Research Projects Archive

This page details information from the most recent Research Project round (Round 4)

The funds allocated to SIEF Research Projects from CSIRO’s Gift has now been fully committed. At the present time it is not intended to make any further calls for Expressions of Interest for SIEF Research Projects. Should the current intention of the Trustee change and further Rounds be initiated in the future, information will be posted on the SIEF website and a Bulletin sent to the SIEF Mailing list.

Round Four:

  • Selection Process
  • Assessment Criteria
  • Priority Areas
  • Special Purpose Area preference
  • Other criteria
  • How to apply

Selection Process

The Research Projects selection process is over two stages. At each stage both successful and unsuccessful proponents will be notified of the Trustee’s decision.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest submitted using the EoI form.

Stage 2: Request for full Proposals. Proponents of selected EoI submissions will be invited to submit a full proposal. This requires submission of an extensive form which will be made available to invited proponents. Proponents may be requested to attend an interview with the SIEF Expert Panel. No unsolicited full proposals will be accepted.

No funding will be granted unless a Funding Agreement has been entered between the successful proponents and the Trustee within a specified timeframe. SIEF’s Funding Agreement is available on its website.
Early May 2012 
Public circulation of documents and call for Stage 1 Expressions of Interest (EoI)
23 July 2012 
Closing date for EoI
~20 September 2012 
All proponents notified of Stage 1 EoI outcomes
31 October 2012
Closing date for Full Proposal
November 2012
Possible interviews with Stage 2 Full Proposal proponents
~20 December 2012
Successful and unsuccessful Proponents notified of Stage 2 Full Proposal outcomes
28 April 2013
Funding Agreement Executed

Assessment Criteria

Criteria for assessing proposals:

  1. Whether the activity is ‘scientific Research’ (Threshold criterion).
  2. Alignment with the SIEF Strategic Objectives (above).
  3. The clarity of research deliverables ad their potential to address issues of national priority/benefit to Australia.
  4. Level of alignment with the identified SIEF Priority Areas for Round 4.
  5. Level of alignment with the identified preferred SIEF Special Purpose Areas for Round 4.
  6. Meeting the ‘additionality’ principle.
  7. Novelty of approach.
  8. Expertise and record of past performance of the principal researchers.
  9. Level of collaboration with other institutions and across disciplines.
  10. Likelihood of establishing internationally competitive capability.
  11. Financial request and level of co-investment of funds/resources and other funding sources (if relevant) meet the SIEF funding guidelines.

Priority Areas

The overarching strategic objective of SIEF – to invest in scientific research that addresses issues of national priority for Australia – is an outcome-directed objective. SIEF investment in Research Projects is, and should continue to be, focussed on the challenges that can be solved by scientific research. Hence the outcome-directed classifications of Socio-Economic Objective (SEOs) provide valuable insight into how the Fund is investing in its overarching Strategic Objective. The aim is that Research Projects funded by SIEF address a broad spread of national challenges for Australia, and therefore, for Round 4 Research Projects, specific outcome areas have been identified. Hence, for SIEF Research Projects – Round 4, the Trustee intends to have a strong preference for approving Research Projects that fall under the following Priority Areas:

  • Plant and Animal Production and Primary Products;
  • Mineral Resources;
  • Energy;
  • Manufacturing;
  • Construction;
  • Transport; and
  • Information and Communication Services

Further information regarding the Priority Areas listed above and their definitions can be found in the Guidelines to the EoI form.

Special Purpose Area preference

The SIEF Special Purpose Areas (SPAs) relevant to SIEF Research Projects are Emerging Science, Strategic Science and Supporting Science. The SPAs represent different stages of development/maturity of the science being undertaken. Once again, the aim is that Research Projects funded by SIEF address a broad spread of development stages, and therefore a strong preference will be given to the SIEF SPA of Supporting Research (SUR) for Round 4 Research Projects, with some scope for support in the Emerging Research SPA should outstanding proposals be received.
Further information regarding the SPA and their definitions can be found in the Guidelines to the EoI form.

Other criteria

A number of additional pre-requisites and criteria have been set for Research Projects – Round 4; further information regarding these can be found in the Guidelines to the EoI form.

  • submission to be via central Research Office or equivalent;
  • pre-selection by organisation with appropriate endorsement;
  • limit number of submissions to 2 per individual researcher per round;
  • strong preference for industry/end-user involvement; and
  • emphasis applied to the Additionality test.

How to apply

All proposals must be submitted (via the Research Office or equivalent) using the EoI form, taking note of the Round 4 word limits, priority areas and nominating a preferred Special Purpose Area. Proposals must be submitted by COB 23 July 2012.

Further information