Linkage Program: Industrial Transformation Research Program Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026 edition)Industrial Transformation Research HubsIndustrial Transformation Training CentresOpening date: | Available on GrantConnectClosing date and time: | Available on GrantConnectCommonwealth policy entity: | Australian Research CouncilEnquiries:Researchers are required to direct requests for information to the Research Office within the Administering Organisation.ARC Contacts are on the ARC website.Date grant opportunity guidelines released:Type of grant opportunity: | Restricted competitiveAustralian Research Council Act 2001I, Jason Clare, Minister for Education, having satisfied myself of the matters set out in section 58 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, approve these grant opportunity guidelines under section 59 of that Act.Dated 22 July 2026Jason ClareMinister for EducationContents1. Linkage Program processes...........................................42. About the grant program..............................................6About the Industrial Transformation Research Program grant opportunities.......63. Grant amount and grant period........................................74. Eligibility criteria.....................................................7Who is eligible to apply for a grant?.......................................7What are the eligibility requirements for applications?........................7Who is eligible to be a Partner Organisation?...............................8Who is eligible to be an Other Organisation?...............................8Who is eligible to be a named participant?.................................9What are the limits on the number of applications and projects per named participant? 10Security, Defence or International Relations of Australia.....................115. What the grant money can be used for.................................11Eligible grant activities................................................11Ineligible grant activities...............................................126. The assessment criteria..............................................137. How to apply.......................................................13Application process..................................................13Participant’s responsibilities............................................13Your research security and research integrity responsibilities..................14National Interest Test statement........................................15Timing of the grant opportunities........................................158. The grant selection process..........................................15Assessment of grant applications........................................15Due diligence.......................................................16Requests not to assess process........................................17Who will approve grants...............................................179. Notification of application outcomes...................................1710. Successful grant applications........................................17Grant Agreements...................................................17Assurance and Compliance At Award....................................18Peer Review Obligations..............................................1811. Announcement of Grants............................................1912. How we monitor your grant activity....................................19Keeping us informed..................................................19Reporting..........................................................19Governance compliance...............................................2013. Probity............................................................21Appeals process.....................................................21Conflict of interest....................................................21Privacy and protection of personal information.............................22Confidential information...............................................23Freedom of information...............................................24Part A Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (Research Hubs)...............25Part B Industrial Transformation Training Centres (Training Centres).............29Appendix A – Glossary......................................................35
For the purposes of these grant opportunity guidelines, terms have the meanings defined below.Term | DefinitionAboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person | as provided by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), a person of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and is accepted as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by the community in which they live or have lived.active project | a project that is receiving funding according to the terms of an existing grant agreement, or has any carryover funds approved by the ARC, or an approved variation to the end date for the project.Administering Organisation | the Eligible Organisation that submits an application in accordance with these grant opportunity guidelines.applicant | the Administering Organisation that submits an Application in response to these grant opportunity guidelines.application | An application for funding submitted in accordance with these grant opportunity guidelines.applied research | original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-research-classification-anzsrc/latest-releaseARC Board | The ARC Board is appointed by the Minister and consists of the Chair, Deputy Chair and up to seven other members. The ARC Board’s function includes determining priorities, strategies and policies from the ARC.ARC College of Expertsthe body of experts of international standing appointed to assist the ARC to identify research excellence, moderate external assessments and recommend applications for funding. Its members are specialist and generalist experts in their knowledge fields drawn from the Australian research community.The ARC website provides information on who is a member of the College of Experts.ARC Policy Partner | an Australian Government agency that engages the ARC to support their research grants program, while retaining responsibility for policy direction, approvals and funding for the grant program.ARC website | the website accessed using www.arc.gov.au.assessment criteria | are the criteria against which applications will be considered as set out in these grant opportunity guidelines.Australian Partner Organisation | is a Partner Organisation that is an entity that is incorporated under Australian Law, is operating in Australia and has an Australian Business Number (ABN).bench fees | fees that an organisation charges for an individual to use infrastructure which would normally be provided by the organisation for their employees. This infrastructure may vary and could include, for example, an office or laboratory space with appropriate equipment, or access to non-specialised equipment owned by the organisation.cash contribution | the cash from an organisation, which is transferred to and managed by the Administering Organisation.Chief Investigator or CI | a participant who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a CI under these grant opportunity guidelines.closing date | the applicable closing date and time for the grant opportunity published on GrantConnect.Commonwealth Fellowship | a position held by a participant where the salary is funded wholly or partly by the Commonwealth.consultancy | the provision of specialist advice, analysis, assistance, services or products to another organisation(s), generally where the consultancy services are for the sole or preferred use of that other organisation(s).date of effect | the date on which a grant agreement is signed or a specified starting date.Detailed Assessors | assessors drawn from the ARC assessor community who are assigned applications to review based on their specific expertise in a field of research.digital object identifier or DOI | a unique persistent identifier for a published digital object, such as an article or a report, issued by the DOI Foundation and its registration agencies such as Crossref and DataCite.eligibility criteria | the mandatory criteria which must be met to be eligible to be awarded a grant. Assessment criteria may apply in addition to eligibility criteria.Eligible Organisation | an organisation listed as an eligible organisation in Appendix B of these grant opportunity guidelines.experimental developmentexperimental development is systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes.https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-research-classification-anzsrc/latest-releasefield research | the collection of information integral to the project outside a laboratory, library or workplace setting and often in a location external to the individual’s normal place of employment.grant activity | the project/tasks/services that the grantee is required to undertake. A project consists of a number of grant activities.grant agreement | the agreement entered into by the ARC and an Administering Organisation after an application is approved to receive funding.grant commencement date | the date on which grant funding may commence.grant opportunity guidelines or grant guidelines | Grant opportunity guidelines, approved as funding rules, by the Minister under section 59 (including as varied under section 60) of the ARC Act.grant offer | in respect of a project, the details for the grant funding listed in RMS under ‘Grant Offers’ showing the project details and grant funding amount.GrantConnect | the Australian Government’s whole-of-government grants information system, which centralises the publication and reporting of Commonwealth grants in accordance with the CGRGs.grantee | the Administering Organisation which has been selected to receive a grant.grant opportunity | the specific grant round or process where a Commonwealth grant is made available to potential grantees. grant opportunities may be open or targeted and will reflect the relevant grant selection process.grant opportunity closing date | the last day on which applications for a grant opportunity will be accepted for consideration for a specific grant opportunity.grant recipient | an individual or organisation who has received grant funding from the ARC.GST | has the same meaning as in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.Higher Degree by Research (HDR)a higher degree by research including: a Masters Degree (Research), that meets the level 9 criteria of the Australian Qualifications Framework (Second Edition, January 2013); and a PhD, that meets the level 10 criteria of the Australian Qualifications Frameworks (Second Edition, January 2013)Honorary academic appointment | An honorary academic appointment for eligibility purposes means a position that gives full academic status to the researcher, as certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (or equivalent) in the application. The researcher must have access to research support comparable to employees e.g., an emeritus appointment. The researcher is not eligible to be a Chief Investigator using their honorary academic appointment if they are employed by an organisation other than an Eligible Organisation for more than 0.2 FTE.ICHDR | A higher degree by research candidate funded by the ARC, through the Administering Organisation, who will be employed on the Training Centres project. These candidates are not nominated as ‘named participants’ on the application.ICPD | A postdoctoral fellow funded by the ARC through the Administering Organisation, who meets the ICPD candidate eligibility criteria and who will be employed on the Training Centres project. These candidates are not nominated as ‘named participants’ on the application.Indigenous Data Sovereignty | as provided by the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (2020 version) which refers to the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to exercise ownership, control, and governance over data that is about them or may affect them. This includes authority across all stages of the data lifecycle, from creation and collection to access, analysis, interpretation, management, dissemination and reuse.Industrial Transformation Priorities | targeted research areas identified by the ARC based on relevant government priorities and updated from time to time on the ARC website. The current Industrial Transformation Priorities align with the National Reconstruction Fund priority funding areas, available on the Federal Register of Legislation.in-kind contributions | A contribution of goods, services, materials and/or time to the project from an individual, business or organisation. Values should be calculated based on the most likely actual cost, for example, current market, preferred provider or internal provider rates/valuations/rentals/charges (that is in the financial year of the date of the application) of the costs of labour, workspaces, equipment and databases. The calculations covering time and costs should be documented by the Administering Organisation. The ARC may require these calculations to be audited.Instructions to Applicants | a set of instructions prepared by the ARC to assist applicants in completing the application form.Key Performance Indicators | a set of quantifiable measures that the ARC use to monitor and report on progress of research outcomes.legislative instrument | a law on matters of detail made by a person or body authorised to do so by the relevant enabling legislation.medical research | medical research as defined in the ARC Medical Research Policy (2025 version) available on the ARC website.Minister | the Minister responsible for the administration of the ARC Act.named participants | individual researchers nominated for particular roles in an application.national interest | the extent to which the research contributes to Australia’s national interest through its potential to have economic, commercial, environmental, social or cultural benefits to the Australian community.National Reconstruction Fund | A $15 billion Australian Government initiative to diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy through targeted investments in priority funding areas as described on the Federal Register of Legislation.ORCID Identifier | a persistent digital identifier for an individual researcher available on the ORCID website, www.orcid.org.Other Eligible Organisation | an organisation listed in Appendix B of these grant opportunity guidelines which is not the Administering Organisation on an application.other material resources | resources where a monetary value is not relevant or to which it is difficult to assign a monetary value, for example, access to restricted data, samples or documents. These contributions are most commonly identified in the research program section of the application in a letter of support.Other Organisation | an organisation that is not an Eligible Organisation and not a Partner Organisation that contributes to the research project.participants | all named participants on an application (i.e. CIs, PIs); and all unnamed researchers such as postdoctoral research associates and postgraduate researchers working on a project.Partner Investigator | a named participant who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a Partner Investigator (PI) under these grant opportunity guidelines.Partner Organisation | an Australian or overseas organisation, other than an Eligible Organisation, which satisfies the eligibility requirements for a Partner Organisation and is to be a cash and/or in-kind and/or other material resources contributor to the Project.PhD | a qualification that meets the level 10 criteria of the Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition January 2013.Postdoctoral Research Associate or PDRA | a postdoctoral research associate funded by the Commonwealth through the Administering Organisation, who will be employed on the project.Postgraduate Researcher or PGR | a postgraduate research student funded by the Commonwealth through the Administering Organisation, who will undertake a Higher Degree by Research through the project.Preprint or comparable resource | A preprint or comparable resource is a scholarly output that is uploaded by the authors to a recognised publicly accessible archive, repository, or pre-print service (such as, but not limited to, arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv, ChemRxiv, Peer J Preprints, Zenodo, GitHub, PsyArXiv and publicly available university or government repositories etc.). This will include a range of materials that have been subjected to varying degrees of peer review from none to light and full review. Ideally, a preprint or comparable resource should have a unique identifier or a DOI (digital object identifier). Any citation of a preprint or comparable resource should be explicitly identified as such and listed in the references with a DOI, URL or equivalent, version number and/or date of access, as applicable.projectan application approved to receive grant funds, and in respect of which both parties have accepted a grant offer under an ARC grant agreement.For clarity:references to ‘Project’ include the entire Project, and any part of, or an activity within, the Project; andFellowships and Awards are types of Projects.project activity period | the period during which a project is receiving grant funding according to the original grant Offer, or has any carryover funds approved by the ARC, or an approved variation to the project’s end date. During this period, the project is known as an active project.project end date | the expected date that the project activity is completed and by which all grant funding will be spent.pure basic researchbasic research carried out for the advancement of knowledge, without seeking long-term economic or social benefits or making any effort to apply the results to practical problems or to transfer the results to sectors responsible for their application.https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-research-classification-anzsrc/latest-releaseresearch | the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative.Research Associate | postdoctoral research associate funded by the Commonwealth through the Administering Organisation, who will be employed on the Project.Research Hubs | refers to the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (ITRH) under the Industrial Transformation Research Program.Research Hub Manager | a person with relevant skills and experience who is able to management and facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Research Hub.research infrastructure | the assets, facilities, services, and coordinated access to major national and/or international research facilities or consortia which directly support research in higher education organisations and more broadly, and which maintain the capacity of researchers to undertake excellent research and deliver innovative outcomes.Research Integrity EventMeans any:event that the ARC Research Integrity and Other Misconduct Policy (2026 version) states that an Administering Organisation must report to the ARC;adverse comments or findings made by a court, commission, tribunal, or other statutory, professional or academic body, regarding the conduct or performance of a Project Participant that impacts, or could reasonably be perceived to impact, on the: proper conduct of a Project in accordance with this Agreement; Project Participant’s capability, fitness, or reputation, in connection with a Project; or ethical and appropriate conduct of research in connection with a Project; orother significant matter, including the commencement of legal, regulatory or disciplinary action involving a Project Participant that might adversely impact on: compliance with this Agreement, Commonwealth policy, or applicable laws; the Commonwealth’s reputation; or the public interest or confidence in a Project, any associated research, or the ARC’s funding or support of a Project or any associated research.Research Office | a business unit within an Eligible Organisation that is responsible for contact with the ARC regarding applications and projects.Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) | an ARC policy framework used to consider and assess the quality and research excellence of a named participant within the context of the participant’s career and life experiences. One key element is that the assessment process takes into account the quality rather than simply the volume or size of the research contribution.research output | includes all products (including Preprints or comparable resources) of an ARC-funded research Project that meet the definition of Research.Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) | a group of experts from academia and industry appointed to assist the ARC to assess applications and to provide a recommendation for funding to the Minister. A SAC may be drawn from the ARC College of Experts.selection process | the method used to select applications to which funding is awarded. This process may involve comparative assessment of applications or the assessment of applications against the eligibility criteria and/or the assessment criteria.Special Condition | a condition included in the grant offer by the ARC that is identified as being a special condition, or is otherwise reasonably apparent that it is intended to be a special condition.strategic basic researchexperimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge directed into specified broad areas in the expectation of practical discoveries. It provides the broad base of knowledge necessary for the solution of recognised practical problems.https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-research-classification-anzsrc/latest-releasetechnical workshop services | the specialised construction and maintenance activities carried out by a technician, often within a dedicated facility for working with materials such as wood, glass, metal, plastics or electronics.Training Centres | refers to the Industrial Transformation Training Centres (ITTC) under the Industrial Transformation Research Program.Training Centre Director | a participant who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a Training Centre Director under these grant opportunity guidelines.Training Centre Manager | a person with relevant skills and experience who is able to manage and facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Centre.travel costs | the domestic and international economy travel costs associated with the project, including to foster and strengthen collaboration between researchers in Australia and overseas.value with money | in this document refers to ‘value with relevant money’ which is a judgement based on the application representing an efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of public resources determined from a variety of considerations, including merit of the proposal, risk, cost and expected contribution to outcome achievement.Variation of grant agreement (Variation) | a request sent by the Administering Organisation to the ARC, including via RMS, requesting or proposing a variation to the grant agreement.We | the Australian Research Council (ARC). ‘Us’ and ‘Our’ are also used in this context.You | the Eligible Organisation that submitted the application. ‘Your’ is also used in this context.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at legislation.gov.au, © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Compilations may have been reformatted.