Major initiatives
Major research projects for high value, strategically important, collaborative, multi-disciplinary, high risk or complex funding opportunities.
We work across all sectors and disciplines in collaboration with industry, government and other research institutions.
Major Initiatives provides specialist expertise in the coordination, planning, development through to submission of major funding opportunities which are high value, strategically important, collaborative, multi-disciplinary, high risk or of a complex nature.
We facilitate development pathways for our researchers with their collaborators through support via the Hallmark Initiatives, research development project funds, strategic co-investment of proposals and overall capacity building for major projects and grants developments.
Major funding calls
Major Initiatives leads the planning, development and submission of the following significant grant rounds for these schemes:
- ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
Open to applications from outstanding researchers of international repute, the Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme encourages proposals involving Australian or international researchers by providing eligible Australian Laureate Fellows with project funding in addition to a salary supplement and salary-related (on-cost) support. Preference will be given to researchers who will play a significant, sustained leadership and mentoring role in increasing Australia’s internationally competitive research capacity.
- ARC Centres of Excellence
ARC Centres of Excellence (CoE) are prestigious hubs of expertise through which high-quality researchers maintain and develop Australia's international standing in research areas of national priority. Through ARC CoEs, a high level of collaboration occurs between universities and other organisations in Australia and overseas.
- ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
Provides funding for R&D; partnerships between industry and universities that will that will help transform Australian industries so they can prosper in a richer, fairer and greener Australia. The Research hubs will encourage R&D; projects that could help solve the big problems facing our industries today. Managers, researchers and industry workers will work together to address these problems.
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
Provides funding for R&D; partnerships between industry and universities that will that will help transform Australian industries so they can prosper in a richer, fairer and greener Australia. The training centres will foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and the industry members who will use the research outcomes.
- ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
Provides funding for large-scale cooperative initiatives so that expensive infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared by partnered organisations. Applicants may seek funding for infrastructure, equipment and facility purchases, construction and installation. Requests for support can be made by researchers in any discipline. Although successful applications normally involve two or more universities, proposals involving government research organisations and businesses are also encouraged, provided that a higher education institution is involved.
- ARC Special Research Initiatives
The Special Research Initiatives (SRI) scheme provides funding for new and emerging fields of research and builds capacity in strategically important areas. The ARC currently funds several SRIs in a wide range of research areas.
- Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-Ps)
The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme has been a feature of the Australian Government research and innovation agenda for 25 years. The CRC Programme continues to encourage and facilitate industry-led collaboration between industry and research.
- CRC Program - Cooperative Research Centres
The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program has been a feature of the Australian Government research and innovation agenda for 30 years. The CRC Program continues to encourage and facilitate industry-led collaboration between industry and research.
- NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
NHMRC CREs will provide support for teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in clinical, population health and health services research.
- Victorian Future Industries Fund
The Future Industries Fund has been created to focus on developing key high growth, high value industry sectors to further enhance Victoria’s competitive advantage by building on existing strengths in each industry sector.
- National Environmental Science Program
The National Environmental Science Programme will assist decision-makers to understand, manage and conserve Australia’s environment by funding world-class biodiversity and climate science.
- ARC Special Research Initiatives
Special Research Initiatives (SRI) scheme provides funding for new and emerging fields of research and builds capacity in strategically important areas. The ARC currently funds several SRIs in a wide range of research areas. The objective is to support high-quality research which will assist in advancing Australia’s research excellence to be globally competitive and deliver benefits to the community. This extends, but is not limited, to supporting research-related activities which will respond to emerging opportunities or changing priorities. Note, SRIs only open at the ARC invitation.