The Design and Creative Practice ECP invites expressions of interest for the 2020 Strategic Capability Development Fund (SCDF). Applications can range up to $20,000, although opportunities to fund up to $50,000 will be considered for more substantive strategic plans of work.
The development of research capabilities that enable researchers to become more effective in undertaking research, research engagement and research deployment in areas of demonstrated strategic opportunity. RMIT’s definition of ‘Capability’ covers People, Expertise, Infrastructure/Facilities and Networks/Connections.
The scaling up of research capabilities that contribute to RMIT’s ability to create impact from research. Examples may include growing a collaborative network initially funded through the ECPs to take advantage of large funding opportunities.
Establishing a new research capability program of work that will promote inter-disciplinary or cross-platform collaboration for a clear strategic purpose.
Establishing a new strategic research capability that will be relevant to affiliates across several different disciplines/platforms.
Establishing research capabilities that will help ECPs deploy capabilities to create impact in High Impact Potential opportunity areas, including increasing the deployment readiness of RMIT’s research and innovation capability. If a minor research component is required to validate the network’s capability/capacity, this has to be fully justified and cannot become a major component of the network’s activities.
To enable internal translation of research capability in an identified area of RMIT research expertise: e.g. research capability to build industry roadmaps or capability to deploy research into policy outcomes.
To assist existing successful networks to expand, consolidate, deepen, and/or reach out for impact engagement. Consolidation and expansion (non-exhaustive list) can include: support to join other larger national and international networks; expanding membership numerically and qualitatively, for example, if network was for and by ECRs, to incorporate HDR component; engage to secure industry or government funding for specific network activities. Selecting highly successful activities from establishment phase for continuation is also eligible but cannot be proposed in isolation. New activities or modification of existing activities would be required.
TWOSTAGEASSESSMENT
There will be an initial EOI stage where cross-disciplinary topics and written endorsement by at least two ECP Directors is required (email is accepted). After EOI evaluation, selected applications will be asked to submit a full proposal.
Proposals are selected for funding consideration at the discretion of Directors. All proposals will be considered by ECP Directors and recommended to the ADVC R&IC for approval.
ELIGIBILITY
All RMIT researchers, including graduate researchers and academic staff, are eligible to apply (see below re. co-leading and reimbursement). Staff must remain affiliated with RMIT for the duration of the funded activity.
To be considered for the Strategic Capability Development Fund (SCDF) proposals must have a clearly identified value proposition which is directly aligned to ECP Value creating activities. The five key domains in the ECP value chain are: a. Researcher Engagement (increasing interdisciplinary collaborations) b. Capability Development (investing in new skills and competencies) c. Industry Engagement (developing new industry partnerships and opportunities) d. Capability Deployment (building capability between different capability groups) e. Research Translation (translating research for impact beyond academia)
Proposals should be developed across more than one ECP (cross-ECP) or demonstrate clear inter-disciplinary context; with the strategic outcomes and benefits created to apply to more than one platform.
Proposals are only eligible for consideration with the endorsement of at least two ECP Directors.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate a need for the funding, but also outline co-contribution from partners and/or plans for apply for funds from elsewhere (if appropriate).
The role of ECP Directors in any proposal is in a supervising role as opposed to leading or being part of a proposal team.
Ideally proposals should be single year in scope and funding must be expended by November in the year of award. Multi-year proposals are permitted however they must be broken down into calendar years and re-applied for each year. Multi-year proposals will only be reconsidered for further funding when the previous calendar year milestones have been successfully achieved.
FUNDING
Funding is flexible, proposals will typically be funded across different scales of work. We anticipate projects typically up to $20K. There is the possibility of applying for funding up to $50K for more substantive strategic plans of work.
To facilitate timely expenditure of funds outcomes will be notified by the subsequent quarter (at latest). For 2020 the expressions of interest will close at 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday 10 March.
Full applications will be invited soon after with a deadline for that application by the 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday 31 March.
Funding expiry — Any unspent funding relating to this activity cannot be extended or rolled over past the end of the year awarded due to University budget processes. All expenses relating to this approved activity must be processed in SAP by University shutdown (check with your School for local SAP deadlines), any costs not processed by the end of that year (regardless of the reason) will be the responsibility of the School to fund and requests for approval via ECPs will be rejected. There will be no exceptions.
