The National Interest Test statement
The National Interest Test (NIT) statement is a requirement in all applications for funding under the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) from 1 December 2022. The purpose of the NIT is to demonstrate the societal benefits (economic, commercial, environmental, social, or cultural) of the proposed research beyond the academic community. The audience of the NIT is the general public - a different audience than the Application Project Summary, whose audience is the applicant’s peers.
The NIT is a simple cohesive statement that demonstrates to a member of the general public how the proposed research can be of value to Australia.
These statements deepen community understanding of why public money is being invested in each research project, and help Australia’s policymakers, community and industry draw on that research. Additionally, the statements provide an opportunity for applicants to promote the value of their research to the broader community.
More information
- Frequently Asked Questions
The ARC has published a range of NITs for successful projects