The Albanese Labor Government is boosting Australian innovation and productivity through significant reforms to the settings and design of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP).
The NCGP is Australia’s $1 billion a year flagship grants program funding blue-sky research and backing the ideas with the greatest potential.
The final report of the NCGP Policy Review released today will:
- Realign the NCGP with its core mission of funding the best early-stage research
- Create a simpler grants structure by reducing the number of schemes so researchers can spend more time on discovery and innovation and less time on administration
- Uplift the next generation of Australian researchers by prioritising salary opportunities for early-career researchers and providing clearer pathways into research careers for PhD graduates
- Expand opportunities for universities to partner with industry by increasing visibility to industry and ensuring all research under new schemes has collaboration potential
- Better align research with national priorities – a key recommendation of the Ambitious Australia report.
Research is a long-term national asset. Many of the industries and technologies Australians rely on today – from solar energy to quantum technologies – began with early-stage discovery research.
The NGCP adds more than $3 of economic output for Australia for every $1 invested. These reforms are about making sure it continues to deliver for Australia.
This will ensure Australia remains competitive and research can continue to be done in strategically important areas while boosting economic growth and productivity.
The reforms will also better align research funding to the Government’s expectations around research integrity and research security.
This includes ensuring research activities advance Australia’s security, defence and international relations and the ARC continues to improve processes to identify and eliminate risks affecting Australia’s research sector.
The first scheme following the Review, Explore, will open in March 2027. New programs will be introduced progressively after that.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“Australia should be rightly proud to be home to some of the world’s most brilliant researchers and the most-cutting edge research.
“This will help some of our best and brightest to spend more time working on game-changing projects that are good for our economy and good for Australia.
“These reforms are about backing the ideas and the brains that will shape Australia’s future.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Innovation of Australia Tim Ayres:
“The Ambitious Australia report recognises that Australia’s future competitive advantage will come from focusing our research strengths on the great national challenges and opportunities before us – from industrial transformation and clean energy to advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
“Australia’s researchers are among the best in the world – with greater coordination and a shared sense of national purpose, their work can deliver even greater benefits for Australians.”
Quotes attributable to ARC Board Chair Professor Peter Shergold:
“This is the most significant reform to the ARC’s grants program in decades.
“The NCGP Policy Review reflects extensive consultation with the sector and a clear commitment to maintaining excellence, fairness, and transparency in research funding.
“The new program will help ensure Australia’s research system remains strong, adaptable and internationally competitive.
“The ARC Board will continue to provide oversight to ensure the reforms are implemented in a way that maintains trust and confidence across the sector.”
Quotes attributable to ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Ute Roessner:
“The revitalised grants program is a significant step forward for Australia’s research system.
“It provides a clearer and more coherent framework for supporting excellent research across all ARC-supported disciplines, while improving accessibility and reducing complexity for researchers and institutions.
“The ARC plays a critical role in supporting early-stage foundational research. These reforms will help ensure that support is stronger, more consistent, and better aligned to the needs of the research workforce.
“We will continue to work closely with the sector throughout implementation to ensure a smooth transition to the new schemes.”
