Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, the lead applicant must be applying on behalf of one of the following entity types, based either in Australia or Japan:   

  • an Australian or Japanese research institution or company

  • an Australian or Japanese registered charity, not-for-profit organisation or educational institution (such as a university)

  • an Australian or Japanese government entity

Partners in the application may be a: 

  • research institution 

  • university 

  • registered charity or not-for-profit organisation 

  • educational institution 

  • government entity 

  • corporation 

Australia-Japan partnership requirement 

These grants are designed to foster Australia-Japan partnerships. While the lead applicant can be based in Australia or Japan (as a research institution, university, charity, not-for-profit organisation, government entity or corporation), they must demonstrate collaboration with one or more partners in the other country.  

Applications from consortia (groups of entities) are acceptable, but each partner must be an eligible entity of the kind listed above.  

Industry partnership requirement

These grants are designed to foster research partnerships between research institutions and industry partners. At least one partner in the application should be an industry partner.

The lead applicant is generally not the industry partner.

For the purpose of this program, ‘industry partner’ means a non-university entity, such as a corporation, government agency, NGO, or other non-university partner entity.

Partners that are corporations should note that AJIF funds may not be used for:

●      activities which are already commercially viable; or

●      activities which will provide commercial advantage to the applicant (e.g. promotion of the applicant’s own business)  

Selection Criteria

See the full Guidelines for more complete information.

  1. Relevance:  Alignment with the strategic objectives of the Foundation. 

  2. Salience:  Demonstrable outcomes that will contribute to industry, business, economic, policy and/or societal aspects of the bilateral relationship.

  3. Innovation:  Originality of research, contribution to innovation and the advancement of knowledge. 

  4. Track Record:  Research experience and standing of project participants.

  5. Networks:  Potential for building new networks and links between industry, universities and government or other multiplier effects of the research activity.

  6. Sustainability:  Prospect for sustained activity beyond the grant period.

  7. Diversity:  Evidence of diversity in the composition of the project participants, including efforts to achieve gender balance, early career researchers and participants from underrepresented groups.  

  8. Co-contribution:  Evidence of contributions (either financial or in-kind) from partners or other research grant bodies.  In-kind contributions may include access to data or equipment, or provision of research time by partner employees.