The Final Report of the review of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) defines the program’s core mission as funding the best early-stage research and recognises that this work grows knowledge and provides the foundation for later research, development, translation and commercialisation.
The Academy welcomes the proposed reduction from 15 schemes to seven, increased support for early-career researchers, a commitment to fund up to 200 additional projects each year, and the rejection of an artificial divide between basic and applied research.
Academy President Professor Stephen Garton AM FAHA FASSA FRAHS FRSN said the reforms affirmed the ARC’s distinctive role in Australia’s research system.
“The NCGP represents only 7 per cent of total Australian Government fundent research, but it is the primary national competitive funding source for humanities, arts and social sciences research,” Professor Garton said.
“Across the Australian Government’s 151 research and development programs, opportunities for humanities researchers are extremely limited. For our disciplines, the ARC is not one funder among many, it is the cornerstone of the research system.
“We strongly welcome recognition that early-stage research underpins later innovation and commercialisation, while also delivering enduring public benefits through better policy and institutions, richer cultural life, stronger communities, and a greater capacity to respond to social and technological change.”
The Academy also strongly welcomes the proposed Indigenous Excellence scheme and the increase in dedicated support for Indigenous researchers to 5 per cent of NCGP funding, including around 50 Indigenous Excellence grants. It encourages the ARC Board to work closely with the ARC Indigenous Forum so that Indigenous leadership shapes the scheme’s design and implementation.
However, the Academy is concerned by the decision to end dedicated salaried fellowships for mid- and senior-career researchers. While approximately 300 Initiate Fellowships and additional early-career salary options are welcome, the proposed Lead and Mentor schemes will fund research teams but not the lead investigator’s salary.
“Australian Laureate and Future Fellowships have enabled outstanding researchers to undertake field-defining work and have helped Australia attract and retain exceptional scholars,” Professor Garton said.
“Creating more opportunities for early-career researchers is vital, but those researchers also need credible pathways once their early-career eligibility ends. Removing salary support at that boundary risks creating a larger cohort of excellent researchers with nowhere to progress, and concentrating opportunity in universities able to provide substantial internal support.”
The Academy recognises the role of governments in setting national research priorities, but says the proposed Prioritise scheme must maintain a clear separation between political priority-setting and independent expert assessment.
“Funding rules and assessment processes must protect investigator-led research, research independence and rigorous peer review,” Professor Garton said. “Long-term national capability cannot be shaped by the short-term politics of the government of the day.”
The Academy welcomes broader recognition of partnerships with government, community, cultural and not-for-profit organisations, and low or minimal co-contribution requirements for smaller projects. Detailed design must preserve opportunities for collaborations to begin at modest scale and grow over time.
It also welcomes the retention of peer review and efforts to reduce administrative burden, while cautioning that disciplinary expertise must remain central to judging scholarly excellence, originality and feasibility.
“The Academy welcomes the ambition of this reform and stands ready to work with the ARC on the detailed design,” Professor Garton said.
