Funding for long-term, industry-led research collaborations

We’ll assess your application against the eligibility criteria first. Only eligible applications will proceed to the merit assessment stage.

The CRC Advisory Committee will then assess eligible CRC applications against the merit criteria.

The merit criteria and weightings are:

Merit criterion 1 – Project alignment with the program objectives (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

• the industry identified problem and how this is impacting the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, including links to government priorities (10 points)
• how your project will foster high quality research through collaborative industry-research partnerships (10 points)
• the additionality or value add of the proposed project in relation to the existing approach that industry has to solving the problem (5 points)

Merit criterion 2 – The quality of your research project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

• the research you will do and the methodologies you will use, including describing the role of your partners in the research (10 points)
• how the research will address the identified industry problem or problems, build on the current body of knowledge and enhance the adoption of new technologies (5 points)
• the education and training opportunities your project will provide, including a PhD program, that will build capability and capacity in the industry and research sectors (10 points)

Merit criterion 3 – Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this through identifying:

• how you will manage and monitor your project and your partners, explaining the governance and planning arrangements (8 points)
• a plan to manage and monitor the project including risk management of but not limited to: involvement of international partners, intellectual property protection, data security, protection of nationally significant information and cyber security risks (10 points)
• your access to required resources including personnel with the right skills (project/business/commercialisation management) and experience (names/qualifications and achievements), funding, infrastructure, technology and intellectual property (5 points)
• why your collaboration is the most appropriate to solve the identified problem with specific reference to any existing collaborations (2 points)

Merit criterion 4 – Impact of the grant funding on your project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this through identifying:

• the likelihood that the project would proceed without the grant and how the grant will impact the project in terms of scale and timing (5 points)
• the total investment the grant will leverage and why the Australian Government should invest in your project (10 points)
• the commercial potential of the project including the expected commercial outputs such as new products, processes or services, and/or any expected spill over benefits (10 points)

For more information on merit criteria check the merit criteria fact sheet and the CRC Program Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

If you are successful in Stage 1, we’ll send you an invitation letter to progress to Stage 2 of the assessment process. We will include feedback on your Stage 1 application.

In Stage 2, you’ll be invited to:

• submit a Stage 2 application and additional supporting documentation
• attend an interview with the CRC Advisory Committee

If you are successful in Stage 2, we’ll send you a letter of offer with funding details and any conditions to address before entering a formal agreement.

If you’re unsuccessful at either stage, we’ll notify you in writing and may provide feedback.

Round 21 dates (approximate only)

• Stage 1 opens 30 April 2019
• Stage 1 closes 1 July 2019
• Stage 2 opens 24 September 2019
• Stage 2 closes 23 October 2019
• Outcomes announced December 2019
• Funding starts July 2020

Round 22 dates (approximate only)

• Stage 1 opens March 2020
• Stage 1 closes 1 June 2020
• Stage 2 opens August 2020
• Stage 2 closes September 2020
• Outcomes announced December 2020
• Funding starts July 2021