Inquiry calls for overhaul of Australia’s federal research grants

A federal inquiry into Australia’s research funding systems has recommended major changes, including less red tape in grant applications and more “targeted support” for early-career researchers.

In its final report, the inquiry says that the existing grant application systems are overly complex and time-wasting. It calls for a central online management system to be introduced for all government research grants.

The report says funding agencies need to “reduce the voluminous amount of information currently provided in support of grant funding applications”. It also recommends a review of the costs and “administrative burden” imposed on universities by the Australian Research Council’s impact assessment programme and its Excellence Research Australia university benchmarking system.