The Vice-Chancellor’s Research Training Industry Partnership Program (VCRTIPP) supports the co-funding of PhD cohorts in collaboration with Catholic, business, community, and/or government partners.

A PhD cohort will initially include a minimum of three co-funded PhD candidates. The number of candidates may be increased over time, subject to mutual agreement between ACU and the partner organisation.

Program details

• PhD Stipend Scholarships co-funded by ACU and the industry partner, as follows:

Industry partner contribution

• $22,500 p.a. per PhD candidate (multiplied by at least three) to co-fund a PhD Stipend Scholarship for 3.5 years. The contribution includes:
  • a stipend valued at $33,511 p.a. (2025 rate; indexed annually in accordance with the Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship base-rate),
  • $1,000 allowance to support relocation costs to Australia for international candidates, and
  • 50% of a Single Overseas Student Health Care Policy for international candidates.
• At least 60 full-time equivalent days of meaningful engagement with the scholarship recipient.

ACU contribution

• $22,500 p.a. per PhD candidate (multiplied by at least three) to co-fund a stipend scholarship for 3.5 years. The contribution includes:
  • a stipend valued at $33,511 p.a. (2025 rate; indexed annually in accordance with the Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship base-rate),
  • $1,000 allowance to support relocation costs to Australia for international candidates, and
  • 50% of a Single Overseas Student Health Care Policy for international candidates.
• Tuition fee scholarship valued at approximately $32,000 p.a. per PhD candidate for 3.5 years to cover the PhD candidate’s course costs.

• $5,000 per PhD candidate for mobility experiences with ACU strategic partners.
• Professional Development for staff and PhD candidates in working with industry is an implicit benefit of the program.

Priority will be given to proposals that do one or more of the following:

• Build capacity in ECR and novice PhD supervisors
• Involve Indigenous and community led initiatives

This program links ACU research teams with a Catholic, industry, community, and/or government partner.

Program details

• $20,000-$50,000 from ACU with a better than $1 for $1 cash contribution from a Catholic, industry, community, and/or government partner
• Applications must make a case that funding will provide evidenced impact for existing research

Priority will be given to proposals that do one or more of the following:

• Involve Indigenous and community led initiatives
• Develop cross-faculty collaboration
• Involve an international partner
• Link to local partners to a specific ACU campus
• Are led by an ECR who is seeking to establish the evidenced impact of their research

This program focuses on research translation projects seeking to increase their technology readiness levels (TRL).

Program details

• $20,000-$50,000 to progress research higher in the TRL stages (minimum of advancing TRL 2 to TRL 3) or to advance a social entrepreneurial activity
• Funding will be provided through ACU’s Enterprise Clinic for activities like market analysis, proof-of-concept studies, roadmap creation, prototype development and testing, and integration into systems/environments
• During the funding period, the project will collaborate with the Enterprise Clinic for support.

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Include an ECR
• Have external funding

Our flagship international program aims to progress an established relationship with a strategic international partner toward external funding.

Program details

• Up to $20,000 to progress an established or new strategic relationship with an international partner (e.g., university, industry, and/or government) leading to Australian and offshore funding.
• Established relationships may include co-authorship and/or existing HDR relationships (e.g., joint supervision or mobility experiences)

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Partner with strategic universities endorsed by the Associate Dean Research and approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research
• Involve partners in our region
• Enable grant seeking in both Australian and offshore funding bodies
• Develop cross-faculty collaboration
• Build capacity in ECR and novice PhD supervisors

This program aims to strengthen ACU-led applications to Category 1 schemes that scored in the top 10 per cent of unsuccessful proposals and can demonstrate pathways to alternative funding sources.

Program details

• Up to $20,000 to strengthen a Category 1 application, led by ACU, that was in the top 10% of unsuccessful applications
• At least one award will go to a near miss DECRA applicant
• A clear case should be made that demonstrates potential pathways to alternative funding sources beyond Category 1 funding

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Involve cross-faculty collaboration

To apply for an ACU Seed Program, you need to complete an application form online through Orion.

To get started, log into Orion and click the 'Project eForms' button.

Then click the '+ New' button as shown below:

From the list, select 'ACU Seed Program Support', then click 'OK'.

Go to Orion

Orion access

Most staff have automatic access, but students do not. If you can’t access Orion, then you will need to complete an Orion Access Request Form.

Technical issues

If you are having technical issues with the online form, or Orion, please contact the research systems team:

E res.systems@acu.edu.au

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