National Industry PhD Program 3rd Party Service Provider

On 1 February 2022, the Government announced the University Research Commercialisation Action Plan, a $2.2 billion investment to place university innovation and industry collaboration front and centre of Australia’s economic recovery.

(https://www.dese.gov.au/university-research-commercialisation-package)

The key initiatives under the university research commercialisation package including Australia’s Economic Accelerator, introduction of a National Industry PhD Program, and establishment of the Trailblazer Universities Program.

The National Industry PhD Program will support PhD candidates to undertake industry-focused research projects and be equipped with the knowledge and skills to better translate university research into commercialisation outcomes. Industry PhDs under the Program will have the strong potential to work at the interface of research and industry and across sectors in the future.

The National Industry PhD Program consists of two distinctive streams:

1. University-led Industry PhDs: for outstanding PhD candidates to undertake research projects co-designed by university and industry. This may include industry placements.

2. Industry Researcher PhDs: for highly capable industry professionals who are supported by their employers to undertake PhD projects in partnership with a university, while being employed.

The Department requires a service provider to deliver a number of key functions of the Program. The Service Provider is expected to have existing strong working relationships with industry and higher education stakeholders, and the capability to promote the Program. Key functions include:

1. Program marketing and promotion, this may include:

• undertaking promotional activities and encouraging participation in the Program by universities, industry and prospective PhD candidates;

• promoting the Program to prospective students for applications. This may include direct PhD recruitment activities and matching potential PhD applicants with suitable industry partners and universities; and

• attending targeted career and job fairs to promote the Program.

2. Program management, this may include:

• administering Program application rounds and processes in accordance with the Department’s requirements including as specified in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) as amended from time to time;

• monitoring PhD progress to confirm adherence to the terms of industry PhD agreement

• undertaking pre-award and post-award management of funding and payments, this may include variations, recovery of funds, changes to industry partner agreements

• managing relevant contracts between university and industry, and with students.

3. Funding recommendation, this will include:

• facilitating PhD selection process and providing recommendations to the department for approval.

4. Development and learning, this will include:

• delivering industry relevant development and learning training on a regular basis to the university-led Industry PhD cohorts. This training is a 12-week package.

5. Business operation, this may include:

• administering funding payments, including making payments to PhD candidates, universities (and industry partners if required);

• annual Program reporting to the department;

• monitoring Program outcomes; and

• participating in Program evaluation.

Given the nature of two distinctive streams of the Program, the Department welcomes tenderers that submit responses to manage both streams of the Program or one of the two streams of the Program. or one of the two streams of the Program. However, submissions that demonstrate the capacity to deliver more efficient and effective programs through the concurrent delivery of both streams will be an advantage. Please note it is vital to be clear in your response which stream(s) you are submitting a response to.