ACDS submission to the ARC Review of the National Competitive Grant Scheme

The ACDS welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the ARC’s second consultation on reforming the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). The ACDS commend the ARC for its engagement with the sector and for proposing a bold new framework that seeks to simplify the grant structure, support a diverse research community, and strengthen the long-term impact of public investment in research. These reforms address several long-standing ACDS priorities.

Overall, the ACDS strongly supports the streamlined six-scheme structure, the enhanced support for Indigenous researchers, and opportunities for early- and mid-career researchers. To ensure the success of these reforms, we recommend a formal review after five years,

In response to the Discussion Paper, the ACDS emphasised the following four points:

• Support for Reforms: ACDS supports the streamlined six-scheme structure including the mechanisms to support Early- and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs), such as Embedded Fellowships and opportunities through the Lead and Mentor grants.
• Commitment to Indigenous Research: We welcome efforts to strengthen Indigenous research and researcher capability.
• Support for Research Translation: The ARC’s role in funding research with translational potential must be emphasised. We urge consideration of widening eligibility to include research providers beyond universities.
• Monitoring and Review: We recommend a formal review of the new model after five years to assess impacts on factors such as success rates and equity of access, to ensure the program is achieving its strategic objectives.

The ACDS elaborated on these points in our responses to the consultation questions.