Creating international researcher networks to accelerate clean innovation
International Clean Innovation Researcher Networks
Closing date: Thursday 25 May 2023 5:00pm AEST Thu 25 May 2023 5:00pm AEST
What do you get?
Up to 60% of eligible project expenditure.
Who is this for?
Academics and researchers from eligible research institutions.
Overview
The International Clean Innovation Researcher Networks grant aims to bring together Australian and international researchers to collaborate in clean technology advances.
The program will support the development and implementation of international researcher networks focused on accelerating clean innovation. Research should support technologies needed to deliver the Australian Government’s emissions reduction policies, including renewable energy (solar, wind, storage, grid integration), green metals, and their supply chains.
The program will focus on researcher networks between academic organisations, research or technology institutes, or think tanks. A network can cover a spectrum of collaborations, such as a consortium, working group or a community of practice, with an aim to develop new joint-research projects or materially advance existing projects with international partners. This program will help develop or expand domestic networks between organisations, while building linkages with international partners.
The objectives of the program are to:
- increase collaboration in the Australian research community on clean innovation
- establish new, and enhance existing, international researcher and industry networks to support efforts on clean innovation pathways
- secure international support for Australian research and projects to produce new or enhanced research outcomes
- facilitate Australian researchers to participate in live events (including in-person or virtually) including conferences and workshops specific to their network, e.g. Mission Innovation programs, with demonstrated impact to advance technology development
- create sustainable research, development and deployment (RD&D) networks that have a viable funding model after the end of the grant period.
Check if you can apply
You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:
- are an eligible entity
- have an eligible project
- have eligible expenditure.
The rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines.
You can apply if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- are an entity, incorporated in Australia
- are an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
- are a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO) as defined in section 14 on the grant guidelines
- can verify you have support from the board, CEO or equivalent, including that you can complete the project and meet the costs of the project not covered by grant funding
- agree that you will establish at least one international partnership or enhance an existing international partnership that will contribute towards project costs (which may include in-kind contributions), within six months of execution of the grant agreement.
You can’t apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- income tax exempt
- an individual
- a partnership
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises unless you are CSIRO or a PFRO)
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity.
Partner with other organisations
You can partner with one or more other organisations. But you must decide who the lead organisations is and that organisation must meet the eligibility criteria.
The lead organisation must fill out the application form.
If we give your group the grant, the lead organisation:
- signs the grant agreement
- is responsible for making sure your group follows the rules in the grant agreement.
Your project must:
- establish a new, or enhance an existing, international researcher network, or system of networks, or expand an existing domestic network to include international partners
- be aligned with supporting Australian action through international partnerships or multilateral fora, including: CEM, MI, BA, and/or the Renewable energy, Transport, Electricity, Industry or Buildings TCPs of the IEA, and/or the G-PSTC
- focus on one of the technologies needed to deliver the government’s emissions reduction policies, including renewable energy (solar, wind, storage, grid integration), green metals and their supply chains. A network that specifically targets a subset of one of these focus areas is also eligible
- collaborate internationally to develop new research projects or progress joint research, with outputs to include publications, experiments, analysis or pilot studies.
- have dedicated resources allocated to administer the network
- present and promote research and collaboration internationally
- demonstrate industry support.
You can use this grant funding for:
- travel and overseas expenditure
- labour and contractor costs
- registration and attendance at seminars and conference
- research related expenses.
How to apply
Check if you’re ready to apply for a grant
Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process to get funding. The application process can take time and effort. Understanding the entire process will help you be grant ready and may improve your chances of getting funding.
Use our checklist to find out what it takes to apply for a grant.
When you're ready to apply
Apply using our online portal:
- Create or log into your portal account.
- Follow the instructions to complete your application.
- Submit your application before the close date.
Make sure you include enough detail and supporting evidence in your application to help us decide whether to award you the grant.
Don’t submit the application until it’s complete. You can’t correct a mistake.
We know many businesses have concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on grant applications and grant management. When applying for a grant, consider timeframes and constraints that may impact grant activities due to COVID-19.
If COVID-19 has impacted your ability to meet the obligations of your grant agreement, to discuss your circumstances and how we can assist you, you should contact:
- your customer service manager
- an agent at our Contact Centre.
You can find further COVID-19 government financial assistance and support for Australian businesses on our coronavirus information and support for business page.
First we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Then we assess your application against the assessment criteria.
The assessment criteria are a set of rules that describe how we must assess each application.
We give each criterion a certain number of points.
We’ll decide whether to award you the grant based on the total number of points we give your application.
- Assessment criterion 1: How your project aligns with the objectives of the International Clean Innovation Researcher Network program (40 points)
- Assessment criterion 2: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (40 points)
- Assessment criterion 3: Impact of grant funding (20 points)
The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide should be relative to the project size, complexity and grant amount requested.
The General Manager with Policy responsibility for the program makes the final decision.
Apply now
Apply for the International Clean Innovation Research Networks grant now
Before you apply, make sure you:
- read and understand the grant opportunity guidelines
- read the sample grant agreement
- read the sample application form.
Sample applications
The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application. We have also provided a version to download at the bottom of this page.
Technical help
See our customer portal's frequently asked questions to help with your queries. If you can't find your answer, contact us for assistance.
We can’t consider the application you submit after the close date under any circumstances.
Contact
Need help?
Let us answer your question via phone, email or live chat. And if we can't help, we'll put you in touch with someone who can.
- Phone:
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Open Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm across Australia
- Website:
Information sessions
International Clean Innovation Researcher Networks (ICIRN) grants program information sessions were held on 1 and 2 March 2023.
The sessions were hosted by the Net Zero Innovation team at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The sessions provided program information and addressed questions.
More information
View the information session presentation
PDF · 1.06 MBSee the questions and answers to the key questions raised during the information sessions
docx · 0.08 MB