The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today released a consultation paper on the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence scheme, and called for responses.

“The Australian Government is committed to advancing Australia's international standing in research areas of national priority,” Senator Carr said.

“I encourage the research and higher education community and interested members of the public to submit their views in response to the ARC Centres of Excellence Consultation Paper.

 “ARC Centres of Excellence are prestigious hubs of expertise through which high-quality researchers maintain and develop this standing through quality research projects and high-level national and international collaboration.

“The Centres of Excellence scheme was established in 2003 to address designated National Research Priorities.

“The Centres of Excellence Consultation Paper outlines proposed changes to the scheme including:

• increasing the life-span of the centres from five to seven years; and
• increasing the minimum allocation to $1 million and the maximum to $4 million per annum to each successful Centre.

“In this new Centres of Excellence round the ARC will particularly welcome proposals across the full spectrum of disciplines encompassed by the ARC.”

The closing date for comments on the Centres of Excellence Consultation Paper is 21 July 2009. It is proposed that a new round of Centres will be awarded in 2011.

For more information on the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme and to view the Consultation Paper, visit www.arc.gov.au.

Media contacts: Patrick Pantano     Minister's office        0417 181 936
                         Sheena Ireland       ARC                         0412 623 056