How to apply for funding
Funding for research is open to all those who can justify the relevance of their study to AWI and that fulfill certain designated criteria.
AWI's annual application procedure for receiving research and product development proposals operates on an open-call basis.
Applicants must submit a full proposal by the scheduled date, incorporating information on all requested areas for consideration. This process does not include direct negotiations, commissions, limited tenders and continuing investments.
AWI supports Research and Development (R&D) in three basic ways:
- Commissioning specific work from researchers or organisations that have demonstrated expertise and can meet specified objectives in the required time
- Seeking tenders against tightly-specified outcomes and objective statements from groups which may be able to do the work (Commissioned Research)
- In the case of strategic or basic research, seeking applications through a new open-call process, as detailed below
AWI is seeking to invest in projects that:
- Meet the key goals listed in the On-Farm and Off-Farm areas below
- Increase wealth to Australian wool producers
- Provide a commercial rate of return to the company
Read the AWI Strategic Plan 2004-2009 (2005 Update) (pdf 265Kb)
Further information:
Who can apply for AWI support?
Any individual, company or organisation worldwide is eligible to apply for AWI support. Your proposal will be judged on its potential benefits to the Australian wool industry and on its chances of commercial success.
The proposal should be made by the organisation, company or individual seeking AWI investment funds.
Proposals from tertiary education institutions should be submitted through your Central Administration Office or Research Secretariat.
Where arrangements have been made for more than one organisation to undertake the research in collaboration, it is preferable that one organisation should take responsibility for the project and sub-contract part of the research to the other organisation(s).
Postgraduate awards / training and development applications can be accepted at any time.
Three Steps to submit a funding application
Step 1
Get to know the industry and its priorities through AWI’s Strategic Plan. The strategic plan for 2004-2009 aims to achieve Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) objectives that will bring about positive changes to the Australian wool industry, with an emphasis on building the demand for wool.
The key goals and priorities for this round of funding can be identified for On-Farm and Off-Farm activities specifically. Applicants seeking AWI support should be familiar with these priorities.
Points to consider:
- What sort of funding do you need and for how long?
- What do you want to achieve?
- How relevant is it to the Australian wool industry?
- Do you have the resources to conduct the project?
Step 2
Send in your project proposal application on the standard AWI template (either the On Farm proposal template or the Off Farm proposal template) by the closing date. We will only accept proposals on these forms.
On-farm proposals (Please note: applications closed 31 August 2006. 2007 dates will be published when available.)
Off-farm proposals (Please note: applications closed 31 August 2006. 2007 dates will be published when available.)
Step 3
Your proposal will be assessed against formal selection criteria with the emphasis on priority areas (as outlined in the strategic plan) and the extent of the economic benefits to the Australian wool industries or communities.
It is essential that you make your proposal clear and concise. Refer to the appropriate guidelines above.
What is the evaluation process?
Applications are peer-reviewed; further consultation may be undertaken with a range of industry based research and development advisory committees based on the following criteria:
- Industry benefit
- Proposed method
- Links with industry
- Technical feasibility and risk assessment
- Track record of investigator
- Industry groups likely to benefit
- Communication, delivery, extension strategy
- Quoted price of project
Detailed evaluation criteria to guide your project:
Attractiveness:
- Is the application supported by the appropriate industry sector(s), agency(s), and other end-users and beneficiaries?
- Is the need well-defined and does it address one of the priorities defined under AWI’s Strategic Plan?
- Are the planned outcomes well quantified and qualified, and will they meet the defined need?
- Will the planned outcomes, if achieved, provide a high benefit-to-cost ratio or a sound return on investment or value for money?
- Is the applicant, beneficiary or other entity making an appropriate financial contribution to the project?
- Does the industry beneficiary contribute financially to the project or to AWI?
- Is there an appropriate level of collaboration between researchers – and between researchers and wool industry interests?
- Is the project original? Does it add value to previous research and development?
Feasibility
- Is the end-user of the planned outputs clearly identified?
- Are the planned outputs well described, and will they meet the needs of the end-user?
- Is the strategy for extending the outputs sufficient to achieve the planned outcomes?
- Are the objectives clearly specified, and are they consistent with planned outputs?
- Are the methods well described, and are they consistent with the objectives?
- Does the applicant have the capacity and commitment to produce the planned outputs?
- Are the principal investigator and other researchers to be engaged on the project competent? Have they performed well in the past?
Other considerations
In evaluating applications, the Board may also consider questions such as:
- Is there a strategy for managing data arising from the project so that it will be easily accessible by others in future?
- Will project outputs contribute to future research and development?
- Will the research have an impact on endangered, rare or sensitive ecosystems?
- Will the research have animal welfare impacts?
- Will the research require some sort of external approval because of its impact on ecosystems or animal welfare?
Include all information that may impact on your proposal, in particular:
What about joint funding proposals?
If you are applying for support from two or more other organisations, you should determine the most appropriate ‘lead’ organisation and prepare the research submission in the way advised by that organisation.
You should check with the lead organisation to determine whether it will distribute copies to other organisations, or whether you are expected to do this. If AWI is being asked to finance more than 50 per cent of the project, we should be considered the lead organisation.
It is essential to explain to all the relevant parties that you are seeking joint investment support and identify the other organisations from which you are seeking funding.
Length of projects
Typically, projects run from several months to a maximum of 5 years. AWI does not usually approve projects for longer than 5 years. However, we recognise that some work takes more time, and follow-up projects are anticipated.
Completed Applications
Please return completed applications, by both email and post, by the due date to AWI’s Contracts team.
Send a copy of your proposal to both of the following addresses:
By email: estheroswald@woolinnovation.com
By post:
Australian Wool Innovation
GPO Box 4177
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Attention: Esther Oswald
All queries should be sent to the above email address.
How will I find out if my application is successful?
You will be advised in writing of AWI’s decision either to proceed or reject your proposal.
For successful applications, once the proposal is confirmed by both parties as acceptable, you will be asked to sign a Contract with AWI.
Note that acceptance of a proposal does not constitute a contractual relationship. No approvals will be given nor acted upon until relevant signed contracts between all parties are in place.