Australian Research Council

The Australian Research Council (ARC) is a statutory authority within the Australian Government's Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio. The ARC advises the Government on research matters and manages the National Competitive Grants Program, a significant component of Australia's investment in research and development. The ARC's mission is to advance Australia's research excellence to be globally competitive and deliver benefits to the community. In seeking to achieve its mission, the ARC supports the highest-quality fundamental and applied research and research training through national competition across all disciplines, with the exception of clinical medicine and dentistry. In addition, the ARC brokers partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community. The outcomes of ARC-funded research deliver cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits to all Australians. Established as an independent body under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, the ARC reports to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr. The ARC fosters excellence, partnerships and the highest ethical standards in research and research training in all fields of science, social sciences and the humanities. The ARC is the primary source of advice to the Government on investment in the national research effort. The ARC: supports the highest quality research and research training through national competition in all fields of science, social sciences and the humanities; brokers partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community.