Academy of Social Sciences in Australia

Joint-Action Bilateral Research Programs

The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA), with the support of the Australian Government's International Science Linkage Program (ISL) provides new Joint-Action Bilateral Research Programs to enable social scientists to collaborate with other researchers from Australia and partner countries to initiate new research projects.

ASSA Joint-Action Funding Programs aim to provide seed funding to teams of collaborating international researchers, including Early-Career Researchers (ECRs), to encourage projects fundable for one year or less. ASSA's ambition is to provide a funding niche that will support innovative new contributions to international collaborations.

The purpose of the grant is to provide AU$7,500 to the participants to meet and engage, initiate a new research proposal and to assemble preliminary data in support of a more ambitious funding proposal to major funding bodies.

Applications will open in April, 2010.

Information for applicants

Application process

Download an application.     Go to The Agora.

Aspiration

The Program provides seed funding for early career and other scholars who wish to collaborate on a new joint research activity including multidisciplinary or even cross-sectoral collaborations. The program supports research which includes a social scientist and where collaboration can provide a more robust and innovative approach to a research question, including multidisciplinary approaches, such as between an economist and an anthropologist, or a bioscientist and a political scientist, or a geospatial technologist and a demographer, or indeed any combination of researcher specialities. Research topic areas are open.

Program goals

ASSA Joint-Action Bilateral Research Programs:

  • Provide seed funding for researchers from each of our nations to join together in a new research initiative of their design.
  • Promote research that is multidisciplinary or multi-sectoral in approach to the research objectives.
  • Anticipates a low cost application process and a rapid decision for applicants.
  • Provide awardees with an opportunity to assemble preliminary data in support of a more ambitious funding proposal to major funding bodies.
Program requirements
  • A single application must be received from joint applicants. Joint applicants may use their own networks to identify appropriate collaborators or avail themselves of the agora (hyperlink) in order to make first contact with potential collaborators.
  • Joint applications may originate in any partner country or Australia, but must be sent to ASSA.
  • Applications will open in April, 2010
  • Successful applicants may begin their collaboration on receipt of notification of success.
  • Projects must be completed within 10 months, from 15 January 2010.
  • Face to face collaboration or research activity may occur in Australia or in the partner country, or at an appropriate research location elsewhere.
  • The research topic is expected to be of interest to Australia and the partner country.
Applicant requirements
  • One of the two applicants must be a social scientist; the other may be from any discipline or sector of the research community.
  • At least one collaborator must be an early career scholar (e.g. up to eight years post-PhD).
Funding and reporting
  • Successful applicants will jointly receive AU$7,500 to support research, travel and/or data collection.
  • Successful applicants will be paid their grant upon receipt by ASSA of a letter of acceptance with an attached tax invoice.
  • An acquittal of funds is required at the end of the project.
  • Successful applicants are welcome to commit any additional funding at their disposal to their project.
  • An interim report on progress will be due on 31 May 2010. It is also expected that the applicants will have expended the funding and can provide a simple acquittal at this time.
Outcomes
  • It is anticipated that the successful applicants will use the results of this collaboration as a platform for developing a strong research proposal to major funding bodies to pursue a substantial research project as per the program goals.
  • A brief report for use by the funding partners is expected at the completion of the preliminary research.
  • Other outcomes including any published results that enhance the applicants competitive position are encouraged.


Applications will open in April, 2010.

Enquiries about the program should be directed to:

  • Mr William Douglas
  • Deputy Executive Director (Research, Policy and Advocacy, International)
  • Email: assa.admin [at] anu.edu.au
  • Phone: +61   .2   62491788
  • It's currently 12:36 am on Saturday, March 13, in Canberra.