MRFF Application Process

MRFF funding rounds are administered by a variety of organisations and agencies depending on the scheme, e.g. NHMRC, MTP Connect, Department of Industry, Innovation & Science. Application processes will vary accordingly.

View MRFF schemes calendar

Research funding request (RFR)

A research funding request (RFR) e-form must be submitted for all MRFF applications. This allows your Head of School to sign off on your submission and, if successful, approve the establishment of the project in the School.

A completed RFR also ensures that an application appears on the investigator's Individual Academic Profile (IAP).

Application instructions

  • Step 1 - Review relevant documentation

    Review all documentation and guidelines available for the scheme, hosted on GrantConnect.

    Check the administrative agency for any additional information or advice (eg. business.gov.au, NHMRC or MTPConnect).

  • Step 2 - Contact the MRFF Strategic Research Team

    We encourage you to contact the MRFF Strategic Research Team early in the application process. We are happy to help with all aspects of your application including strategic guidance, eligibility, writing and editing, budgeting, letters of support, data entry, resources, previous successful applications, consumer engagement and important contacts.

  • Step 3 - Create application in online portal

    When the round opens, create the application in the relevant online portal (Sapphire, business.gov.au or smartygrants for MTPConnect). Prepare other required documents to upload. For Sapphire, ensure the relevant profile sections are up to date for each member of your CI team.

    General Sapphire instructions are provided by the NHMRC.

    Applications submitted through business.gov.au will require background information about the University of Adelaide, which you can access via the documents & useful information section below or by contacting mrff@adelaide.edu.au.

  • Step 4 - Complete internal e-forms

    Research Funding Request (RFR)

    Like any request for competitive research funding, you must complete a University research funding request e-form in RME. This allows your Head of School to sign off on your submission and, if successful, approve the establishment of the project in the School. It also provides the University authority to endorse and submit the application to MRFF when finalised. A completed RFR also ensures that an application appears on the Investigator’s Individual Academic Profile (IAP).

    Foreign Engagement Compliance Review (FECR)

    If your project involves international collaborators, a FECR e-form is required. You can include multiple international collaborators on a single FECR e-form for your project, but a new FECR must be submitted for each project. This should also be reflected as a ‘Yes’ under the FITS question (Q19) in the RFR. Please forward your approval from the Chief Security Officer to raohealth@adelaide.edu.au prior to submission of your application.

  • Step 5 - Submit application

    Sapphire:
    By the internal deadline (1-3 weeks prior to the external deadline, depending on scheme), certify your application in Sapphire so the status reads "Submitted to RAO". This locks the application from further editing, and notifies our office to initiate the compliance and eligibility review.

    Business.gov.au:
    By the internal deadline (1-3 weeks prior to the external deadline, depending on scheme), generate a summary of the application content entered into the business.gov.au portal for RAO review. You are welcome to contact the MRFF Strategic Research team prior to this for initial reviews and updates.

    MTPConnect
    By the internal deadline (1-3 weeks prior to the external deadline, depending on scheme), generate a summary of the application content entered into the smartygrants portal for RAO review. You are welcome to contact MRFF Strategic Research team prior to this for initial reviews and updates.

    Applications provided to our office after the internal deadline will be checked by Research Services as time permits.

  • Documents & useful information

    Information session & successful MRFF projects

    Sapphire applications

    • GrantConnect: grant proposal templates available to download when rounds open

    Business.gov.au applications

    • University of Adelaide ABN: 61 249 878 937
    • ANZSIC Division: P – Education and Training
    • ANZSIC Class: 8102 – Higher Education
    • Recent trading performance: please contact mrff@adelaide.edu.au for the most recent figures

    • Templates: please contact mrff@adelaide.edu.au for templates and useful documents

    Salary on-costs

    Some MRFF opportunities permit inclusion of employment on-costs in grant budgets. You can use the Salary Oncost Calculator to determine on-costs.

     

Need help?

For further information please contact our MRFF Strategic Research team.