Status: Closed
Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the ARC Collaborate: Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (CIEF) scheme.
Aim
Collaborate: Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (CIEF) is a sub-scheme of Collaborate and supports medium-sized collaborative research infrastructure.
CIEF is expected to open in Q2 2028.
This information is indicative and is subject to consultation and information sessions which will inform design of the scheme in the final grant opportunity guidelines.
CIEF provides a contribution to support the purchase, upgrade, construction, transportation, installation and/or maintenance of medium-scale research infrastructure that is beyond the scope of a single institution to fund.
Institutions must make a financial contribution and demonstrate that the infrastructure will be accessible and beneficial to multiple institutions and projects.
The proposed objectives of the CIEF scheme:
- Excellence: Support excellent, innovative research by enabling multi-institutional acquisitions of medium-scale research equipment, infrastructure and/or access to national and international research facilities.
- Benefit: Enable research that provides value with money and serves the national interest by providing access to essential research infrastructure that meets an unfilled need.
- Capacity: Facilitate access to essential research infrastructure, recognise and support development of essential technical research skills that underpin research at all levels, and enable diverse research career pathways.
- Collaboration: Support Australian institutions and/or partner organisations to develop collaborative arrangements that improve access to research infrastructure for the broader research community.
Projects of up to 5 years in duration. The funding amount is to be confirmed in the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
Multi-institutional teams of researchers are eligible to apply.
ARC Research Points have been introduced to support broader participation in research projects and collaboration across grant opportunities, and these limits apply to this scheme.
Of your 13 Research Points, the following will be used for applications in the CIEF scheme:
- Lead CI: 4
- CI: 2
NCGP legacy scheme grants will not be counted in the ARC Research Points limit.
Further eligibility requirements will be provided in the forthcoming grant guidelines.
CIEF is expected to open in Q2 2028.
The scheme will run annually.
Specific dates are yet to be released by the ARC.
Notification of Intent (NOI)
Complete a Notification of Intent to inform your Faculty and the University Research Services teams of your intention to submit an application. After completing this NOI, you will be provided with regular updates about your funding scheme and sent valuable resources that will assist you in developing a highly competitive research grant application.