DP25 Selection Report for funding commencing in 2025
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Overview
The Discovery Projects scheme reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to excellence in research by supporting grant funding to support research projects that may be undertaken by individual researchers or research teams.
The objectives of the Discovery Projects scheme 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.
Selection process
Applications for funding commencing in 2025 opened on 11 April 2024 and closed on 4 June 2024. Only shortlisted applicants from the Discovery Projects Expression of Interest (EOI) for funding commencing in 2025 round were invited to submit their full application in the Discovery Projects 2025 round. All Discovery Projects 2025 data provided below relates to the full application round only. A separate selection outcomes report has been produced for the EOI stage. Applications were submitted through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Management System (RMS). This report outlines outcomes from the selection process for that round.
These recommendations are based on advice from the ARC Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which:
- assigned independent assessors to review the applications
- assessed applications and reviewed assessments made by independent assessors
- reviewed candidates’ comments on assessors’ reports
- ranked each application relative to the others on the basis of the application, the assessors’ reports and candidates’ responses to those assessments
- assessed and recommended budgets;
and, advice from the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Eligibility Committee which:
- considered eligibility issues identified by ARC staff, the members of the ARC College of Experts or independent assessors
- where required, sought advice from the ARC’s Medical Research Advisory Group
- made recommendations to the CEO in respect of ineligible applications.
This report reflects the outcomes approved by the Minister. Unless otherwise specified, data represented in this report exclude withdrawn applications.
Assessment criteria
All applications that meet the eligibility criteria for the Discovery Projects 2025 applications were assessed and merit ranked using the following assessment criteria:
- Investigator(s)/Capability (30%)
- Taking into account research opportunity,
- Record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline(s)
- evidence of excellence in research training, mentoring and supervision (where appropriate); and
- the capability of the investigator or team to build collaborations both within Australia and internationally.
- Project quality and innovation (45%)
- contribution to an important gap in knowledge or significant problem;
- novelty/originality and innovation of the proposed research (including any new methods, technologies, theories or ideas that will be developed);
- clarity of the hypothesis, theories and research questions;
- cohesiveness of the project design and implementation plan (including the appropriateness of the aim, conceptual framework, method, data and/or analyses); and
- extent to which the research has the potential to enhance international collaboration.
If the project involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander research additional criteria include:
- the project’s level of collaboration, engagement, relationship building and benefit sharing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and First Nations Organisations and Communities;
- the project’s strategy and mechanisms for Indigenous research capacity building within the project;
- the project’s level of internal leadership of Indigenous research;
- The project’s adherence to the Australian Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles; and
- The project’s understanding of, and proposed strategies to adhere to, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and NHMRC’s guidelines on Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities.
- Benefit (15%)
Describe the potential benefits including the:
- new or advanced knowledge resulting from outcomes of the research;
- economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia and international communities; and
- potential contribution to capacity in the Australian Government priority areas.
- Feasibility (10%)
Describe the:
- cost-effectiveness of the research and its value for money;
- time and capacity of investigator or team to undertake the research;
- suitability of the environment for the research team and their project, and for HDR students where appropriate;
- availability of the necessary facilities to complete the project; and
- extent to which the project’s design, participants and requested budget create confidence in the timely and successful completion of the project.
Assessment process
The ARC assessment process for Discovery Projects 2025 involved 70 College of Experts members across five discipline panels and was managed in RMS. A total of 3260 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC.
Funding levels and duration
Funding of between $30,000 and $500,000 per annum for up to 5 consecutive years may be awarded for each Discovery Project application.
Summary of outcomes
The ARC received a total of 1133 applications for Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2025, of which one application was withdrawn.
A total of 536 projects are approved for funding commencing in 2025, shown in Table 1. The overall success rate for Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2025 is 47.3 per cent. A comparison of success rates and funding amounts with the previous round is shown in Table 1.
Of the unsuccessful applications in 2025, eight were found not to meet eligibility requirements.
Table 1. Comparison of application numbers, success rates, requested and allocated funds for approved Discovery Projects applications from 2024 to 2025
| Funding year | Applications considered | Applications approved | Success rate (%) | Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($) | Requested funds over project life for approved applications ($) | Funds allocated over project life for approved applications ($) | Return rate for approved applications (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2590 | 421 | 16.3 | $1,651,322,807 | $275,707,441 | $220,182,441 | 79.9 |
| 2025 | 1132 | 536 | 47.3 | $855,492,724 | $396,059,920 | $342,168,489 | 86.4 |
Outcomes by project discipline
A summary of outcomes by project discipline is shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Application numbers, success rates and requested and allocated funds for approved Discovery Projects 2025 applications by discipline
| Discipline* | Applications considered | Applications approved | Success rate (%) | Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($) | Requested funds over project life for approved applications ($) | Funds over project life for approved applications ($) | Return Rate for approved applications (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSB | 290 | 136 | 46.9 | $251,393,182 | $116,838,526 | $102,177,130 | 87.5 |
| EIC | 274 | 128 | 46.7 | $197,412,204 | $91,909,141 | $78,003,373 | 84.9 |
| HCA | 137 | 70 | 51.1 | $86,377,285 | $42,216,896 | $36,869,599 | 87.3 |
| MPCE | 204 | 106 | 52 | $152,430,032 | $78,354,138 | $64,861,187 | 82.8 |
| SBE | 227 | 96 | 42.3 | $167,880,021 | $66,741,219 | $60,257,200 | 90.3 |
| Total | 1132 | 536 | 47.3 | $855,492,724 | $396,059,920 | $342,168,489 | 86.4 |
* BSB – Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EIC – Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences, HCA – Humanities and Creative Arts; MPCE – Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; SBE – Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences
Note - Project Discipline is determined by the primary FoR codes provided in the application.
Outcomes by Administering Organisation
A summary of outcomes by Administering Organisation is shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Numbers of applications and success rates for approved Discovery Projects 2025 applications by Administering Organisation
| Administering Organisation | Applications Considered | Applications approved | Success rate (%) | Funds over project life for approved applications ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 71 | 35 | 49.3 | $22,236,550 |
| The Australian National University | 68 | 33 | 48.5 | $19,744,798 |
| University of Canberra | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | $2,491,752 |
| New South Wales | 362 | 180 | 49.7 | $113,968,308 |
| Australian Catholic University | 10 | 5 | 50.0 | $2,528,350 |
| Charles Sturt University | 5 | 3 | 60.0 | $1,346,148 |
| Macquarie University | 28 | 11 | 39.3 | $7,023,736 |
| Southern Cross University | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | $597,196 |
| The University of New England | 2 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| The University of New South Wales | 118 | 64 | 54.2 | $41,014,942 |
| The University of Newcastle | 16 | 5 | 31.3 | $3,173,596 |
| The University of Sydney | 116 | 57 | 49.1 | $36,850,123 |
| University of Technology Sydney | 37 | 18 | 48.6 | $9,822,487 |
| University of Wollongong | 15 | 6 | 40.0 | $3,439,986 |
| Western Sydney University | 14 | 10 | 71.4 | $8,171,744 |
| Northern Territory | 3 | 3 | 100 | $3,046,359 |
| Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | $999,608 |
| Charles Darwin University | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | $2,046,751 |
| Queensland | 193 | 96 | 49.7 | $60,141,538 |
| Central Queensland University | 4 | 1 | 25.0 | $877,410 |
| Griffith University | 27 | 12 | 44.4 | $7,218,149 |
| James Cook University | 7 | 5 | 71.4 | $2,704,730 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 34 | 16 | 47.1 | $9,873,318 |
| The University of Queensland | 110 | 56 | 50.9 | $35,498,959 |
| University of Southern Queensland | 6 | 3 | 50.0 | $1,771,452 |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 5 | 3 | 60.0 | $2,197,520 |
| South Australia | 82 | 34 | 41.5 | $21,845,163 |
| Flinders University | 23 | 10 | 43.5 | $6,761,547 |
| The University of Adelaide | 42 | 17 | 40.5 | $10,782,897 |
| Torrens University Australia | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | $767,899 |
| University of South Australia | 16 | 6 | 37.5 | $3,532,820 |
| Tasmania | 12 | 6 | 50.0 | $4,019,860 |
| University of Tasmania | 12 | 6 | 50.0 | $4,019,860 |
| Victoria | 354 | 158 | 44.6 | $101,485,743 |
| Deakin University | 27 | 8 | 29.6 | $4,756,429 |
| La Trobe University | 23 | 9 | 39.1 | $5,734,175 |
| Monash University | 150 | 72 | 48.0 | $49,370,062 |
| RMIT University | 22 | 13 | 59.1 | $7,189,703 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 11 | 5 | 45.5 | $2,690,390 |
| The University of Melbourne | 116 | 51 | 44.0 | $31,744,984 |
| Victoria University | 5 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Western Australia | 55 | 24 | 43.6 | $15,424,968 |
| Curtin University | 16 | 6 | 37.5 | $3,456,227 |
| Edith Cowan University | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | $823,208 |
| Murdoch University | 1 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| The University of Western Australia | 35 | 16 | 45.7 | $11,145,533 |
| Total | 1132 | 536 | 47.3 | $342,168,489 |
Career age and gender
Of the 2922 Chief Investigators (CIs) considered in this round, 1120 (38.33%) were female, 1782 (60.99%) were male, 0 (0.00%) were indeterminate/intersex, and 20 (0.68%) were unspecified. The success rate for female, male, and unspecified CIs is 46.61 per cent, 47.03 per cent, and 45.00 per cent respectively.
Success rates of CIs by career age and gender in Discovery Projects 2025 round are presented in Figure 1. CIs who did not specify the date of completion of their PhD or equivalent or who do not hold a PhD are not represented in the figure below.
Figure 1. Participation and success rate of CIs in Discovery Project 2025 by gender and career age*^
* Career age is calculated as years since PhD based on the relevant qualification as selected in the application.
^ Calculated career age does not take career interruptions into consideration.
Gender by Project Discipline
Table 4. Discovery Projects 2025: Gender by Project Discipline– submission numbers, applications approved and success rates
| Project Discipline | Female considered | Female approved | Female success rate | Male considered | Male approved | Male success rate | Unsp* considered | Unsp* approved | Unsp* success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSB | 232 | 112 | 48.28% | 414 | 187 | 45.17% | 5 | 2 | 40.00% |
| EIC | 149 | 64 | 42.95% | 549 | 258 | 46.99% | 6 | 2 | 33.33% |
| HCA | 248 | 129 | 52.02% | 171 | 97 | 56.73% | 3 | 2 | 66.67% |
| MPCE | 129 | 66 | 51.16% | 372 | 189 | 50.81% | 3 | 1 | 33.33% |
| SBE | 381 | 155 | 40.68% | 319 | 129 | 40.44% | 3 | 2 | 66.67% |
| Grand Total | 1139 | 526 | 46.18% | 1825 | 860 | 47.12% | 20 | 9 | 45.00% |
Note – The data provided in the above table is a representation of all Chief Investigators listed on applications considered in DP25. Project Discipline is determined by the primary FoR codes provided in the application.
*Unsp - Unspecified
Table 5. Discovery Projects 2025: Lead Chief Investigator Gender by Project Discipline– submission numbers, applications approved and success rates
| Project Discipline | Female considered | Female approved | Female success rate | Male considered | Male approved | Male success rate | Unsp* considered | Unsp* approved | Unsp* success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSB | 86 | 45 | 52.33% | 203 | 91 | 44.83% | 1 | 0 | 0.00% |
| EIC | 53 | 26 | 49.06% | 220 | 102 | 46.36% | 1 | 0 | 0.00% |
| HCA | 83 | 39 | 46.99% | 53 | 30 | 56.60% | 1 | 1 | 100.00% |
| MPCE | 41 | 22 | 53.66% | 160 | 83 | 51.88% | 3 | 1 | 33.33% |
| SBE | 100 | 43 | 43.00% | 127 | 53 | 41.73% | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Grand Total | 363 | 175 | 48.21% | 763 | 359 | 47.05% | 6 | 2 | 33.33% |
Note – The data provided in the above table is a representation of the Lead Chief Investigators listed on applications considered in DP25. Project Discipline is determined by the primary FoR codes provided in the application.
*Unsp - Unspecified
Figure 2. Participation and success rates of Discovery Projects 2025 Chief Investigators by gender and project discipline
International Collaboration
Among 1132 of the applications considered, applicants foreshadowed 1947 instances of collaboration with researchers in 90 overseas locations. Of the applications approved for funding, 416 foreshadowed 958 instances of collaboration with researchers in 65 overseas locations (Figure 3).
Figure 3. International collaborations by location in approved Discovery Projects 2025 applications*
*The top 10 international collaboration locations are listed in Figure 3 and the remaining locations are grouped in the ‘Other’ category.