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Research & Development Management

Strategic Research Applications Fund

A number of external grants for research infrastructure or research centres require a cash contribution from the University if applications are to be successful in competition with other universities (e.g. Commonwealth Co-operative Research Centres, ARC Research Infrastructure (Equipment and Facilities) Grants, ARC Special Research Centres of Excellence). The University contribution is perceived as a measure of the commitment of the institution to the proposal. From the University’s perspective, a contribution is a worthwhile investment if it attracts an equal or greater amount of external funds and is applied to areas of priority within its strategic plan for research.

The purpose of the Strategic Research Applications Fund (SRAF) is to make available a source of funds that can be used to provide cash contributions that will attract external grants for major new research projects and research facilities. In this context the term ‘facilities’ means research equipment, library research resources, and any necessary building works associated with same.

The following conditions will apply:

1. A provision of $1.5 million will be made in the University capital works budget for allocation within the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003.
2. The amounts identified in individual applications that are payable from the SRAF must potentially attract amounts of equal or greater size from outside source(s).
3. The SRAF funds must be used for fixed-term expenditure, with no implied on-going commitment. Items may include, but not be limited to, equipment, physical facilities, fixed term salaries, and library materials.
4. The Divisions that sponsor the application must contribute an amount equal to at least 10% of the total capital cash contribution from the University.
5. In nominating an amount to be contributed from the SRAF, account will be taken of the following factors:

• the relative priority of the proposal within the University’s strategic plan for research
• the number of Murdoch staff and research students who will directly benefit
• the anticipated frequency of involvement by Murdoch staff and research students
• whether or not the funds will be used to develop facilities at Murdoch University

6. In general, larger amounts will be approved for applications in areas of high priority for the strategic development of research at Murdoch University.
7. The minimum contribution from the SRAF would be $20,000, attracting to Murdoch University an outside grant of at least $50,000, for a project in excess of $100,000.
8. The amounts to be identified in individual applications that are payable from the SRAF will be approved by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), in accordance with priorities described in the University’s strategic plan for research.
9. Because it is intended that the fund be used to attract external grants, rather than to supplement projects that are perceived to be incompletely funded from other sources, funds will only be available for external grants in which a contribution from the SRAF was approved in the grant application, rather than to top up grants retrospectively.
10. Allocations from the SRAF will become payable on receipt of formal advice from the outside agency that external funding is approved. If the external agency approves an amount less than the foreshadowed contribution from the SRAF, the allocation from the SRAF will be a matching amount.
11. Amounts for individual items in excess of the Vice-Chancellor’s delegated financial authority will be recommended by the Vice-Chancellor to the Resources Committee of Senate for approval.