant (PRPs) or receipt of a final report (POCs). Funding will be available in January 2015, and the project must commence by 1st March Expenditure on the project must be in accordance with the Budget section of this document and with the aims and research plan of the project. Any over-expenditure on the project will be the responsibility of the first-named Chief Investigator and the School. Any unspent funds will be recovered by the University. However, if in exceptional circumstances the project cannot be completed within twelve months, the Manager, Research Grants and Contract Services, may approve a request to carry forward unspent funds for a limited time. Only one extension request will be considered. Likewise, any significant changes to the project must be approved by the Manager, Research Grants and Contract Services. 13. REPORTING The first-named Chief Investigator is required to provide a written report on the completion of/progress towards agreed outcomes and provide an itemised acquittal within two months of the award end date to the Manager, Research Grants and Contract Services. The final report and acquittal form will be ed to award recipients in November Page 8 of 9

9 14. FURTHER INFORMATION Queries regarding PRP applications will be addressed by Jane Crier: Ext Queries regarding POC applications will be addressed by Sam Dymond: Ext Page 9 of 9