The Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund – Strategic Element (GSTDF-SE) is designed to be a strategic, flexible and streamlined approach to supporting international science and research collaboration between Australia and selected international partners. By providing targeted grants, the program aims to support and strengthen Australia’s international science relationships and build Australia’s reputation as a trusted science research partner.
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), will deliver the GSTDF-SE on behalf of the Australian Government.
>> Download the guidelines pdf
Priority themes and partners for the second round are shown below. All listed themes and partners are of equal strategic importance to Australia and applications involving these will be weighted equally.
Grant funding available for eligible Australian organisations ranges from A$100,000 to A$1,000,000 per grant to support bi-lateral and multi-lateral activities that contribute to one primary priority theme in collaboration with at least one identified priority partner. Multilateral activities can also include non-priority partners in addition to at least one priority partner.
The objectives of the program are to:
- boost Australia’s science and technology capability by identifying and supporting strategic international science and research collaborations with identified priority partners through targeted funding.
- promote growth in the Australian economy by supporting international research-industry collaborations.
- provide support for Australian researchers to access the world’s best knowledge, technology and research infrastructure, and funding programs.
- support the development of science capability in partner-countries.
Priority themes
Advanced manufacturing
Developing or improving innovative technologies to enhance competitiveness in the Australian manufacturing industry through pre-production, post-production, and sustainable manufacturing processes. For example, development could focus on working towards a net zero manufacturing industry, protection of critical infrastructure, or increasing Australia’s supply chain resilience.
Artificial intelligence
The direct development of or improvement in artificial intelligence technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing or computer vision. For example, this could include AI applications in subfields such as national cybersecurity, national health information, or machine learning in the robotics industry.
Quantum computing
May include the design, advancement, and/or implementation of quantum computing technology, including quantum chips, quantum processors and quantum sensors. For example, quantum computing technology can be applied to expand research understanding in environmental science and in the renewable energy industry, strengthening national cybersecurity, or attempting to solve supply chain challenges facing the manufacturing sector.
Hydrogen production
This may involve research that leads to decarbonisation of the energy, transport and industrial sectors.
RNA (including mRNA) vaccines and therapies
May include development and application in both human and animal health. These may lead to improved standard of care for diseases, previously untreated diseases, tailoring of medicines and addressing animal diseases that threaten Australian livestock industry and food security.
Priority partners
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- New Zealand
- Japan
- The Republic of Korea
- Brazil
Eligibility criteria
Eligible applicants
The applicant must be a single entity acting as lead organisation, on behalf of eligible project partners who have agreed to collaborate to undertake the proposed eligible activities. To be an eligible lead organisation the applicant must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be one of the following eligible entities:
- a company, incorporated in Australia
- an incorporated not for profit organisation
- a Publicly Funded Research Organisation (PFRO), defined as higher education providers listed at Table A and Table B of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) and corporate Commonwealth entities, and State and Territory business enterprises, departments or agencies that undertake publicly funded research
- a Cooperative Research Centre
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust, or
- an Australian State, Territory or Local Government agency or body.
Individual researchers are not eligible to apply for a grant or to participate as a project partner. The delivery partners for the GSTDF – SE are not eligible to apply. In addition, projects must not involve any organisations:
- on the National Redress Scheme’s list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’. Refer to nationalredress.gov.au
- named by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as an organisation that has not complied with Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012).
Eligible personnel
The project lead (principal investigator or equivalent) of the Australian lead entity must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) currently residing in Australia. However, other personnel do not have to meet this condition.
Eligible projects
- must be led by one eligible Australian organisation
- must contribute to one primary priority theme, and
- must include at least one priority project partner organisation domiciled and registered in a priority partner country.
Eligible activities must be directly related to the project and may include:
- bilateral or multilateral research or commercialisation projects
- joint industry research projects with Australian partners and listed priority partners addressing priority themes
- international research or commercialisation conferences, workshops, or symposia, related to the priority themes in collaboration with listed priority partners
- exchanges and secondments of personnel between Australia and listed priority partners for purposes related to the priority themes
- new research activities between Australia and listed priority partners for initiatives related to the priority themes
- product and service development activities in priority themes with listed priority partners (e.g., technical development, compliance testing, proof of concept, product testing, validation, and laboratory verification)
- product or service design relating to priority themes with listed priority partners (e.g., design work, prototyping, innovation design)
- software development and beta testing for a specific application relating to priority themes with listed priority partners.
As the list above is not exhaustive, other activities may be approved. Compelling arguments that provide justification for other activities and how the proposed activity may meet project and program objectives will need to be outlined.
Eligible priority project partners
The program aims to support the development of genuine connections between Australian organisations and organisations domiciled and registered within priority partner countries by funding projects that contribute to a primary priority theme. While partners from non-priority countries may be included, at least one eligible priority project partner is required.
To ensure meaningful international collaboration aligned with program objectives, the following eligibility requirements apply to priority project partners:
- Priority project partners must be legally recognised entities domiciled and registered in a priority country.
- Priority project partners must not have their headquarters or main office located in Australia.
Additional project partners
Projects may include additional project partners domiciled and registered in Australia or non-priority partner countries. While these additional partners may contribute to the project, they cannot fulfil the requirement for a priority project partner. For example, an Australian university’s campus in a priority partner country could be an additional partner but would not meet the eligibility requirements as a priority project partner due to the university’s main office being in Australia. All priority project partners must be unrelated entities to the lead Australian organisation.
Projects that involve states, organisations, or individuals listed on United Nations Security Councils (UNSC) and Australian Autonomous Sanctions regimes, World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Individuals, UNSC Consolidated List and Australian Government Consolidated List are not eligible.
Further information is provided in Project specific legislation, policies and industry standards.
Grant amounts and period
The value of grant funding available per project is from A$100,000 to A$1,000,000 provided to the successful applicant (the lead Australian organisation).
Applicants must be able to demonstrate suitable and proportionate project contributions from all project partners, which may be through direct cash funding or in-kind contributions or a combination of both. Cash and in-kind resources will be treated equally for purposes of considering co-contributions. A breakdown is required of the type and value (or estimated value) of contributions coming from all project partners. Project length should be from one year to three years.
Funding use
Grant funding must be used primarily to benefit the Australian lead and priority project partner activities with potential flow-on benefits to additional project partners.
To be eligible for funding your project must:
- be aimed at building genuine collaboration between an Australian lead entity and at least one priority project partner domiciled and registered in at least one priority partner country, and
- contribute to a primary priority theme.
To be eligible for funding use, expenditure must:
- be incurred by the lead Australian entity within the project period and for approved eligible activities
- be incurred by the lead entity to undertake required project activities as outlined in the project budget
- be a direct cost of the project
- be consistent with the eligible expenditure guidance at Appendix A.
Project activities must not commence until a grant agreement has been executed. Grant funding cannot be used for any expenditure incurred prior to the date of execution of the grant agreement (signed by both parties).
Expenditure items that are not eligible for funding use are:
- direct funding for activities of international partners and
- ineligible expenditure as listed in Appendix A.
It is not permissible to duplicate support available from other sources, including other Australian Government funding mechanisms, with support from the GSTDF-SE grant funding. Where applicants already receive Australian Government funding for their core activities, they will only be eligible if they can demonstrate that the activity for which funding is sought is additional to their core activities. Grant funding cannot be used for activities already funded by other Australian Commonwealth, State, Territory, or local government grants.
Upon submission of a full application, letters of support are required on official letterhead and signed by an authorised representative from the lead organisation and each partner organisation, attaching appropriate evidence that each organisation is genuinely committed to, and prepared to collaborate in, the project. Where applicable, this includes explanation of financial support, and declaration of capability to execute agreed activities, by the organisation’s Board or other appropriate governing body.
Application process
The application process is a two-stage process. Applicants must first complete a GSTDF-SE expression of interest (EOI) application form. The EOI will be assessed by an independent expert panel and if successful, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application.
To apply, you must:
- complete the online EOI application form
- provide all the information requested
- address all eligibility and assessment criteria
- include all necessary attachments.
Once completed and submitted, you will be emailed a copy of your application form without the attachments.
EOI application
The purpose of the EOI application is to identify projects that strongly align with the primary priority theme and demonstrate substantial expected contributions to that theme. You must provide the following with your EOI application:
- Project overview (500 words)
What is the project about, how it is aligned with the primary theme and program objectives?
- Project outcomes (300-500 words)
What are the expected outputs and outcomes in the primary themes?
- Budget and co-contributions
High level budget including all cash and in-kind contributions.
- Short CV (maximum of 3 pages)
Of the project lead from the lead Australian organisation.
Full application
Should your EOI be successful, you will be invited to submit a full application, which includes a more detailed project proposal. You must provide the following additional documents with your full application:
- full cash/in-kind contributions and budget details
- in-kind contributions must be able to be assigned a monetary value and be auditable. In-kind costs must be directly related to costs of delivering the activities of the project. They can include salaries of staff for the time they are involved, and other costs incurred for the duration of these activities.
- letters of support on an organisational letterhead and signed by a representative with sufficient delegation/ authority to approve the commitment. Letters of support — from the lead Australian organisation outlining the cash and in-kind funding being provided to the project — from each partner organisation outliningtheir role in the project, and their cash and in-kind contributions
- outline of project management arrangements that demonstrates how the lead and partner organisation will manage and deliver the project. This may include information on project oversight, structures that support decision making and risk management relevant to national security and intellectual property (maximum of 3 A4 pages)
- short CV (maximum 3 pages) of the project lead(s) from the partner organisation(s).
The application form contains questions specific to national security risks, including on your organisation’s framework for managing foreign interference, what due diligence you conduct to understand project partners and how you assess potential risks of your project. These questions may impact applicants’ eligibility at the full application stage. Refer to Project specific legislation, policies and industry standards section for more details.
Application and assessment time frames
We will endeavour to follow the application and assessment timeframes provided on GSTDF–SE website. However, a high number EOI applications may extend the proposed timeframes. We recommend you refer to the website for any updates on the application and assessment timeframes.
Assessment criteria
EOI application
The purpose of the EOI phase is to identify projects that strongly align with the priority theme and demonstrate substantial expected contributions to that theme. The EOI application is the first filter for relevance and impact ensuring that only the most promising projects progress to the full application, reducing the burden on applicants and assessors.
Following an eligibility check, eligible EOI applications will be assessed using the following criteria:
Assessment criterion 1:
Primary priority theme relevance (50%)
The extent to which the project focuses on the selected priority theme and alignment to program objectives.
Assessment criterion 2:
Expected outputs and outcomes (30%)
The quality and significance of proposed project contributions.
Assessment criterion 3:
Feasibility (20%)
Consideration of whether the proposed budget can achieve the expected outputs and outcomes of the project.
An EOI merit list will be submitted to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources that will determine the shortlist of preferred EOIs.
Full application
Full applications will be assessed using the following criteria:
Assessment criterion 1:
The extent to which your project aligns with the program objectives (40%)
You should demonstrate this by describing:
- how the project will boost Australia’s science and technology capabilities through strategic international research and industry collaborations with key international partners in the priority area.
- how the project will strengthen Australia’s international science relationships and build Australia’s reputation as a trusted research and industry partner in the priority area.
- how the project will promote growth in the Australian economy by supporting international research- industry collaborations to the benefit of Australia in the priority area.
- how the project will support the development of science capability in partner-countries in the priority area.
Assessment criterion 2:
Your capacity to manage and deliver the project (30%)
You should demonstrate this by:
- describing the capacity of the lead applicant and partners to deliver the project, including access to personnel with the right skills and experience and to any infrastructure, capital equipment, technology and intellectual property required to deliver the project outcomes.
- providing a sound project plan outlining how you will manage and monitor the project, including arrangements for governance, security and intellectual property rights and the identification of risks and mitigation strategies, as well as promoting research integrity and security.
- preparing a comprehensive budget with justifications for funding amounts requested, and ability to show any funding co-contribution.
Assessment criterion 3:
The broader national benefits of your project (30%)
You should demonstrate this by identifying:
- how the project will increase professional linkages and engagements between Australian businesses/ researchers/industry and international partners.
- how the project will provide increased access to international expertise, technology, research infrastructure and capital.
- how the project will increase research and development capability and capacity in Australia.
When assessing whether the application represents value with relevant money, assessors will also have regard to any national interest, financial, legal/regulatory, governance or other issue or risk identified during any due diligence process that is conducted in respect of the applicant. This includes its directors, officers, senior managers, key personnel, its related bodies corporate (as defined in the Corporations Act) or its application that could bring the Australian Government into disrepute if it were to fund the applicant. Such issues and risks include where assessors consider that funding the application under this grant opportunity is likely to directly conflict with Australian Government policy or affect Australia’s national security.
Full applications will be assessed by an independent expert panel. Based on the panel’s assessment, ATSE will provide a recommendation of projects to be funded to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The Department will conduct due diligence on the full project proposals and submit the recommended shortlist to the Minister for Industry and Science. The Minister selects the successful projects and announces the round outcomes. The Minister is the final decision maker on projects to be funded through this program.
ATSE will advise you of the outcome of your application in writing. If the application is successful, ATSE will advise you of any specific conditions attached to the grant.
If the application is unsuccessful, we will provide you with written feedback if requested.
If you make a public statement about a project funded under the program, including in a brochure or publication, you must acknowledge the grant by using the following: ‘This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.’
Project specific legislation, policies, and industry standards
Successful applicants must comply with all relevant laws and regulations in undertaking your project. You must also comply with the specific legislation/policies/ industry standards that follow. It is a condition of the grant funding that these requirements are met where necessary.
In particular, project leads will be required to comply with state or territory legislation in relation to working with children.
Ethics and research practices
The Australian Research Council provides a series of publications that outline the principles of ethical conduct in research. All proposals and funded research projects must conform to the principles and requirements of these publications (and their successor documents), including but not limited to:
If there is any conflict or inconsistency between a successor document and its predecessor, then the successor document prevails.
Intellectual property rights
Project leads must provide details of intellectual property (IP) arrangements in their applications. This includes both the use of IP in the project and the proposed ownership rights to IP generated by the project as well as strategies for protecting Australia’s interests. Where IP is likely to be generated by the project, successful applicants are required to conclude protocols or contracts with their Australian partners and international partners on the management of IP issues. These agreements should be in accordance with laws and regulations in Australia and the relevant partners and provide for:
- adequate and effective protection and equitable distribution of any benefits from IP rights created in or resulting directly from cooperative activities (foreground IP rights)
- ownership of foreground IP rights to be allocated based on respective contribution and equitable interests
- terms and conditions for the commercialisation and other forms of dissemination of the foreground IP rights
- adequate and effective protection of IP rights provided by the organisations, enterprises, and institutions prior to or during such cooperative activities, for example, the licensing or utilisation of such IP rights on equitable terms (background IP rights).
Australian participants should approach IP negotiations in line with the principles outlined on business.gov.au and the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (2017).
National Security
Eligible activities under this grant opportunity may have national security implications. You will need to identify and inform us of any such implications of the proposed project and highlight how you plan to manage any risks, particularly relating to export controls, foreign interference, and technology transfer. To assist with managing security risks, you are strongly encouraged to review the Department of Industry, Science and Resources Guide to undertaking international collaboration, the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM), and the Guidelines to counter foreign interference in the Australian university sector (UFIT). Although focused on the university sector, many objectives and best practice considerations in the UFIT guidelines are applicable to other research institutions and businesses that may be Australian partners in projects funded by this program.
It is in your and the national interest to protect your data and IP. You should also ensure there are appropriate controls around any sensitive research data including securing intellectual property. Please ensure you speak to the relevant risk managers of your organisation if you require further guidance.
Know your partner
You should ensure that you know who you are collaborating with by undertaking appropriate due diligence, proportionate to the risk and subject to available information, on all partners and personnel participating in the project. This should account for any potential security, ethical, legal, and reputational risks, and where necessary, you should be prepared to demonstrate how you will manage and mitigate any identified risks. You should also be aware of partner affiliations that may influence, interfere or otherwise benefit from the proposed activities in unintended ways and report any unusual activity.
Export controls
As this program involves research collaboration with foreign entities, some provisions of Australia’s export controls regime may apply to your project. It is your responsibility to consider the implications, if any, of the relevant legislation on the proposed project before submitting your application, and to comply with any applicable requirements if it is successful. Further information is available on the Department of Defence website.
Foreign affiliations
Eligible activities under this grant may involve partners or personnel with foreign affiliations. You must inform us of any relationships between project participants and foreign parties that could influence or benefit from the proposed activity. Such relationships may include foreign ownership or sponsorship, connections to foreign governments, militaries, political parties, or other organisations, and membership of foreign talent programs. You must also inform us of the establishment of any such relationships throughout the life of the Grant.
This Grant will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity by a lead, partner or subcontractor from any countries listed on the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations. This includes any goods or services originating from a sanctioned source.
Foreign government affiliations
Eligible activities under this grant may involve partners or personnel with connections to foreign governments. You must inform us if you, your project partners or any project personnel are receiving funding or benefits from, or otherwise affiliated with, a foreign government, including:
- a foreign state or local government
- a foreign military, intelligence organisation or police force
- an organisation owned or sponsored by a foreign government (such as a state-owned corporation or state-sponsored university)
- a foreign government talent program.
You must also inform us of the establishment of any such relationships throughout the life of the grant.
Best practice considerations - Australian Institution
The following is a non-exhaustive list of questions and issues that the Australian lead organisation should consider. Responses don’t need to be submitted.
- Have all members of the Australian team completed cyber hygiene and data management training?
- Are researchers familiar with the term “dual use” (beyond military uses- i.e. facial recognition technology can be used to abuse human rights around the world, DNA research might be used in human rights abuses, agricultural security can be used in times of hostilities, health research can advance adversary military capabilities or be used in biological/chemical attacks, data building capabilities can be used to advance AI capabilities more broadly)?
- Does the Australian institution have good cyber management practices including the UFIT guidelines?
- What is the institution’s protocol for electronic device management in event of travel?
- Are you comfortable with your partner’s approach to IP?
- Might there be pressure from your partner to influence your academic outcomes or commercial interests? What are your partner’s affiliations?
Conflicts of interest
There may be a conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, if you, any of your personnel or any project partners has a:
- professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process,
- relationship with, or interest in, a party which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicants from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently, or
- relationship with, or interest in, a party from which they will receive personal gain because the organisation receives a grant under the grant program/grant opportunity.
As part of your application, you will be asked to declare any perceived or existing conflicts of interests or confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, there is no conflict of interest.
If you later identify an actual, apparent, or perceived conflict of interest, you must inform us in writing immediately.
Disclosure of Commonwealth, State or Territory Financial Penalties
You must disclose whether any of your board members, management or persons of authority have been subject to any pecuniary penalty, whether civil, criminal or administrative, imposed by a Commonwealth, State, or Territory Court or a Commonwealth, State, or Territory Entity. If this is the case, you must provide advice to the Department regarding the matter for consideration.
Disclosure of International Financial Penalties
You must disclose whether any of your or your partners’ board members, management or persons of authority have been subject to any pecuniary penalty, whether civil, criminal or administrative, imposed by a foreign government or international regulation entity (e.g. WTO). If this is the case, you must provide advice to the Department regarding the matter for consideration.
Reporting requirements
You must submit reports in line with the grant agreement. You will be provided with the requirements for these reports as appendices in the grant agreement and receive a reminder of your reporting obligations before a report is due.
You will be expected to report on:
- progress against agreed project milestones
- project expenditure, including expenditure of grant funds
- contributions of all partners directly related to the project
- any unusual or unexpected activity by the Australian or partner organisation members.
The amount of detail you provide in your reports should be relative to the project size, complexity, and grant amount.
The progress of your project will be monitored by assessing reports you submit. Occasionally you may be asked to provide further information, or an independent audit of claims and payments.
Progress reports must:
- include details of your progress towards completion of agreed project activities.
- show the total eligible expenditure incurred to date.
- include evidence of expenditure.
- be submitted by the report due date.
Grant milestone payments will only be made to you when satisfactory progress reports are submitted.
You must discuss any project or milestone reporting delays with us as soon as you become aware of them.
End of project reports must:
- include the agreed evidence as specified in the grant agreement
- identify the total eligible expenditure incurred for the project
- include a declaration that the grant money was spent in accordance with the grant agreement and to report on any underspends of the grant money
- be submitted by the report due date.
You may be asked to provide ad-hoc reports on your project. This may be to provide an update on progress, or any significant delays or difficulties in completing the project.
Appendix A
Eligible and ineligible expenditure types for grant funding use
Eligible expenditure can only be incurred by the lead Australian organisation. Examples of eligible expenditure types include:
- labour expenditure for the direct labour costs of employees the Australian lead organisation directly employs on the core elements of the project including:
- salaries for personnel directly employed on project activities and residing in Australia, including researchers, support staff, and student
- postdoctoral salaries and postgraduate stipends (that are consistent with stipend rates for Discovery set by the Australian Research Council).
- an additional 30 percent on top of salaries and stipends to cover labour on-costs and administrative overheads, such as employer paid superannuation, payroll tax, workers compensation insurance and overheads such as office rent and the provision of computers.
- direct support costs of research, translation and promotion of outcomes relating to priority themes with listed priority partners
- costs of acquiring intellectual property and technology
- staff training that directly supports the achievement of project outcomes
- international and domestic travel and associated costs for Australian personnel
- workshops in support of the activities, knowledge transfer and capability development
- cost of materials consumed in testing a process or prototype, including costs incurred in validation, establishing efficacy, demonstration of capability, scale-up, and development of evidence of the stability or reproducibility of processes
- IP scanning: Freedom to Operate searches and provisional patent applications relating to priority themes with listed priority Expenditure for these IP related items are capped at A$5,000. Information about patents landscape is available from IP Australia.
Examples of ineligible expenditure types include:
- salaries for non-Australian organisations, including consultants
- travel costs for non-Australian organisations, including consultants
- costs associated with activities undertaken by the international partners, for example, travel to Australia, living costs in Australia, research undertaken solely by international partners’ researchers etc.
- costs incurred prior to signing a grant funding agreement
- indirect support costs of research, not listed in eligible expenditure
- activities, equipment, or supplies that are already being supported through other sources
- capital expenditure for the purchase of assets such as office furniture and equipment, motor vehicles, computers, printers or photocopiers and the construction, renovation, or extension of facilities such as buildings and laboratories
- costs involved in the purchase or upgrade/hire of software (including user licences) and ICT hardware (unless it directly relates to the project)
- costs such as rental, renovations and utilities
- financing costs, including interest
- debt financing
- insurance costs (the participants/partners must affect and maintain adequate insurance or similar coverage for any liability arising because of its participation in funded activities)
- costs related to obtaining resources used on the project, including interest on loans, job advertising and recruiting, and contract negotiations
- routine operational expenditure, including communications, accommodation, office computing facilities, printing and stationery, postage, legal and accounting fees, and bank charges, except to the extent that these costs are covered by the 30 percent allowance for labour oncosts and administrative overheads, as detailed in the examples of eligible expenditure.
- costs related to preparing the grant application, preparing any project reports (except costs of independent audit reports we require) and preparing any project variation requests
- costs associated with the internal preparation of finance and audit statements, except for end of project audit costs
- staff recruitment and relocation costs
- institutional overheads and administrative charges, except to the extent that these costs are covered by the 30 percent allowance for labour oncosts and administrative overheads, as detailed in the examples of eligible expenditure.
- fees for international students, or the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) liabilities for students
- non-project-related staff training and development costs
- payment to Australian partner for the indirect support costs of research and staff employed by the partner
- reimbursement to Australian partners for the costs associated with existing staff or other resources committed by the partners to the project as in-kind contributions under the grant agreement
- costs associated with market research for products or research carried out by surveys to assess the size of the market and the price of a particular service or product
- costs associated with marketing projects, i.e., activities aimed at creating demand for goods and services of consumers, businesses, and government
- costs of Australia’s membership of international science and technology projects
- subscription costs for access by Australian personnel to major international research facilities.
- other costs as determined by the program delegate as not meeting the program objectives.