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ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities

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Key dates for ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 2026

  • Applications open in Research Management System (RMS): 22 January 2025
  • Research Office Information Session: 10 February 2025
  • Internal Expression of Interest (EOI) Process:
  • Requests Not to Assess R&I: 19 March 2025
  • Applications due to UQ R&I: 19 March 2025
  • Applications due to the ARC: 9 April 2025
  • Rejoinder period: 25 June to 8 July 2025
  • Rejoinders due to the Research Office: 1 July 2025
  • Anticipated announcement: 14 November 2025 to 28 November 2025

UQ R&I Information Session

To assist applicants in preparing their EOIs and applications, the Research Office will be hosting an Information Session. A recording of this session will be made available on the UQ R&I presentations and slides webpage for those who are unable to attend. The session will feature a scheme overview, key findings from past rounds, the application and submission process, and a Q&A session with recent recipients. 

Date: 10 February 2025
Time: 2:30 - 3:30pm
Location: 76-228 - Molecular Biosciences, Learning Theatre

Overview

The Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of international and national research facilities.

Researchers can participate in cooperative initiatives so that expensive infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared between higher education organisations and with industry.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the project proposal must: 

  • Have a duration of one to five consecutive years.
  • Demonstrate significant cash and/or in-kind and/or other material resources contributions from each Eligible Organisation and Partner Organisation participating on the project.
  • Each Eligible Organisation must make a cash contribution.
  • Organisational cash contributions (excluding indirect costs) must make up a minimum of 25% of the total direct cost of the research infrastructure. 
     

How to apply

Step 1: Notice of Intent

All researchers intending to participate on an ARC LIEF 2026 application are required to submit a mandatory internal UQ Notice of Intent (NOI). NOIs will be collated centrally and distributed to faculties and institutes to maximise support to the UQ research community. If you would like to discuss your intention to apply with your local area, please contact your Faculty/Institute Research Manager. 


Submit UQ Notice of Intent

Step 2: Cash Proforma

UQ expects that applicants seek between 60% - 70% contributions from the ARC and industry partners. A cash proforma is available to support UQ co-contribution considerations. This form must be submitted to your Faculty/Institute Research Manager for certification by 12 February 2025. Faculties/Institutes should forward all certifications to the Research Office by 19 February 2025.

Step 3: Expression of Interest Form

UQ requires all applicants to submit an EOI Form to ensure alignment with UQ and sector requirements, and to allow for strategic input into the application.

Submit UQ Expression of Interest

Step 4. RMS updates and scheme reading

  • Update your full profile in your RMS ‘Person Profile’. If any team members are new to RMS and need a login/password, we strongly recommend starting this process early.
  • Familiarise yourself with key Australian Research Council (ARC) and UQ documentation below. It is especially important to familiarise yourself with ARC's Grant Guidelines and Instructions to Applicants documents available on GrantConnect.

Step 5. Completing the application

  • Log into RMS, create an application and make sure UQ is listed as the Administering Organisation if UQ is to submit the application.
  • Use the UQ templates available below to draft your documents to be uploaded to your application in RMS.
  • Complete the application in RMS. 
  • When ready for review, ensure all online components are complete and valid, generate a whole application PDF for your records and select 'Submit to Research Office' in RMS.

Step 6. UQR&I internal review and feedback

  • To initiate review: 
  • If you are lodging a 'Request Not to Assess' (RNTA), please complete the 'Request Not to Assess' form in RMS and then submit to the Research Office for review by the date stated in key dates above. 
  • UQ Research Office will review your application and provide you with feedback.

Step 7. Final Submission

  • When your application is complete and fully compliant, the UQ Research Office will submit the application to the ARC through RMS.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

UQ Library resources and support

A range of resources and workshops from the UQ library are also available to assist researchers applying for this scheme.

Key documents

ARC

Before applying, please review the full suite of documents, which will become available via GrantConnect. 

UQ

Mandatory Forms

Templates

Additional Resources

Rejoinders and rebuttal

In the ARC assessment and rejoinder process, proposal comments from external assessors may be made available to applicants, and applicants given the opportunity to submit a rejoinder. Detailed information on the rejoinder process (including instructions for accessing assessment reports and submitting rejoinders) is available from the ARC website.

The Research Office has developed a Rejoinder Tip Sheet with FAQs (PDF, 407.6 KB)  to assist you in crafting your rejoinder. 

Contact UQ R&I

Scheme queries

RMS queries

Round coordinator
Jessica Von Pein

If you are applying through UQ but you are not a current UQ staff member, please contact the round coordinator to be added to the UQ R&I mailing list.