Funding
Research Consortia
Summary of changes
We have made several changes to how we invest in research consortia since the 2006/7 Request for Proposal to make it easier for users and research organisations to work together. We also see a more active role for the Foundation? in helping parties develop consortium proposals.
We believe these changes will help to encourage proposals that are industry-led and have the broad objective of transforming sectors where there is no existing consortium.
To encourage research proposals that lead to significant change, our key focus is investing in research on secondary and tertiary production. We will continue to consider proposals that are closely aligned to national priorities for primary production.
The research can be within any sector, including the primary sector, as long as it will produce an economic outcome.
The key changes we have made to the request for proposal are listed in the table below.
| Description | Previous setting | New setting |
|---|---|---|
| Contracting arrangements |
Foundation to consortium (a legal entity) | Variable. Foundation to consortium, or Foundation and users contract to research provider(s) |
| Foundation involvement | Engagement primarily at the contracting stage | More active engagement with users throughout the life of the project, from development through to contracting |
| Funding ratio | At least 50% cash co-funding at project start and every year of project | The amount the private sector cofunds year-by-year can vary, as long as the total cofunding is at least 50% of the value of the contract at completion |
| Intent of Consortium | Partnership then outcomes | Outcomes then partnership |
| Investment priorities | Broad alignment with any one of the nine portfolios within the Research for Industry? output expense |
Production that falls within one of six portfolios under the Research for Industry output expense |
| Legal entity | Required | Required for contracting and administrative purposes. A new and separate entity does not need to be set up |
| Minimum contribution |
$1 million p.a. | Minimum contribution of $500,000 yearly. Above $2.5 million per annum, the Foundation investment may decline from the dollar for dollar ratio |