SPIN (Sponsored Programs Information Network) is a computer database with detailed and up-to-the minute information about thousands of government and private funding opportunities from Australia and overseas. The information on the database will serve researchers in universities and university staff in associated teaching hospitals, libraries, etc. The international information that appears on SPIN Australia has been screened to include only programs for which Australian researchers are eligible to apply.

The information on Australian programs consists of:

• Details provided by granting bodies
• For state specific programs, details provided by Research Offices in each state
• Information from the newspaper, followed up by details form the granting body/contractor.

SPIN currently contains information from more than 1,200 different sponsoring agencies, which together fund over 10,000 separate funding opportunities. All of the information on SPIN is obtained directly from the sponsoring agencies to ensure the integrity of the information. It is a computer database with detailed and up-to-the-minute information covering a broad range of subject areas and award types, such as:

• Fellowships
• Travel
• Research
• Collaborative Projects
• Curriculum Development
• Sabbatical Support
• Publication Support
• Exchange Programs

SPIN Australia provides the information you need to make a decision about whether to apply, including:

• Granting Body information
• Deadline information
• Detailed eligibility
• Funding amounts and duration
• On-costs, Infrastructure, etc.
• Comprehensive text, which includes a brief SYNOPSIS, plus DETAILED description of the program's OBJECTIVES and RESTRICTIONS

It is maintained by UNSW for all Australian Universities. Existing records on the database are identified two months before the closing date and the granting bodies contacted for updated information. Once the records have been changed, the change will be reflected within 24 hours. New records are being added as the information becomes available, and will appear on the database within 48 hours of the information being received.

You can also set up a subscription account in SPIN that will allow email notification of new funding opportunities that matches your interests. Creating aa email notification account is done via the SMARTS component of the database.

The SPIN database can be searched through the UQ Library subscription. You can also download a guide to using SPIN:

• Using SPIN