ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres

Key dates for ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres 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 Training Centres provide funding for partnerships between university-based researchers and those in industry. Training Centres provide Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training for industries vital to Australia's future.

The scheme provides a maximum of $5 million over a maximum of 5 consecutive years to support HDR stipends and postdoctoral salaries, in addition to project costs.

Partnering and Cash requirements

Subject to change when the new guidelines are released, we expect the following:

• UQ and each Other Eligible Organisation and Partner Organisation on an application must each commit a significant contribution of cash and/or in-kind and/or other material resources to the application.

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

Industrial Transformation Priorities

ITTC 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 Training Centres (ITTC) scheme.

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

Following the NOI process, UQ lead ITTC 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 IC 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 IC26 round. 

ARC

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

• Industrial Transformation Training Centres: GO7223

Additional ARC documents

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

Templates for RMS application

Mandatory Forms

• UQ IC25 Application Certification Form (DOCX, 64.8 KB)
• UQ IC25 Pending and Newly Funded ARC Grants (DOCX, 38.5 KB)
• UQ IC25 Organisation Certification Form (DOCX, 46 KB)

UQ Templates

• UQ IC25 B1 Project Description Template (DOCX, 39.4 KB)
• UQ IC25 D2 ARC Budget Justification Template (DOCX, 28.5 KB)
• UQ IC25 D3 Details of Non-ARC Contributions Template (DOCX, 26.7 KB)
• UQ IC25 F2 Partner Organisation Letter of Support (DOCX, 41.7 KB)
• UQ IC25 G3 Research Load Template (DOCX, 19.1 KB)
• UQ IC25 G13 ROPE Participant Impact and Contribution to Field Template (DOCX, 25 KB)

UQ Resources

• 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 ITTC 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.