ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Program
Grants
The 2013–2014 grants rounds are CLOSED.
The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP) provides grants for taxonomic research. Grants are awarded for research projects where the primary aim is to undertake taxonomic research on the Australian biota or to develop products that aid in the dissemination of taxonomic information. The program also supports projects that build Australian taxonomic capacity.
The ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Program — meeting national needs
The ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Program is the only program in Australia supporting research into taxonomy. This program, revised in April 2008, is designed to:
- Increase funding for taxonomy — through enhanced co-funding opportunities
- Build the taxonomic workforce — in line with recommendation 1.2 of the National Action Plan for taxonomy in Australia (see the Proceedings of the National Taxonomy Forum, p. 6)
- Simplify administration processes — for the ABRS and the Advisory Committee
- Simplify the application process — for applicants
Features
The program features:
- Fixed grant amounts — Applicants apply for grants under a scheme of set levels of funding (see below under Types of Grant).
- Fully funded grants — Successful grant applicants are guaranteed the full amount of funding requested, via fixed grant amounts, for the full grant period.
- Capacity-Building Grants and Research Grants — The program has a designated capacity-building allocation aimed at building the taxonomic workforce, as well as funding for research grants of various specified sizes.
- A co-funding requirement for Research Grants — The ABRS Research Grants are all co-funded. That is, applicants must have obtained a commitment for the applicable amount of co-funding for their application to be considered (see Types of Grants below).
- Substantial Supplement Partners — The ABRS will partner with organisations or consortia interested in bringing significant funding to a broad area of taxonomic research to secure matching funding for that area from the National Taxonomy Research Grant Program.
Benefits of the Program
- Increased support for early career researchers (including provision for retired taxonomists to mentor younger researchers through support for non-salaried researcher positions)
- Provision for major, national-scale investigations incorporating multiple researchers and institutions
- Simpler application forms, meaning significantly less time spent in applying for grants
- A guarantee that grant applicants will receive the funding requested
Types of Grants
The grant program features two streams of funding — Research Grants and Capacity-Building Grants. Each type of grant is for a fixed annual amount of funding.
Grant Application Forms
There is one form for Research Grants and one form for Capacity-Building Grants. Guidelines for completing each application form are included in the same document as the application form, allowing for step-by-step instructions for completing the form. The guidelines in each form include conditions and requirements to be met to receive grant funding, the ABRS research priorities, as well as general instructions on completing the application forms. Failure to comply with the guidelines for completing the application forms will render your application ineligible.
All grant recipients who received funding in 2008–2009 or earlier, are subject to the terms of the ABRS Grants Conditions of Award. For a copy of this Award, please contact the Grants Officer.
All grant recipients who received funding in 2009–2010 or later, are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the ABRS Grant Funding Agreement.
Assessment Criteria and Process
Grants are approved by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on an annual basis. The following selection processes are used to provide recommendations to the Minister on grant applications to be approved:
ABRS Priority Areas for Grants — 2013–2014
Projects funded under the National Taxonomy Research Grant Program must be public good in focus and support the Australian Government’s National Research Priorities. Within the National Research Priorities, the following specific criteria will be used by the ABRS to determine whether a project is eligible for an ABRS grant.
- Biodiversity, Conservation and Vulnerable and Endangered Species
- Public, Plant and Animal Health
- Building Taxonomic Capacity
These criteria will be used in the 2013–2014 grants round and applicants must address one or more of these criteria within the relevant section of the application form.
Reporting
The ABRS grant recipients are required to report to the ABRS on the progress of their grant. Failure to submit any Report by the due date may result in cancellation of the grant and ALL future funding.
All grant recipients who receive funding from the ABRS, are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the ABRS Grant Funding Agreement.
For more information and templates on reporting please see:
Grant Year
A Grant year is defined as the twelve-month period commencing on 1 July and ending on 30 June, specified in the funding agreement, during which the grant will be paid.
For further information
Email
abrs.grants@
environment.gov.au
Key
Links to another web site
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