GEMOC ARC National Key Centre

GEMOC Funding

Was the funding strategy for GEMOC continuation (after Commonwealth centre FundingCeased) successful?

GEMOC’s business plan has proved to be a successful blueprint, resulting in viable funding to continue GEMOC’s activities beyond the Commonwealth funding period that ended in 2001.

Key elements of funding continuation include:

• Macquarie University Centre Administration support ($120,000 in 2004)

• Macquarie University Postgraduate Scholarships for Australian and international students

• ARC Program Grant 2002-2006 for basic research component and other ARC Discovery Grants to GEMOC researchers (see Appendix 5)

• DEST Systemic Infrastructure Initiative Grant ($5.125 million) for 2002-2004

• Award of two Federation Fellowships (Professors Simon Turner and Bernard Wood)

• Industry funding has increased through substantial collaborative ventures and value-added consulting

• Independent Research Fellowships to support Postdoctoral Fellows

• Continuation of existing funding sources for other ongoing activities such as postgraduate scholarships, undergraduate teaching development and pilot research projects.

• 2 new academic staff members (Drs Kelsie Dadd and Simon Jackson) appointed to GEMOC in 1995 and 1996 have continuing appointments; 1 subsequent new academic staff member appointed (Dr Nathan Daczko)

• Postgraduate funding strategy exceeded goals

• Strategy for equipment and analytical funding exceeded goals

  Macquarie University support has been exceptional in all areas including cash, in-kind and space guarantees, and in policy support.  Macquarie’s Research Strategic Plan recognises GEMOC’s research programs as Areas of Excellence (lithosphere and planetary evolution and metallogeny; isotopic and global geochemistry; and paleomagnetism, geodynamics and geophysical modelling) and GEMOC as a Centre of Excellence.

Strategy for ongoing Geochemical Analysis Unit funding

GEMOC’s outstanding analytical facilities are vital to our innovative research programs and to attracting research and industry income.  This technology concentration also represents a high-budget item in terms of maintenance, running costs, replacement and especially for new purchases to maintain frontline developments.  Funding strategies in place include:

• User-pays system for running, maintenance and development costs

• University annual contributions through competitive schemes and capital equipment allocations

• Annual contribution from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

• Macquarie University’s guarantee of a strategic plan to ensure the integrity, maintenance and appropriate staffing of the Geochemical Analysis Unit

• Collaborative project building with industry partners

• Delivery of new exploration tools to industry through novel analytical methodologies

• Research and Development ventures with manufacturers leading to equipment replacement

• Applications to funding schemes for matching funds for new purchases

• Provision of services to external clients including industry

• Industry capital investment in return for access equity, negotiated intellectual property and collaborative rates

PIECHART OF INCOME SOURCES 2004

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