GO8260: Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2027
The Discovery Projects scheme provides grant funding to support research projects that may be undertaken by individual researchers or research teams.
The Discovery Projects scheme objectives are to:
- support excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research, and research training, across all disciplines excluding clinical and other medical research, that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge and represents value for money
- expand research capacity in Australia by supporting excellent researchers and teams
- foster national and international research collaboration
- create new knowledge with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia
- and enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas
Applications will only be accepted from Eligible Organisations listed in Appendix B of the guidelines (the Administering Organisation).
The application process is two-stage:
- an Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted in the ARC Research Management System (RMS)
- shortlisted EOIs will be invited to submit a full application (also in RMS)
An application must nominate at least one Chief Investigator (CI).
CIs must, as at the grant commencement date and during the project:
- be employed at an Eligible Organisation for at least 0.2 FTE or hold an honorary academic appointment (as defined) at an Eligible Organisation
- reside in Australia for more than 50% of the project activity period (with specified limits on absences)
- must not undertake an HDR during the project activity period
- and the first-named CI will be the Project Leader and must demonstrate capacity to manage the project
Named participants must have met obligations regarding previously funded projects (including submission of satisfactory final reports) at the EOI closing date.
Applicants may only submit one EOI and, if invited, one full application for the same project.
Project funding requests must be between $30,000 and $500,000 per year and may be for up to five consecutive years.
Additional eligibility rules and participant/project limits for CIs are detailed in the guidelines (including limits on concurrent Discovery Program funding and ARC Fellowships).
Get a personalised eligibility check — your match score, which criteria you meet, and what to watch out for.
Free to search · No credit card required
Contact information available on the grant website.
Last updated: 3 March 2026