The National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centers Program is an ambitious new initiative to fund international, interdisciplinary collaborative research centers that will apply best practices of broadening participation and community engagement to develop use-inspired/applied research on climate change and clean energy, leading to foreseeable benefits to society.
This Program will prioritise research collaborations which foster team science, community-engaged research, and use knowledge-to-action frameworks. The proposed research work should maximize the benefits of international, interdisciplinary collaborations.
As the national science agency, CSIRO has an important role to play in connecting and strengthening the Australian innovation ecosystem, ensuring we are equipped to meet our biggest challenges for the future. This means harnessing global networks and facilitating opportunities for collaborative research across industry, government and science organisations.
Through the NSF Global Centers, Australian researchers will join with partners in the US and other countries to mitigate climate change impacts and develop clean energy solutions.
Participating countries and agencies
The Global Centers Program is a collaboration between the US National Science Foundation (NSF), CSIRO, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
Funding and duration
The expected award duration is four to five years. NSF anticipates making awards of up to USD $5 million each, with international funding agencies expected to support roughly comparable effort by their own researchers. The total funding from CSIRO will be at a maximum of AUD $7m over five years for Australian participants in the Global Centers. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount, but grants cannot exceed the amount of available funds and there is an expectation that grants will be in the vicinity of AUD $ 3 to 7 million in total per project.
Timing
- Solicitation opened U.S. Tuesday 7 February, 2023 (Wednesday 8 February 2023, AEDT)
- The NSF Global Centers Program Informational webinars for Australian Participants held 11am AEDT, 28 February 2023 (complete).
- Proposals due U.S. Wednesday 10 May, 2023 (Thursday, 11 May, 2023 AEST).
A recording of the Global Centers Program informational webinar for Australian participants is available to view now — download webinar transcript SRT (94 KB).
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, you must be an Australian-based participant for the project.
General information about the eligibility requirements for participation in the Global Centers is available via the NSF website.
These are the specific additional requirements and considerations for Australia-based participants:
- To be eligible for funding, you must be an Australia-based participant for the project and must be based in: a university identified as Table A or Table B provider under the Higher Education Support Act (2003) or a corporate Commonwealth Entity or a Publicly Funded Research Agency (PFRA) or a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and must comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018)
- You are not eligible to apply if you have a project partner included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’ and have a project partner that is an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012).
- Partnerships must involve the U.S. and Australia. Collaboration with one or more other countries, and multiple partners or constituencies are encouraged.
- Global Centers funded by CSIRO will need to report regularly to CSIRO according to reporting requirements which will be outlined in successful award letters.
- Projects involving human subjects or participants, or vertebrate animals, should follow the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, along with the requirements of the participants’ institutions, submitting documentation to each as appropriate.
- Researchers will be required to acknowledge CSIRO in any reports or publications arising from the grant.
- Applications must demonstrate strong alignment with at least one of the CSIRO mission related themes addressed in the selection criteria below.
Global Centers selection criteria for Australian applicants
General information about the selection criteria for all applicants is available via the NSF website.
The CSIRO Missions Program seeks to solve society’s greatest challenges through science and technology, and by connecting, convening and collaborating across our innovation system. To ensure that Australia’s participation in the Global Centers achieves maximum impact we will support Global Center proposals that complement and deliver on the objectives of one of our clean energy and climate change related Missions.
Specifically applications involving an Australian participant must also align with one of the following CSIRO Mission related themes:
- Pathways to Net Zero
- Net Zero Regional Transitions
- Reducing Methane Emissions
- Integrated Energy Systems Intelligence
- Critical Energy Minerals and Energy Storage
- Scaling Clean Hydrogen Markets
Please note: Australian-based applicants need to consult the CSIRO Global Centers: Use-Inspired Research Addressing Global Challenges in Climate Change and Clean Energy Program Guidelines March 2023 PDF (357 KB) for additional requirements specific to Australian-based applicants.
Indigenous Engagement
CSIRO will particularly welcome proposals that seek to work with Indigenous communities and organisations to create Indigenous-driven science solutions. Applicants are encouraged to summarise how the project will respectfully partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including how:
- the Global Centre will benefit from the cultural, economic, and scientific contributions that Indigenous Australian’s can bring to bear on addressing national challenges.
- the Global Center project/activity values, recognises and incorporates Indigenous knowledge systems to help ensure the mission achieves its objectives.
- the Global Center project/activity contributes to addressing the challenges and aspirations of Indigenous communities.
Details on the application requirements and process are available on the NSF Global Centres website
It should be noted that in the first instance, applications are to be submitted by the eligible U.S. applicant to the NSF by the application deadline on U.S 10 May 2023. At any stage during the application assessment process, the CSIRO Missions Program Office may contact Australian applicants to request information and application details.