Internal R&ID closing date for UQ Cash Commitment Proformas: 24 August 2011

Internal R&ID closing date for full applications: 9 September 2011.

Background

The Queensland Government has recently opened applications under the Smart Futures Fund - Research Partnerships Program (RPP).

The key objective of RPP is to support Research and Development (R&D) projects that have progressed beyond the concept stage and will be undertaken in collaboration with partner organisations either in Australia and/or overseas. The projects must deliver benefits to Queensland in the short-to-medium term (5-10 years) and their outcomes should align with the Queensland Government’s Toward Q2 targets of Strong, Green, Smart, Healthy and Fair with a focus on Queensland’s economic growth, sustainability and recovery.

Funding

The RPP scheme will provide grants of between $200,000 and $1 million for up to three years.

State Government funding is to be matched by a cash contribution at a rate of 1:1 as a minimum. No less than 25% of the applicant’s matched cash contribution is to be provided by the national or international partner(s).

MOU and Cash Commitments

The UQ application process for this grant will be coordinated jointly by the Office of the DVC (Research) and the Research and Innovation Division (R&ID). Please note the following key features of this new scheme:

• The State has mandated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) encompassing financial contributions and broad IP arrangements be signed and submitted with each RPP application. This adds a complex dimension to the application process and it is expected that only those teams with relatively mature proposals will be able to complete this process prior to the September application closing date. A template UQ MOU and information on the UQ MOU process is available.
• As RPP proposals involve the commitment of UQ cash, all UQ applicant teams are required to submit a cash commitment proforma as soon as possible, but by no later than 24 August 2011. This proforma will be used to formalise cash commitments from School, Faculty, Institute and central sources.
• Cash salaries (pro-rata commitment of at least 0.20 FTE of researcher and technical time) can be used as a cash input. Applicant teams are required to identify UQ cash salaries as part of the UQ cash envelope, unless there are special circumstances.

Further Information

Applicant teams are strongly encouraged to work with their Faculty/Institute Manager of Innovation and Commercial Development (MICD) on the preparation of the required business case, including budget development and overheads formulation, and to assist in the preparation of the MOU.

The internal closing date for full RPP applications is 9 September 2011 in R&ID. Review and checking of applications will take place in ODVR/R&ID before bids are finalised for submission to the State.

DEEDI has made available specific details of word limits for each response box on the RPP application form.

Further information on the scheme, including the Guidelines for Applicants and Application Form are available from: http://www.business.qld.gov.au/science/smart-futures-fund.html

Any enquiries may be directed to Jennifer Lock.

Information Session

DEEDI presented an information session on the Smart Futures Funds on Thursday 4 August 2011 at UQ St Lucia. The PowerPoint presentation from that session is now available for download.

Smart Futures Fund information session