Status: Closed
Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the ARC Prioritise scheme.
Aim
Prioritise will support major and long-term collaborative research projects that directly respond to emerging opportunities and national priorities.
Prioritise is expected to open in Q4 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.
The scheme will build research capacity in strategically important areas to improve Australia’s global competitiveness and/or sovereign capabilities.
General rounds will focus on priorities of government and support major, long-term projects with multiple collaborators, with the ability to run additional ad hoc grant opportunities of any scale at any time to respond to emerging issues. These grant opportunities may include:
- Directions from government to fund a strategically important area
- Collaborations with international funding agencies
- Any other ad hoc opportunities that meet the scheme objectives. For example, a scheme co-funded by another area of government to support career mobility for underrepresented cohorts and cooperatively build research capacity.
The proposed objectives of the Prioritise scheme:
- Excellence: Support excellent, innovative research that addresses a significant problem or advances knowledge through a variety of funding opportunities at different scales.
- Benefit: Support research that provides value for money and serves the national interest through alignment with Australian government priority areas or an ARC-identified national/international mission.
- Capacity: Support Australian researchers to develop or enhance the skills, networks and adaptability required to rapidly and impactfully respond to emerging issues.
- Collaboration: Support mutually beneficial and significant research collaboration between Australian institutions, industry, and other users of research as well as local and/or international partners, including through multilateral funding opportunities.
Projects of up to 7 years in duration may request between $4m and $6m per year. Direct costs may be applied for, including for example personnel, equipment, maintenance, teaching relief, and travel.
Multi-institutional teams of researchers, including at least one Partner Organisation, 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 Prioritise scheme:
- Lead CI/Director: 7
- Node Lead CI/Director: 5
- CI: 3
- SCI - ECR (salaried CI): 8
A Salaried Chief Investigator (SCI) may apply for another SCI role but can only hold one salary at a time.
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.
Prioritise is expected to open in Q4 2028.
The scheme is expected to run every 2 years, alternating with the Collaborate scheme.
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 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.