How we make investments
Running investment processes

We run a number of investment processes to call for research proposals and then select research to invest in. We then contract with the successful applicant.

Contestable

We invest a portion of our funds through contest-based investment processes. These are either one-stage or two-stage. In one-stage processes, researchers submit a complete description of their proposed research as the first step (called a proposal).

In two-stage processes, researchers submit a short outline of their intended research first (called a concept). Once the concepts have been screened by advisory groups, we invite the researchers whose concepts best meet our criteria to submit full proposals.

Find out more about our contestable processes.

Negotiated

This allows us to negotiate directly with researchers who have an established track record with us to determine the scope of a new research contract that builds on an existing one.

Research teams with a long-term, substantial Foundation? research contract (at least six years in duration and $1 million in value) are eligible to renew this contract through negotiation.

Find out more about our negotiation processes.

On-demand

We have a number of schemes that we invest in using on-demand? processes.

On-demand schemes are open for applications more than once a year, in contrast to our yearly investment rounds, which are open for applications at most once per year.

Proposals for our on-demand schemes are considered at varying intervals. For example, some on-demand proposals are considered fortnightly, whereas others are considered twice a year.

Find out more about our on-demand processes.

Closed tender

The Foundation may from time to time use a "closed tender" process rather than its default contestable investment process for a contract. In a closed tender investment process, invitations to tender are issued to a pre-determined list of organisations. There must be at least two organisations.

There will be limited use of closed tenders. Closed tenders are a one-off process and not used repeatedly for the same work.

Find out more about our closed tender processes.