National and International Research Alliances Program (NIRAP)
Research-Industry Partnerships Program (RIPP)

Internal RRTD closing dates:

UQ Cash Commitment Proformas: 6 October 2009
Full applications: 19 October 2009.

The Queensland State Government has recently opened applications under Round Five of the National and International Research Alliances Program (NIRAP) and Research-Industry Partnerships Program (RIPP).

The key objective of NIRAP is to support innovative R&D projects with leading-edge partner organisations in Australia and overseas. The NIRAP scheme will provide grants of between $200,000 and $2 million over one to three years. Smart State funding is to be matched by a cash contribution at a rate of no less than 1:1 per annum for the duration of the project. No less than 25% of the applicant’s matched cash contribution is to be provided by the national or international alliance partner(s) based outside Queensland.

The purpose of the RIPP scheme is to facilitate the development of new or improved products, processes and systems that will achieve a commercial return or deliver a public good within four years. The program will provide grants of between $200,000 and $1 million over one to three years. Projects must be collaborative and include at least one university/research institute and one industry organisation. Program funding is to be matched by a cash contribution at a rate of no less than 1:1 per annum. No less than 25% of the applicant's matched cash contribution is to be provided by the industry partner(s).

The UQ application process for these grants will be coordinated by the Research and Research Training Division (RRTD), with strategic advice from the DVC(Research). Please note the following key information:

• The State has mandated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) encompassing financial contributions and broad IP arrangements be signed and submitted for each NIRAP and RIPP application. This adds a complex dimension to the application process and we expect that only those teams with already mature proposals will be able to complete this process in time for the State’s external closing date in early November. A template UQ MOU and information on the UQ MOU process is now available.
• Please note that the RIPP scheme now requires that 'no less than 25 per cent of the applicant's match cash contribution is to be provided by the industry partner(s)'. This is a change to previous years, where no industry partner threshold was in place.
• As NIRAP and RIPP proposals involve the commitment of UQ cash, all applicant teams are required to submit a UQ Cash Commitment Proforma by 6 October 2009. This Proforma will be used to formalise cash commitments from School, Faculty, Institute and central sources.

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. Consistent with the University’s approach in previous rounds, 15% UQ overheads are to be applied to Smart Futures grant funding under NIRAP and RIPP. The distribution of these overheads will follow the protocols outlined in the University’s HUPP policy on Recovery of Infrastructure and Services Costs in Research Budgets.

The internal closing date for full NIRAP and RIPP applications is 19 October 2009 in RRTD. Review and checking of applications will take place in RRTD before bids are finalised for submission to the State.

Further information on the scheme, including the Guidelines for Applicants and Application Form are available from the Smart Futures Fund website.

Any enquiries may be directed to Nicole Thompson.