Purpose

The ARC is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (ARC Act). It is located within the Australian Government’s Education portfolio and reports to the Minister for Education. The ARC is a vital component of Australia’s innovation and research system. It plays an integral role in supporting the research sector to produce excellent and impactful research for Australia’s economic, social, environmental and cultural benefit through the delivery of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). The NCGP funds excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research in all disciplines except medical research.

The ARC’s broader remit includes the provision of high-quality research policy advice to the Australian Government and supporting research security and integrity. It also includes promoting ethical research, evaluating the excellence, impact and depth of Australian research and expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems. It also facilitates partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community. 
 

Since 2002, the ARC has received more than 112,000 applications and funded more than 28,000 projects.

The Australia Research Council was established in 1988, and created as an independent body in 2001. The ARC is directly descended from the Australian Research Grants Committee (ARGC) established in 1956 and has functions related to the earlier Commonwealth Universities Research Grants Committee formed in 1946 and the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission (CTEC) established in 1974.

Over the years the ARC has evolved in function, structure and reporting arrangements. Its leaders and staff have changed, funding levels have fluctuated, some existing schemes have been reinvigorated and new schemes have been created. Throughout this time the ARC’s role of supporting excellent research by a system of rigorous peer review has not wavered.