External Funding & Income Categories

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External Funding & Income Categories

External research funding is divided into research income categories as defined by the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC):

Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants.
Category 2: Other Australian public sector research income which is not eligible for inclusion as Category 1, and is sub-categorised as Commonwealth (own purpose); Commonwealth (other); State/Territory (own purpose); State/Territory (other).
Category 3: Consists of research income received from the private sector, philanthropic and international sources that are not eligible as Category 1 or Category 2.
Category 4: Research income derived from Australian Government grants to CRCs; research income derived from non-HEP members of CRCs; research income derived from external parties contributing to CRCs.

Category 1 - Australian Competitive Grants

Prior to 2018, the Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR) was used to identify schemes that provide competitive research grants, commonly known as Category 1 funding/income, to higher education providers. In 2018, the ACGR was abolished and Universities now use a prescribed Decision Tree, and the scheme guidelines, to determine which grants are nationally competitive.

Category 1 – Australian Competitive Grants income is a metric used to inform the allocation of the Australian Government’s Research Block Grants to Universities.

The major funding bodies that fall within Category 1 are:

Australian Research Council (ARC)
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
Rural R&D Corporations, such as Grain Research & Development Cooperation(GRDC)

Tenders

Research funding can be obtained via tender submission provided the tender response addresses are research question, e.g. it may contain an evaluation element, and the information can be disseminated to a wider audience.

Not all tenders are through government departments however you may be interested in subscribing to searches / notifications through the following:

Non-Government Organisation (NGO)

Funding can come from sources such as not-for-profit organisations, charitable foundations, philanthropic trusts and industry, whether it be through competitive open calls or contract research. This funding is categorised as Category 3 income and will be reportable under HERDC.

See Foundation and Trust Schemes for more information

International

Australian-based researchers are able to apply for international funding, however sometimes it does require collaboration with the country of origin.

Some places to start your search include:

Others

Other funding can include:

Contract research: projects that aim to achieve mutually beneficial research outcomes. Contract research differs to a consultancy, which involves the provision of a service and/or expert advice. Contract research can be categorised as research income (category 2 or 3) and will be reportable under HERDC.
A negotiated offer of funding: ‘tap on the shoulder’ funding, industry that seeks to provide funding before EOFY, etc.
Funding provided from an external source for a specific research project.

If you are planning on applying for or coordinating arrangements for any external research funding please see our Applying for funding web page.

Contacts

For any queries or assistance please contact:

School Research Administration Coordinators (RAC) for details see below
Research Administration Team Leader Lorraine Dunbar Tel: 6304 5402
Email: research-preaward@ecu.edu.au

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences schools

Arts & Humanities

Kylie Rudrum
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3430
Days: Mon-Wed

Danielle O'Brien
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3396
Days: Wed-Fri

Business & Law
Education

Nicky Kemp
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 2623
Days: Mon-Thurs

Kurongkurl Katitjin
WAAPA
Centre for People, Place and Planet

Mariko Huartson
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3669

STEM schools

Medical and Health Sciences
Science
Centre for Precision Health

Kylie Rudrum
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3430
Days: Mon-Wed

Danielle O'Brien
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3396
Days: Wed-Fri

Engineering
Medical and Health Sciences
Nutrition Health Innovation Research Institute

Mariko Huartson
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3669

Nursing and Midwifery
Exercise Medicine Research Institute

Nicky Kemp
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 2623
Days: Mon-Thurs

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