These FAQs address common eligibility queries received during the application process for the Investigator Grant, Ideas Grant, and Synergy Grant schemes.
Potential applicants should familiarise themselves with all eligibility requirements detailed in the relevant and most up to date scheme grant guidelines before submitting an application.
Cross-cutting
CIs can submit a total of 2 applications across the Investigator, Synergy and Ideas Grant schemes in any given funding round.
See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas and Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines, and
4.3.1 of Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
CIs can hold a maximum of 2 grants concurrently from the Investigator, Synergy and Ideas Grant schemes, with the following exceptions:
- CIs who hold 2 Ideas Grants may concurrently hold a Synergy Grant, and
- CIs who hold one or 2 Ideas Grants may apply for and hold an Investigator Grant, but their research support package (RSP) will be reduced by 50% for one Ideas Grant and by 100% for 2 Ideas Grants, taking into consideration the Ideas Grant(s) end date (at budget calculation date).
See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas and Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines, and
4.3.1 of Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
Once submitted to NHMRC, the application is considered final and no changes can be made.
See section:
7.6 of the Ideas and Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines, and
7.7 of the Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines
Investigator Grants
Investigator Grant applicants who, at the time of application, have accepted and expended salary funding from an OAG salary support grant(s), will only be eligible to receive their Investigator Grant if:
- the salary component of the grant will end or be in its final year on 1 January of the year the Investigator Grant is to commence.
See section:
4.5.1 of the Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
Investigator Grant applicants who, at the time of application, have accepted and expended salary funding from an OAG research support grant(s) will only be eligible to receive their Investigator Grant if they meet one of the following conditions:
- at the time of application, the value of the individual’s OAG research support grant(s) salary, or salaries, is less than or equal to 20% of the value of the selected Investigator Grant salary for the period of overlap, or
- at the time of application, if the value of the individual’s OAG research support grant(s) salary, or salaries, is greater than 20% of the value of the selected Investigator Grant salary for the period of overlap, the salary declaration is provided in NHMRC’s grants management system (Sapphire) and, if funded, confirmation is provided to NHMRC Post Award (postaward.management@nhmrc.gov.au) that the salary component of the OAG research support grant(s) will cease to be drawn by 1 January of the year the Investigator Grant is to commence.
See section:
4.5.2 of the Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
Eligibility to apply for, and hold, an Investigator Grant is linked to numbers of grants applied for or held from the Synergy and Ideas Grant schemes, as well as other NHMRC grants held, including the Investigator Grant scheme itself.
Detailed information on how eligibility for an Investigator Grant is affected by a CI’s grant applications and/or currently held grants is available at Appendix E of the grant guidelines and the eligibility tool on the NHMRC website.
See section:
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
Synergy Grants
A Synergy Grant application requires a minimum of 4 CIs. The maximum number of CIs allowed on a Synergy Grant application is 10.
See section:
4.1.1 of the Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines
CIs can submit a maximum of one Synergy Grant application in a grant opportunity, subject to other NHMRC grants concurrently held or applied for.
See section:
4.2.2 of the Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines
Eligibility to apply for, and hold, a Synergy Grant is linked to numbers of grants applied for or held from the Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes, as well as other NHMRC Grants held, including the Synergy Grant scheme itself.
Detailed information on how eligibility for Synergy Grants is affected by a CI’s grant applications and/or currently held grants is available at Appendix E of the grant guidelines and the eligibility tool on the NHMRC website.
See section:
4.2.1 of the Synergy Grants 2023 Guidelines
Ideas Grants
If a CI (CIA–CIJ) concurrently (in the same funding round) applies for an Investigator Grant and an Ideas Grant and the Investigator Grant is successful, only the Investigator Grant will be offered. As a consequence, the Ideas Grant will not be eligible for funding.
See section:
4.2.3 of the Ideas Grants 2023 Guidelines, and 4.3.2 of the Investigator Grants 2023 Guidelines
CIs can hold no more than 2 Ideas Grants concurrently, subject to other NHMRC grants held or concurrently applied for.
See section:
4.2.3 of the Ideas Grants 2023 Guidelines
Eligibility to apply for, and hold, an Ideas Grant is linked to numbers of grants applied for or held from the Investigator and Synergy Grant schemes, as well as other NHMRC grants held, including the Ideas Grant scheme itself.
Detailed information on how eligibility for Ideas Grants is affected by a CI’s grant applications and/or currently held grants is available at Appendix D of the grant guidelines and the eligibility tool available on the NHMRC website.
See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas Grants 2023 Guidelines
