How to apply for access
Access to NCRIS Facilities is available to meritorious Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 researchers. Researcher classifications are defined as follows:
| Tier 1 Researcher | - Australian higher education institution or public sector research organisation. |
|---|---|
| Tier 2 Researcher |
- Australian companies with a meritorious project and less than 15 equivalent full-time employees; - Collaboration between a Tier 1 Researcher and one or more Tier 3 Researchers, where the Tier 3 Researcher does not hold substantial ownership of the outcomes or intellectual property generated under the project; and - Australian companies owned wholly or in part by a Tier 1 Researcher. |
| Tier 3 Researcher | - International companies and all Australian companies not satisfying the criteria for a Tier 2 Researcher. |
Before submitting a formal application for access to NCRIS facilities, it is recommended that the researcher contact the Program Manager, Ms Nicole Bleasdale, to discuss requirements and receive information on suitability, pricing and access criteria.
Researchers with projects valued at $100,000 or less may gain access to the NCRIS Biofuels Facilities by completing and submitting an Application Form to the Program Manager.
Researchers with projects above $100,000 in value must complete and submit an Application Form to the Program Manager for review by the Biofuels Proteins Access and Strategy Committee (ASC) before gaining access to an NCRIS facility. The ASC is composed of an independent chairperson, an authorised representative from each of the five NCRIS facilities and the Program Manager. The role of the committee is to administer and implement policies and pricing consistent with the 'Access and Pricing Code - Biofuels'.
The following selection criteria will be used to assess the merit of each application and to determine access:
- feasibility of the project – including consideration of work undertaken to date to progress the research and the benefit to research outcomes if access to the NCRIS Facility is provided;
- research experience of the chief investigator;
- potential for generation of quality publications in respect of the project or in the research area;
- commercialisation potential of the research outcomes;
- potential benefits of research outcomes; and
- speed in which the proposed project can be delivered.
Other relevant factors in determining access priority will be:
- the potential for projects seeking access to the process development facilities to also utilise the pilot scale facilities ; and
- meritorious early career researchers where supported by experienced senior researchers.
Please note that where an NCRIS Facility is approaching maximum capacity in accommodating researchers under this Code, priority may be given to applications from meritorious Tier 1 and Tier 2 Researchers.
Pricing
|
Researcher Classification |
Applicable Rate |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 Researcher | Marginal Cost |
| Tier 2 Researcher | Intermediate Cost* |
| Tier 3 Researcher | Commercial Rate (no discount) |
* The discount applicable to a Tier 2 researcher will be considered on a case-by-case basis with regard to the relative amounts of public and private funding for the project and the relative sharing of the benefits of project intellectual property between the public and private funding organisations.
For further information please refer to the 'Access and Pricing Code - Biofuels'.
