Status: Closed

Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme.

Aim

The objectives of the ARC Centres of Excellence (COE) scheme are to:

  • undertake highly innovative and potentially transformational research that aims to achieve international standing in the fields of research envisaged and leads to a significant advancement of capabilities and knowledge
  • link existing Australian research strengths and build critical mass with new capacity for interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches to address the most challenging and significant research problems
  • develop relationships and build new networks with major national and international centres and research programs to help strengthen research, achieve global competitiveness and gain recognition for Australian research
  • build Australia's human capacity in a range of research areas by attracting and retaining, from within Australia and abroad, researchers of high international standing as well as the most promising research students
  • provide high-quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training environments for the next generation of researchers
  • offer Australian researchers opportunities to work on large-scale problems over long periods of time
  • establish centres that have an impact on the wider community through interaction with higher education institutes, governments, industry and the private and non-profit sector.

Minimum ARC funding is $1 million per calendar year. Maximum ARC funding is $5 million per calendar year. Participants must obtain commitments for additional financial contributions from a variety of sources, including the Administering Organisation, Other Eligible Organisation(s), and Partner Organisation(s). Such financial contributions may be in the form of cash and/or in-kind.

The scheme supports eligible direct costs only, including personnel, equipment, maintenance and consumables, access to workshop services, domestic and international travel.

The scheme does not provide funding for a number of items, including medical and dental research, Centre Director, Chief Investigator or Partner Investigator salaries, capital works and general infrastructure costs, research support for Partner Investigators except for short-term projects for overseas visitors and travel associated with the project, student fees, teaching relief, or consultancies.

Funding for approved Centres will commence on 1 January 2023, and may be funded for a period of up to seven years subject to conditions outlined in the Grant Guidelines.

Changes to Eligibility for DVCR Co-Funding

Eligibility for the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme is now contingent upon on-time submission of grant applications by the Macquarie University submission date. Many applications for external funding require cash and in-kind contributions from the host institution in order to be considered for funding. In most cases, researchers request cash contributions, such as project support funds, funding for research associates, scholarships and major equipment, from the DVCR via the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme to support their external funding applications.

To be eligible to request this DVCR Co-Funding, grant applications must be submitted internally, via Pure, by the Macquarie University submission date.

  • Applications must be submitted by the MQ submission date.
  • View further information on deadlines, processes and FAQs.
  • Applications that do not have a Pure record and/or do not have all the appropriate approvals in Pure (Head of Department [HoD] and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation [DDRI]) will not be submitted to the external funding body.
For funding commencing in 2026:
  • Expression of Interest (EOI) period:
    • Opening: 13 - 20 August 2024
    • Closing: 18 September 2024
    • Request Not To Assess: 13 August - 2 September 2024
    • Rejoinder: 6 -19 November 2024
    • Announcement: 28 January 2025
  • Full application period:
    • Opening: 29 January 2025
    • Closing: 20 March 2025
    • Rejoinder: 8 - 21 May 2025
    • Announcement: 24 October - 6 November 2025.

Please note the above dates released by the ARC are indicative and are therefore subject to change.

ARC information
Macquarie resources

Contacts

Contact us for more information about research partnerships, research innovation and enterprise.

Jo Tuck
Senior Manager, Major Research Initiatives
T: +61 (2) 9850 9607
E: jo.tuck@mq.edu.au

Mark Reed
Major Research Bid Manager
T: +61 (2) 9850 2328
E: mark.reed@mq.edu.au