About the science awards
The 2023 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a competitive grants program that supports young people to undertake a project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue, including biophysical and social sciences, which will contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.
The Science Awards aim to encourage science, innovation and technology in rural industries and help to advance the careers of young researchers, scientists, producers and innovators through national recognition of their research ideas.
The Science Awards are coordinated by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
There are a number of Award categories on offer, each with a grant of $22,000 inc GST to fund innovative projects.
More detailed information is available in the grant opportunity guidelines.
Who can apply?
Applications are open to young people aged 18 and 35 years who are working, employed or studying in agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industries.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive) on Friday 23 September 2022
- be Australian citizens or permanent residents (proof required) by Friday 23 September 2022
- be working, employed or studying in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry (including food and sustainable natural resource management) in Australia. Proof such as a letter of employment, scholarship or pay slip may be requested
- not be employed by a sponsoring organisation in the award category they are applying for, and not have an immediate family member (a sibling or parent) who is employed by a sponsoring organisation in their selected award category
- not be employed by an Australian Government agency classified as a Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Note:
- Employees of entities that are classified as Corporate Commonwealth entities are eligible for the Awards.
- Employees of entities classified as Non-Corporate Commonwealth entities are ineligible for the Awards.
Corporate Commonwealth entities are legally separate from the Commonwealth, whereas non-Corporate Commonwealth entities are part of the Commonwealth (see PGPA Act, Section 11). For advice on the entities and how your employer is classified, visit the Department of Finance’s website.
Eligible projects
An eligible project is defined as a specific body of work which is an innovative scientific or technological innovation or process and:
- is related to a significant, long standing or emerging issue in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry
- demonstrates dedication to the future of rural and regional industries with a commitment to promoting science and innovation as an integral part of that future.
Applicants undertake a specific project for a period of up to 12 months.
The maximum value of the grant is $22,000 inc GST.
Ineligible projects
Projects or activities that will not be funded include:
- projects that are undertaken as part of any TAFE or undergraduate tertiary course of study, pre-existing PhD research projects and/or those which are funded by an industry/university scholarship where the applicant wishes to use the Science Award project funding for this purpose (projects that complement or contribute to a postgraduate course of study may be eligible provided that they are not excluded under (ii) and (iii) below)
- projects that are funded by other Commonwealth, Territory or state government program
- projects that include activities that have commenced or completed before the grant agreement is executed
- funding is not available to support salary costs, stipends, living allowances or other similar expenses
- project funding is not available to support any corporate or administration costs of the grantee including real estate purchase, rental or tenancy.
Award categories
There are two Award categories in the 2023 round – the industry category Science Awards and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Award.
There are 12 industry category Science Awards in the 2023 round, each with a maximum grant amount of $22,000 inc GST. Applicants can apply in more than one category but only one Award per applicant will be granted.
The 2023 round categories and presenting partners are:
Following from the industry category Awards, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Award recognises one outstanding research project that extends the applicant’s industry category Award project with additional funding. The winners in each industry category will be invited to apply via a separate application and given additional time. Winners are not obliged to apply for the Minister’s Award. The successful applicant will be expected to complete their extended research project within the same 12-month period.
The assessment criteria for the Minister’s Award are the same as the industry category Awards. Applications will be assessed by an independent judging panel, which will recommend the winner to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
How to apply
Visit GrantConnect, log in and search for GO5686 and access the online application, information for applicants and the program guidelines. If you experience any issues, please contact the Science Awards team.
Submit your application:
- via the 2023 online application portal
- by 5.00pm AEST Friday 23 September 2022
Illegible, postal, faxed or late applications will not be accepted. Failures in email and IT systems are not considered grounds for accepting late applications.
Failure to meet all requirements and provide all information requested will result in an application not being considered.
How are applications assessed?
All eligible applications in the industry category awards will be judged by an expert panel convened by the relevant Award sponsor using the same assessment criteria. Each expert panel includes members with skills and experience in their industry, technical knowledge, awareness of current and emerging industry issues, and the subject matter.
Applications will be assessed only on information in the application.
All eligible applications will be assessed against the following criteria and all criteria are weighted equally:
Criterion 1 – Innovative or emerging scientific issue in agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industries (including food and sustainable natural resource management)
- Demonstrated need for the research.
- Scientific focus or creative angle.
- Originality of data.
Criterion 2 – Demonstration of the dedication to the future of rural and regional industries with a commitment to promoting science and innovation as an integral part of that future
- Dedication of the applicant and research to advancing and promoting rural and regional industries.
- Extension and engagement strategy.
- Applicant’s related industry experience.
Criterion 3 – Potential of the project to provide long-term benefits to the industry
- Potential financial benefits of the research.
- Sustainability of the project.
- Industry uptake through information dissemination and communication.
Criterion 4 – Potential benefits to the applicant
- Opportunities for career development.
- Networking opportunities.
Criterion 5 – Value for money
- Budget.
- Appropriateness of activities.
Announcing the award winners
All applicants will be notified of the outcome by December 2022. Details of the successful applicants will be published on the Science Awards webpage. Unsuccessful applicants can seek feedback on their application.
Next steps in grant administration
The Science Awards team will liaise with successful applicants to develop the grant agreement so you can get your project started. The parties are the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and your employer as the grantee, or directly with the applicant as the grantee if there is no employer. We recommend you make your employer aware of your application. The grant agreement must be signed by both parties before your project can commence and the grant funding paid. You have 12 months from the date of signing the grant agreement to finish your project.
The Commonwealth Simple Grant Agreement template is available on the Department of Finance website.
Funding from this program may result in the applicant and/or grantee being ineligible for support from other government programs. Funding may have taxation implications and applicants and grantees should seek independent taxation and financial advice from a suitably qualified professional before submitting their application. GST is payable on grants and the grant agreement will include GST where applicable. Applicants and grantees should seek advice on the legal implications of their acceptance of a grant.
Project reporting
You are required to complete two milestone reports, with templates provided. Both milestone reports will be shared with your Award sponsor.
The first report is due six months after commencing your project, and will detail project progress, tasks completed, budget, timelines and outcomes.
At 12 months and on project completion, your final report will detail the project results as well as a financial acquittal.
If you are unable to complete your project within the specified timeframe, or need to vary the original terms or activities, you must discuss this with the Science Awards Manager via email as soon as possible for review and approval.
