Changes to the Discovery ProjectsFunding Rules for funding commencing in 2016

Note: this list contains the major changes to rules and is not to be taken as exhaustive. Please consult the Funding Rules for schemes under the Discovery Program funding commencing in 2015 and 2016or contact your research office or the ARC for further clarification.

Changes to Funding Rules / DP15 / DP16
Budget items supported
Workshops and conferences that are necessary for the conduct of the Project (A5.2.1m) / Focus groups and reasonable hospitality costs such as morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are now included (A5.2.1m). All requests must be fully justified in the proposal.
Limits on Projects and Proposals
Provisions for future cross-scheme eligibility have been introduced.
CIs on future ARC Centres of Excellence, Industrial Transformation Research Hubs, Industrial Transformation Training Centres, or Special Research Initiatives may only apply for or hold one Project/Award/Fellowship under the Discovery Program. This applies to all Discovery Program schemes with funding commencing in 2015 or later.(A6.2.2)
This change was proposed in the Funding Rules consultation process and was supported by the feedback.
Within the Discovery Program a researcher can be funded for a maximum
of:
a. two Projects as a CI, or
b. one ARC Fellowship or ARC Award, and one Project as a CI (A6.2.1) / Limit still applies, however successful Australian Laureate Fellows are now allowed to relinquish existing projects in order to comply with the limit should their Laureate proposal be successful. (A6.2.6)
This change was proposed in the Funding Rules consultation process and was supported by the feedback.
Eligible Organisations
Additional eligible organisations were listed for each scheme in the scheme-specific parts / One list of eligible organisations applies to all schemes in the Discovery Program Funding Rules (A12).
Changes to Funding Rules / DP15 / DP16
Selection Criteria
Project Quality and Innovation / Additional wording under Project Quality and Innovation: What is the potential for the research to enhance international collaboration? (C3.1b)
Research Environment / Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high quality research environment for this Project? (C3.1d) / Amended wording:Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high quality research environment for this Project and the HDR students where appropriate? (C3.1d)
Discovery International Award (DIA)
International Collaboration Award (C5.1d) / Name change to Discovery International Award (C5.1d)
For up to two researchers (either CIs or PIs) per Proposal. Up to twelve months, per Award, over the life of the Project; and up to a maximum amount of $20,000 per year of the Project per CI or PI. (C5.1d) / 12-month limit and funding limits removed:
For up to two researchers (either CIs or PIs) per Proposal. For a CI to work overseas on the Project with an overseas based PI subject to C6.2.5 of these Funding Rules, and/or a PI based overseas to work in Australia on the Project. Preference will be given to overseas-based PIs to travel to Australia for collaborative research. DIAs do not fund travel to Australia by PIs located at an overseas campus of an Australian Eligible Organisation. (C5.1d)
Eligibility Criteria for Chief Investigators
A researcher nominated on a Proposal as a CI must meet at least one of the following criteria as at 1 January 2015, and for the duration of the Project:
a. be an employee for at least half-time (50 per cent of Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) at one Eligible Organisation; or
b. be a holder of an Emeritus, Adjunct or equivalent appointment at an Eligible Organisation and not be employed more than half-time (50 per cent of Full Time Equivalent) at another organisation that (i) is outside the Australian higher education sector, and
(ii) engages in research funded predominantly from state/territory or Commonwealth Government funding sources; or
c. be an employee for at least 0.2 FTE (20 per cent of Full Time Equivalent) at one Eligible Organisation, and hold a paid position at a museum or herbarium. The museum or herbarium must be a state/territory or Commonwealth Government funded organisation not predominantly funded to carry out research, but with research-related purposes and objectives; or
d. be a Federation Fellow; or
e. be an Australian Laureate Fellow. (C6.2.1) / Simplification of eligibility criteria:
As at 1 January 2016 a researcher nominated on a Proposal as a CI must meet at least one of the following criteria:
a. be an employee for at least 0.2 (20 per cent of Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) at an Eligible Organisation; or
b. be a holder of an Emeritus appointment at an Eligible Organisation. (C6.2.1)
This change was proposed in the Funding Rules consultation process and was supported by the feedback.