Sugar IndustryEARLY AND MID-CAREER RESEARCH (ECR/MCR) AWARDS

APPLICATION KIT

Introduction

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) invests in and manages a portfolio of research, development and extension (RD&E) projects that drive productivity, profitability and sustainability for the Australian sugarcane industry.

SRA also invests significantly in industry capability with the ongoing future success of the sugar industry dependent upon improving the capability of existing industry employees. SRA makes available a number of ECR/MCRawards every year to support innovative Early-Career Researchers and Mid-Career Researchers who may require initial results or a proof of concept prior to developing a larger project, and who want to expand their skills and/or build highly valuable collaborations in pursuit of an innovative initiative.

Applications for ECR/MCR awards should clearly demonstrate a benefit to the Australian sugarcane industry. The benefits that ECR/MCR awards will bring to the sugar industry should be aligned with the outcomes and strategies of the current SRA strategic plan.

These guidelines are provided to assist applicants in preparing their application for an award. This document provides the following information:

  1. An overview of SRA
  2. Information on the ECR/MCRawards and eligibility criteria
  3. Selection criteria
  4. Guide to completing the application
  5. Closing dates and selection timelines
  6. Application outcomes
  7. Contact details
  1. An overview of SRA

SRA was established in 2013 as an industry owned company that invests in and manages a portfolio of research, development and extension (RD&E) activities that drive productivity, profitability and sustainability for the Australian sugar industry. SRA is funded by a statutory levy paid by grower and milling businesses. This SRA stakeholder investment is also directly supported by matching funds from the Commonwealth Government and grants from the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and other bodies.

The SRA vision is to deliver valued solutions for a growing Australian sugar industry. To achieve this vision, SRA collaborates with levy payers, industry representative bodies, government, productivity services, extension providers, other industry stakeholders, researchers and international peers and partners. SRA works to facilitate and deliver innovative technology and best practice to the sugar industry through a disciplined RD&E development and investment program and practical and effective knowledge exchange that translates research and development (R&D) into practice.

  1. Information on the ECR/MCR awards and eligibility criteria

ECR/MCR awards have the following goals:

  • To support the professional development of early- and mid-career researchers in the development of innovative and transformative projects of benefit for the Australian Sugarcane Industry.
  • To provide resources and support to enable early- and mid-career researchers to produce compelling, well-crafted proposals for future funding with strong research collaborators.

The outputs expected from the ECR/MCR awards could include:

  • New funding proposals
  • Incorporation of new skills in a current project
  • A report and seminar to relevant industry researchers and potential partners
  • Forming new networks and strengthening existing networks

The outcomes expected from the ECR/MCR awards include:

  • Researchers with the ability to think independently and create innovative solutions for the Australian Sugarcane Industry
  • New skills and capabilities in areas of long-term benefit for the industry
  • Strong research collaborations with top researchers in areas of long-term benefit for the industry

SRA will fund two ECR/MCR awards per year. Funding is typically $10,000 to $15,000 per award.Applicants must be no more than 15 years after completion of studies,currently employed, and demonstrate a commitment to the future of the Australian Sugarcane Industry.

Funds from SRA can be spent on:

  • Seed funding for a proof of concept activity
  • Acquisition of new skills
  • Development of local and international collaborations
  • Study opportunities through laboratory visits and work in overseas/national laboratories

Funds cannot be spent on capital items, salaries, conference attendance, workshops or organisational overheads.An email or letter is required from the applicant’s university or research organisation and from intended collaborators stating their support. The organisation(s) should be willing to provide any necessary facilities and support for the researcher to undertake the activities proposed.

ECR/MCR awards will usually have two to three milestones during the course of the project. Milestone 1 will be the signing of the project agreement and the last milestone would be the submission of a final report of the project. A reconciliation of expenditure should also be provided. SRA funding for the Final Report Milestone should be 20% of the total SRA funding requested.

Intermediate milestones can be used. This might be the case if there is a need to provide a progress report to SRA before the completion of the project. This will usually be required if the project involves several significant activities spread over time. If you include an intermediate milestone, you will need to allocate a suitable amount of SRA funding to the milestone and complete a milestone report.

Applicants should consult the SRA Strategic Plan document available on the SRA website and focus on innovative projects that address at least one of the following eight key focus areas of investment:

  • Optimally-adapted varieties, plant breeding and release
  • Soil health and nutrient management
  • Pest, disease and weed management
  • Farming systems and production management
  • Milling efficiency and technology
  • Product diversification and value addition
  • Knowledge and technology transfer and adoption
  • Capability development, attraction and retention

Applicants should also be aware of the SRA Impact Areas that have been identified as requiring urgent attention. These are:

  • Solving Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS)
  • Conventional and genetically modified (GM) plant breeding
  • Minimising harvest losses and value chain improvements
  • Adoption of research
  1. Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the intellectual merit and innovation of the proposed project, as well as the commitment of the researcher to the Australian Sugarcane Industry and research quality.

ECR/MCRawards are competitive and applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Quality of the researcher’s work and their commitment to the Australian Sugar Industry as demonstratedby the high level of proficiency in research activitiesundertaken to date.
  • Degree of innovation of the project proposed. Proposals should enhance the ability of the researcher to think independently and develop their own ideas.
  • Degree to which the project activities will enhance the skills and capacity of the researcher.
  • Likelihood of project activities leading to new research opportunities.
  1. Guide to completing the application

The ECR/MCR application form is a Word document available from the SRA website ( text boxes will expand to accommodate the amount of text added to them, but the application should be concise, and the form when completed must not exceed six pages.Do not change the other formatting of the form (font size, layout borders, etc.).

Take special note of the selection criteria described above when developing the text of your application.Always write in plain English, avoid unnecessary jargon and explain any technical terms and abbreviations.When you have completed the proposal, it is a good idea to ask someone else to check whether anything is unclear or missing.

The following points should also be noted when completing the various sections of the application form:

  • A brief report on the outputs of the award, setting out the key findings and implications for the industry, is required within 6 weeks of the applicant’s completing of the specified activities. The report should consider how the applicant has benefited from the experience and a potential research plan to implement ideas.
  • As part of the award’s activities, the researcher should deliver a seminar to relevant industry researchers and potential partners after completing specified activities, highlighting the findings and potential benefits for the sugar industry and a potential research plan to implement ideas.
  • You need to nominate a Project Contact Person and an Administration Person, but they may be the same person.The Project Contact Person is responsible for managing the actual conduct of the project.The Administration Person will receive correspondence from SRA about the Project Agreement and Tax Invoices, and payments will be sent to them.Either the Administration Person or their organisation will be the signatory to the Project Agreement, along with SRA.
  • An email or letter is required from the applicant’s university or research organisation and from intended collaborators stating their support. The organisation should be willing to provide any necessary facilities and support for the researcher to undertake the activities proposed.
  • Letters of reference from at least two referees should be provided and one of the referees should be the applicant’s current supervisor or line manager.
  • Applications will not be considered to be complete until the curriculum vitae, letters of reference, and letters of support are provided.
  • No other additional information or attachments (such as images, diagrams, flow-charts, tables etc.) should be included unless a prior arrangement has been made with SRA.

5.Closing dates and selection timelines

ECR/MCR Application Forms must be submitted by email to 31 August 2017.

If successful, the projects can begin as soon as possible after 1 February 2018.The Award must be used within 12 months from the approval date.

Activity / Key Date
ECR/MCR Application Forms due at SRA / 31 August 2017
Notification of outcome / December 2017
Commence as soon as possible after / 1 February 2018

6.Application outcomes

Applicants will be advised via email as soon as an outcome to their application is determined.

  1. Contact details

For any queries related to ECR/MCR awards, please contact the SRA Research Funding Unit on (07) 3331 3333 or by email at

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