ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs

Key dates for ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs 2026

NOTE: the following dates are indicative only and may be subject to change

• Internal (UQ) NOI process closes: 4 July 2025
• • UQ Led bids: ARC ITRP - UQ-Led -2026-NOI
  • Externally Led bids: ARC ITRP - Externally-Led - 2026-NOI
• Applications open in Research Management System (RMS): 17 September 2025
• Applications due to UQ R&I: 17 October 2025
• Requests Not to Assess due to UQ R&I: 4 November 2025
• Requests Not to Assess closes with ARC: 11 November 2025
• Applications close with ARC: 26 November 2025
• Rejoinder period: 29 January to 11 February 2026
• Anticipated announcement: 10 June to 24 June 2026

Overview

The Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme engages Australia’s best researchers to partner with industry in priority areas for Australia. The Industrial Transformation Research Hubs are focussed on issues facing industry.

The scheme provides between $500,000 and $1 million per year for 3 to 5 years.

Partnering and Cash requirements

This scheme has strict partnering and cash requirements which should be given consideration early. Subject to change when the new guidelines are released, we expect the following:

• Your application must include a combined commitment from partners that matches or exceeds funds requested from the ARC.
• Partner cash contributions must be at least 75% of the total funding requested from the ARC, unless the largest partner in your consortium has 100 employees or less.

Your partners will need to provide letters of support confirming their contributions and commitment. Start these conversations early.

Industrial Transformation Priorities

ITRH is priority driven. Subject to change when the 2026 guidelines are released, the 2025 priorities were:  

• Renewables and low emissions technologies
• Medical science*
• Transport
• Value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors
• Value-add in resources
• Defence capability
• Enabling capabilities.

How to apply

Step 1. Notice of Intent

The NOI will be used to ensure that the University’s proposals are closely aligned with the requirements of the Industrial Transformation Research Hub (ITRH) scheme.

For applicants that engage early, the Major Initiatives and Pre-Award team will provide close support.

Following the NOI process, UQ lead ITRH teams prepare a full proposal, as follows:

Step 2. RMS updates and scheme reading

• Update your full profile in RMS ‘Person Profile’. If any team members are new to RMS and need a login/password, start early.
• Familiarise yourself with the key Australian Research Council (ARC) and UQ documentation.

Step 3. Completing the application

• Log into RMS and complete the application.

Step 4. UQ R&I internal review and feedback

• Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and validated, generate a whole-of-application PDF for your records, and select 'Submit to Research Office' in RMS to submit the application.
• To initiate review, email your completed IH 2026 Application Certification Form to UQ R&I at linkage@research.uq.edu.au
• If lodging a Request Not to Assess, email your completed form to UQ R&I by the internal closing date.
• Also provide completed UQ Certification Proformas.

Step 5. Final submission

• The Research Office will submit your application to the ARC. This will not be done without your knowledge.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

• Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
• Join the UQ R&I Mailer to stay up to date with round developments.
• Access the UQ R&I Grants Library, a helpful resource of past successful proposals.

Key documents

NOTE the resources below are from the previous round. These will be updated in due course for the IH26 round. 

ARC

The full suite of documents is available on GrantConnect (login required), the Australian Government grants information system.

• Industrial Transformation Research Hubs: GO7229

Additional ARC documents

• 2023 ARC ITRP Establishment Toolkit (PDF, 804.1 KB)
• ARC Medical Research Policy
• Request Not to Assess

Templates for RMS application

Mandatory Forms - UQ led applications

• UQ IH25 Application Certification Form (DOCX, 64.8 KB)
• UQ IH25 Pending and Newly Funded ARC Grants (DOCX, 38.5 KB)
• UQ IH25 Organisation Certification Form (DOCX, 45.9 KB)

Mandatory Forms - externally led applications

• UQ Funding Application Certification (FAC) (DOC, 174.5 KB) - (externally led ITRH)

UQ Templates

• UQ IH25 B1 Project Description Template (DOCX, 40.6 KB)
• UQ IH25 D2 ARC Budget Justification Template (DOCX, 28.9 KB)
• UQ IH25 D3 Details of Non-ARC Contributions Template (DOCX, 27.5 KB)
• UQ IH25 F2 Partner Organisation Letter of Support (DOCX, 42.7 KB)
• UQ IH25 G3 Research Load Template (DOCX, 19.1 KB)
• UQ IH25 G13 ROPE Participant Impact and Contribution to Field Template (DOCX, 25.2 KB)

UQ Resources

• UQ Indicative Salary Scales (XLSX, 47.7 KB)
• National Interest Test Writing Guide (PDF, 190.8 KB)

Additional Resources

• Australian Space Agency (PDF, 3.9 MB)
• Department of Defence - 'More, together - Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2030'

Rejoinders and rebuttal

In the ARC assessment and rejoinder process, proposal comments from external assessors will be made available to applicants, who may be given the opportunity to submit a rejoinder.

UQ R&I works closely with individual applicants in submitting ITRH rejoinders and for this reason does not provide institution-wide workshops or seminars.

Detailed information on the rejoinder process (including instructions for accessing assessment reports and submitting rejoinders) is available from the ARC website. The UQ R&I internal deadline for rejoinders is shown in the Key Dates section.