Collaborative Funding Opportunities

Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Program

The ARC Linkage Program is a funding scheme that enables external partner organisations to undertake collaborative research projects with UNSW Canberra at ADFA. 

The program supports research projects with industry, government, defence, and community organisations. It’s designed to advance Australian research and innovation globally to benefit the broader Australian community. The scheme works alongside researchers to apply advanced knowledge to answer questions and solve problems.  

Grant funding is predominantly provided by the ARC, with partner organisations providing a mix of cash and in-kind support. Almost all public, private, community, government and not-for-profit organisations are eligible as partner organisations, provided they are not primarily funded for research or research-related activities by government. 

Deadlines & Eligibility Advice

For important dates, compliance and eligibility advice, please see Research Grants and Contracts.  

Further Information 

• ARC Linkage Projects 

• ARC National Innovation and Science Agenda

Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program

The CRC Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers, and the community. With an emphasis on solving industry-identified problems through outcome-focused research partnerships, the CRC Program aims to improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries. 

The CRC Program offers support to industry, research and the community through two grants: 

• Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) grants - to support medium to long term industry-led collaborative research, up to 10 years. 

• Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants - to support short term, industry-led collaborative research, up to three years. 

For support with CRC Program application and administration contact the Research Strategy Office at linkage.RSO@unsw.edu.au 

Innovation Connections Grant

Innovation Connections allows the research sector to be matched with relevant businesses to undertake collaborative research projects, leading to imaginative solutions to business development challenges.

As part of the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda Entrepreneurs' Program, the Innovation Connections Grant scheme is a facilitation service to encourage and assist small and medium businesses to access knowledge, engage with researchers, and foster innovation. Following a facilitated service, your business may seek matched financial assistance in the form of an Innovation Connections Grant. 

Up to $50,000 of funding is available from the Australian Government, to be matched by an eligible Australian company, for a project up to 12 months duration. Company eligibility is based on turnover/expenditure – between $1.5 and $100 million. The company must operate in a defined sector:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Food and agribusiness
• Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
• Mining equipment, technology and services
• Oil, gas and energy
• Enabling technologies and services of the sectors listed above. 

This scheme is ideal as a prelude to an ARC Linkage proposal, or for a component of a Linkage proposal that may not have been funded in the recent round, with a view to a future re-submission. 

TechVouchers Scheme

The NSW Government’s TechVouchers Scheme aims to facilitate research collaborations between small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in NSW and research organisations like UNSW Canberra. TechVouchers up to a value of $15,000 are available to companies interested in accessing research and development expertise to enhance or validate their products and services. TechVouchers can be used to fund product or process design, technical assistance, product trials and collaborative research projects. 

Eligible businesses can use a TechVoucher to: 

• seed a research project in partnership with a Boosting Business Innovation Program (BBIP) delivery partner 

• support a research project that will lead to an application for an Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Programme Research Connections or Accelerating Commercialisation, or another similar scheme 

• fund product or process design activities, such as engineering or technical design expertise to determine prototype structure, function, and or materials 

• access technical assistance 

• trial production runs or processes to demonstrate technical concepts 

• validate or demonstrate technical capabilities of a product, process, or technology 

In order to be eligible, companies must: 

• be incorporated in NSW 

• have fewer than 200 employees 

• turnover less than AU$30 million per annum 

• have been in operation for at least one year 

• be able to demonstrate the ability to match the applicable voucher amount in cash 

• conduct the majority of the proposed activities in NSW, in partnership with a BBIP delivery partner.

Further details regarding eligibility and funding are available at the NSW Government website.   

Cyber Security CRC

The Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CSCRC) aims to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals by supporting innovative, industry-driven research into pressing cybersecurity problems. 

We're looking for talented PhD and Master by Research candidates, and honours students to join our team in solving challenging problems across all areas in cybersecurity – from technical to human aspects. Potential postdoctoral research fellows may also be interested in developing research proposals with the team for consideration. 

Successful candidates will be awarded a CSCRC graduate research scholarship or postdoctoral research fellowship.  

Key Details

Eligibility:

• PhD: A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor with Honours from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the UNSW Canberra Higher Degree Committee. 
• MRes: A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded at a standard not below Honours Class 2 an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution. 
• PDoc: A PhD (or soon to be awarded) in a relevant discipline area, such as computer science, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, information technology, communication engineering, or similar.
• In exceptional cases, an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications may be approved by the committee to be permitted to enrol for the degree. 

Application:

In the first instance, prospective applicants should discuss their qualifications and research proposal with UNSW Canberra Cyber’s Director of Research, Professor Monica Whitty. In addition to an Expression of Interest (EOI), you will also need to provide: 

• a 2-page CV 
• copies of your academic transcripts 
• a research proposal that aligns with one of the above mentioned CSCRC Research Themes 
• a one-page statement outlining which CSCRC Scholarship Category (outlined above) you are seeking to apply for, and why you would be a suitable CSCRC Scholar. 

For further information relating to admission requirements for High Degree by Research programs and program application deadlines for UNSW Canberra, please visit Postgraduate Research. 

Visit the Cyber Security CRC website for more information about the organisation.