US-AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE (AUSMURI)
Funding university research for future defence capability
Last Updated: 27 February 2020
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US-Australia International Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (AUSMURI)
What do you get?
A grant of up to $3 million to fully fund a research project on a designated topic.
Who is this for?
The lead Australian university in an approved MURI submission on a dedicated topic.
How it works
AUSMURI operates in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI). It encourages partnerships between Australian and US-based institutions.
Each year AUSMURI designates a topic that is a research priority for Australia’s future defence capability. If an Australian university is part of a successful submission to the US MURI for a research project on the designated topic, it can then apply for AUSMURI funding for that project.
The AUSMURI program will provide 100% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of AUD$1 million per year over 3 years. Projects may be extended for a further 2 years, subject to approval, with additional funding of AUD$1 million per year.
Eligibility
What are the eligibility criteria?
To be eligible, you must:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- be a higher education provider listed at Table A or Table B of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth)
- be the lead Australian university in an approved MURI submission on a designated topic
Your project must:
- be approved through MURI on a designated topic
- include eligible expenditure
- be undertaken in Australia
What are the designated topics?
The designated topic for AUSMURI Round 4 is:
- Topic 12: Cyber Autonomy through Robust Learning and Effective Human/Bot Teaming
You can find details of the MURI funding opportunity on grants.gov using the funding opportunity number W911NF-20-S-0009. For details of the AUSMURI Round 4 designated topic, go to the ‘Related documents’ tab and select N00014-20-S-F003 Amendment 0001.pdf.
Applying
Applying for AUSMURI is a two-step process.
Step 1: MURI
The US MURI funding opportunity is announced on grants.gov. Through a US lead university, you submit your collaborative MURI proposal to the US authorities in line with MURI requirements.
If you are selected to be part of a US–Australia collaborative research project on the designated topic, you can proceed to step 2 and apply for AUSMURI funding.
The deadlines for MURI are as follows:
- White Papers for the prerequisite MURI Round 2020/21 must be received no later than 1 June 2020 at 11:59 PM Eastern (US) Time.
- Applications for the prerequisite MURI Round 2020/21 must be received no later than 14 September 2020 at 11:59 PM Eastern (US) Time.
Step 2: AUSMURI
Applications for AUSMURI Round 4 are expected to open in April or May 2021.
Before you apply
Read the grant opportunity guidelines and sample grant agreement. The guidelines provide detailed information on the:
- grant opportunity, including grant objectives
- eligibility criteria
- assessment processes
- reporting and acquittal requirements
- review mechanisms
How to apply
The current AUSMURI application form is only available to the eligible Australian university that was part of an approved MURI submission for the 2020 designated topic.
