Research Infrastructure
The objective of the SIEF Research Infrastructure (RI) Program is to support the creation or enhancement of nationally significant research infrastructure facilities or equipment. The Program comprises two elements:
- Major Research Infrastructure Program
- Medium Equipment Program
Major Research Infrastructure (RI)
The Major Research Infrastructure Program facilitate the creation or development of nationally significant for the conduct of research, including investment in national scale scientific equipment and special purpose facilities for the conduct of scientific research. (Further information can be found in the SIEF Research Infrastructure Guidelines). All funds allocated to this Program have now been committed. The funded Major Research Infrastructure activities are:
- ARCF: Advanced Resource Characterisation Facility
- BMTF: Biomedical Materials Translational Facility
- NAESP: National Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Precinct
Medium Equipment Program (MEP)
Applications to the MEP will only be accepted from the eligible Lead Applicant (CSIRO). CSIRO will undertake an internal review process to determine applications which will be put forward to SIEF for consideration. Potential collaborators are advised to contact the relevant CSIRO Business Unit Director or Deputy Director.
The SIEF Medium Equipment Program (MEP) is designed to address a gap in funding for equipment in the medium range ($750k-$4m). This Program aims to enhance capability and capacity, and encourage collaboration.
The objectives of the program are to:
- Facilitate leading-edge innovation in Australia in areas of greatest strategic impact, based on scientific research;
- Grow both capability and capacity of the equipment stock available to researchers.
SIEF MEP Guidelines
| Eligibility Criteria | Definition |
| Lead Applicant must be CSIRO. | The Lead Applicant will use the grant for the purposes of capital expenditure (equipment). |
| Proposed equipment must be capital equipment purchased from an external supplier and located at a CSIRO site. Any proposed laboratory refurbishment must be essential work directly required for housing of the new equipment. | The asset must be owned by CSIRO and located on an approved CSIRO site. |
| Equipment must be for ‘scientific Research’. |
Funding will only be available for equipment that facilitates activities that fall under the definition of ‘Research’ (refer Frascati Manual). Includes all monies outlined in the Funding Agreement (including any co-investment). |
| Application must be endorsed by the designated delegate of CSIRO. The application must also be endorsed by Collaborating Organisations (if any). |
The designated CSIRO delegate for matters relating to SIEF is the Chief Operating Officer. CSIRO will undertake a rigorous internal review process prior to endorsement by the designated CSIRO delegate. Endorsement by any Collaborating Organisation must be by a delegate with an appropriate level of authority to commit any co-investment outlined should the application be successful. |
| Selection Criteria | Further Information |
|
1. Alignment with:
|
Why publicly funded support? National benefit? Translation of scientific research into impact requiring effective and state-of-the-art facilities. |
| 2. Demonstration of high benefit and impact |
Degree of projected positive impact on enhancing capacity and capability. Capacity to enable ground-breaking or cutting-edge new science. |
| 3. Demonstration of effective use of resources |
Extent to which the proposed equipment complements existing facilities within and across:
ie added capacity/capability rather than straight duplication |
|
4. Finances
b. Ongoing additional support for operating and maintenance |
SIEF requests are expected to be between $750,000 to $2,000,000. (In exceptional circumstances bids up to $4,000,000 will be considered). Purchase and commissioning of equipment (including any required laboratory refurbishment) is to be completed within 24 months of Funding Agreement execution. Unless otherwise agreed in advance with SIEF. The request outlined in the application will be the maximum SIEF will provide, however, applicants are encouraged to negotiate best price should they be successful. If a better price is negotiated then the applicants are permitted to notify SIEF who may consider additional items to extend the equipment requested. Only in exceptional circumstances will requests be considered for supplementary funding by SIEF. Operating and maintenance (including labour) are not eligible for SIEF funding. Applicants will be asked for evidence of commitment to ongoing support for operating and maintenance – this may include, for example, commitment to 3 years of in-kind support and/or maintenance contracts. |
SIEF Medium Equipment Program Round 1 projects are now completed.
| Project title | Location | Collaborators | Total investment |
| Geoscience Drill Core Laboratory | Kensington, WA | CSIRO, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University | $2,000,000 |
| Acoustic Liquid Handler (Liquid Handler) | Black Mountain, ACT | CSIRO, Australian National university | $520,000 |
| Boorowa Digital Agriculture Research Facility | Boorowa, NSW | CSIRO | $1,600,000 |
| Triaxus Towed Sensor (Triaxus) | Hobart,TAS | CSIRO | $700,000 |
| Agile Flow Chemistry Production System for Chemical Manufacture (FlowWorks) | Clayton, VIC | CSIRO | $1,740,000 |
SIEF Medium Equipment Program Round 2 Projects are now completed.
Read the executive summary of the outcomes of the program.
| Project title | Location | Collaborators & Co-Funders | Total investment |
| Argo Floats | Hobart, TAS | CSIRO, Department of Defence, Bureau of Meteorology, Integrated Marine Observing System, ACEC Research Centre | $4,233,000 |
| MNF Heavy Ocean Towing System (HOTS) | RV Investigator, TAS | CSIRO | $1,500,000 |
| Pilot-scale cGMP Protein Facility | Clayton, VIC | CSIRO, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Sementis, Monash University, GE Healthcare | $2,200,000 |
| High Resolution Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer (NGMS) | Waite, SA | CSIRO | $1,100,000 |
| 4D Micro-CT Upgrade | Kensington, WA | CSIRO, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University | $900,000 |
| Virtual Laboratory for Cybersecurity Research | Clayton North, VIC | CSIRO | $1,000,000 |
| CubeSat Platform Satellite | Marsfield, NSW | CSIRO | $1,130,000 |
| Food Ingredient Process Innovation Platform | Werribee, VIC | CSIRO | $1,500,000 |