We offer grant development support from inception to submission. This includes frank, independent advice across the range of ARC grant schemes in HASS & STEM & all NHMRC, CRC, ITRP & MRFF applications, international schemes, industry tenders & philanthropic grants. This work can be complemented by workshops that inform, support and empower.

Grant Development Services

Our Senior Associates are experienced researchers and research decision-makers with discipline expertise, who will work with the applicants to deliver specifically tailored solutions.
Grant development services can be booked for any number of applications.

Early Stage Grant Advice

We offer advice on proposals still in the idea stages to develop the project concept and strengthen critical components. This may include advice on your research aims, objectives, focus and methods, as well as how to find and build up the optimal research team and external partnerships.

Detailed Grant Development Advice

We review full draft proposals, providing formal written feedback and comprehensive comments embedded in your draft. We demonstrate in detail how draft proposals can be improved and explain how crucial sections can be strengthened. We can advise on all parts of a fully developed proposal including FOR and SOE code selection, budget and ROPE.

Grant Writing and Editing

Experienced professional editors and grant writers can assist in creating the best possible proposal that draws in the reader from the start. Logical structure, clear expression and accurate language will help refine an application. Budget spreadsheets and justifications benefit from rigorous attention to detail.

Grant Development Workshops

We offer a wide variety of workshops on all aspects of research grant writing and project development. Our workshops also explain assessment processes and offer strategic insight on panel processes, on disciplinary and interdisciplinary review and on how to identify the priorities of funding agencies, government bodies, NGOs and charities.
All workshops can be tailored to focus on a specific grant scheme, discipline group or academic career stage.
All workshops can be run either face-to-face or online, with breakout exercises and peer-to-peer engagement in either mode.

Grant writing for Category 1 funding schemes

Up to date advice on the detailed requirements of specific grant schemes, designed to suit the discipline mix and career stage of participants. Exploring the critical components of research grants from Aims, Objectives and Project Description to Budget Justification and ROPE/track record.

Research Project Development

This workshop explores what makes a successful grant and offers practical advice on developing a proposal draft. You will learn how to identify and present a significant gap in current knowledge and design a research project to effectively bridge the gap. The workshop includes practical exercises to develop ideas. We can also offer pitching sessions in front of an expert panel.

Optimising ROPE and Track Record

Senior academics with discipline and scheme specific expertise offer up to the minute advice and practical exercises to optimise the presentation of your research opportunity and experience. Participants will leave with a draft ROPE/track record section.

See our full list of grant writing and development workshops

Targeted advice on specific funding programs

Outside Opinion offers authoritative advice and experience on a range of major funding programs in Australia tailored to your organisation or group. Download our brochures for more information.

ARC Centres of Excellence

Outside Opinion offers authoritative advice and support on ARC Centres of Excellence from senior associates who have been Centre Directors or Chief Investigators, who have overseen the ARC program, conducted ARC Centre reviews, chaired or participated on ARC Special Advisory Committees, or overseen successful previous bids. We have worked on bids from very early to advanced stages, including mock interviews, and can support all aspects of the process.

NHMRC AND MRFF FUNDING

Competitiveness in the new NHMRC funding schemes and the opportunities provided by the MRFF requires a strategic focus on the best fit for the institution: targeted support for research capacity building and writing support services at the time of grant preparation. Outside Opinion offers research capacity building support for all career levels, including workshops, pitching sessions, mock interviews, debriefing sessions.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES (CRC) AND CRC PROJECTS (CRCP)

The development of a CRC bid requires strategic assessment of the opportunity, partnership development, ideas development and securing funding commitments over 18-24 months prior to application submission. Outside Opinion Senior Associates have experience with CRCs from application development, through assessment and implementation including management and governance of CRCs.

Australian Laureate Fellowships

With highly selective and senior ARC schemes such as the Australian Laureate Fellowships, Outside Opinion Senior Associates like to work very closely with the applicant in developing the application from its inception all the way through to submission and rejoinder.

INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH PROGRAM

The ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) funds research hubs and research training centres and supports HDR students and postdoctoral researchers to gain real-world practical skills and experience through placement in industry. Outside Opinion offers expert advice on applications for both Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and Industrial Transformation Training Centres.

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTs

A phased model of individualised support for researchers and research groups.

UK Higher Education Grants

Tailored services to connect with research and funding opportunities in the UK. Offered in partnership with Cloud Chamber

Centre of Excellence bid development services

Outside Opinion offers authoritative advice and support on ARC Centres of Excellence, from senior associates who have been Centre Directors or Chief Investigators, who have overseen the ARC
program, conducted ARC Centre reviews, chaired or participated on ARC Special Advisory Committees, or overseen successful previous bids. We offer a range of services for CoE bids:

Concept development workshops to brief team members on the fundamentals of the Centre of Excellence scheme, discussing scheme purposes and criteria, recent changes and challenges, the
characteristics of strong bids, stages of planning and ways to strengthen an initial concept. These sessions can be targeted to the bid team or addressed to a spectrum of prospective applicants.
Strategic development advice on concept development; scale and focus; research program design and hierarchy; finding a high-quality team, negotiating membership and inclusivity;
leadership roles and responsibilities; strategy and governance; impact pathway planning; capacity-building and mentoring for ECRs; innovation and effectiveness in research training.
Workshops and targeted advice are offered on strategic issues such as: focusing the research inquiry, building the research team, structuring the collaboration, building in national and
international networks, leveraging research infrastructure and strengthening the track record of the core team.
EOI targeted support includes advice and hands-one support for the Director, leadership and CIs, on track record, research aims and questions, strategic aims, impact planning and program
design. We can provide external strategic advice on drafts or assist with grant editing and CI track record profiles. OO can provide advice at any stage of the EOI process.
Full application support includes advanced project design, team-building and detailed budgeting, brokering academic and industry partnerships, crafting ROPE statements, developing governance
structures, addressing intellectual property and commercialisation plans, pitching and peer review, and interview preparation. Activities could include mentoring for Directors and leaders,
workshops, desk-based review, individual and team coaching, mock interviews and external liaison.

Brochures

Please contact us for a PDF brochure on Outside Opinion’s Research Grant Development services: