Critical Assessment Factors

Critical Assessment Factors:

  1. That the proposal addresses identified State/National issues.
  2. The level of industry/stakeholder collaboration, involvement and support for the project (confirmed in writing by the stakeholder at the time of lodging the PRP).
  3. The feasibility of the work being undertaken by the Principal Investigator, and able to be supported by infrastructure available in SA.
  4. The benefits flowing from the proposed work and able to be captured by the State.
  5. Whether the project fits with previous, current and proposed similar work and whether it extends the current state of our knowledge.
  6. Whether the project may/should be funded entirely by the commercial sector with the reasonable expectation it will deliver immediate and positive financial returns to investors.
  7. Whether the project might fit under the newly established Tactical Research Fund (TRF).  The TRF established by FRDC aims to better meet stakeholder needs by providing funding quickly for high priority tactical fishing industry issues.  The main criterial for TRF is explained below.

Assessment Criteria Briefly Explained

Applicants should be aware of the increasing importance placed by funding agencies on whether the proposed research is appropriate for the ongoing development and sustainability of the seafood industry. The way to guarantee that the proposal is well-focussed is to begin early in the process to communicate with the Industry Sectors and other beneficiaries of the work through their Executives, Fishery Management Committees, or Associations. The SAFRAB R&D Priority Setting Workshop each March is a critical session in this regard.

  1. National and State fisheries and aquaculture R&D priorities are outlined in 2 publications (South Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture R&D Strategy and the FRDC plan 2005-2010). Each of these is periodically updated and should be used as a starting point for development of research applications seeking to attract FRDC funding.  SAFRAB assesses the relevance of funding applications against the priorities identified in these reports.
  2. Maximum advantage is gained by prospective applicants working closely with industry representatives and other beneficiaries to translate priority issues into R&D projects.  SAFRAB advises that, having identified an area of required research, the proponent of a research funding application should immediately negotiate with the relevant industry sector, or stakeholder-group representatives, to clarify the objectives and desired outcomes of the project.  This action will strengthen the ‘ownership’ of the outcomes and will serve to strengthen the ‘industry/stakeholder support’ assessment criterion.  FRDC, on being asked to commit funds, requires a similar financial or in-kind contribution to the proposed project.  The commercial sector, along with the research institution, invariably meet this requirement. "Industry support" for the project is gauged by the level of its financial (particularly) and in-kind contributions.  The commercial sector has consistently and reasonably maintained that financial and in-kind contributions expected of industry must be clearly and transparently negotiated.  SAFRAB requires written confirmation of this fact to accompany the preliminary research proposal (PRP).
  3. Feasibility is assessed on the basis of realistic objectives and methodology, the experimental design, the researchers' past performance and ability to deliver positive results, and the infrastructure available to support the work.
  4. Attractiveness is a category that measures the prospective benefits, both quantitative and qualitative and the State’s ability to capture these benefits; the level of contribution by the applicant, beneficiary and other agencies; relevance to Commonwealth and State R&D strategies; and the level of support from the relevant stakeholders/industry . Other considerations are that:
  • the applicant demonstrates a sound understanding of previous, current, or proposed work, and clearly specifies where the project will extend or fill gaps and advance the state of our practical knowledge.
  • the application reflects how effectively and quickly the results of the work will be extended to industry.  The over-arching principal demands that the work should deliver the maximum benefit for the greater good of the resources and stakeholders generally.
  1. "Market failure" is a common consideration.  FRDC funds are mainly invested in research that will positively advance the fishing/aquaculture industry, or enhance the integrity and value of the resources. Specific research projects that seek to develop intellectual property for the benefit of a small group of investors may be regarded as research which is best funded by that group.

  2. NEW: Tactical Research Funding has been established to meet high priority tactical fishing industry issues provided it satisfies the following:

    (1) the project proposed must be tactical, high priority, and aimed at achieving a specific outcome;
    (2) the project must be stakeholder driven;
    (3) FRDC investment (including any industry cash contributions) must not exceed $75,000; and
    (4) the project must be completed within 18 months. 

    These criteria should be viewed against the background of the standard FRDC investment criterial - refer to the FRDC evaluation process and criterial available at FRDC's web site.

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