The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced a substantial investment of over $38 million for 36 new research projects under the 2025 ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment, and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.
This funding, allocated over the next five years, aims to bolster Australia’s research capabilities by supporting vital infrastructure, equipment, and collaboration across various sectors.
The ARC LIEF scheme, a key component of the ARC’s broader Linkage Program, is designed to foster partnerships between higher education providers, government agencies, businesses, and industry leaders, promoting both national and international research collaboration.
Acting ARC Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Johnson highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting the program’s essential role in fostering innovation and expanding research networks.
“The LIEF Scheme supports outstanding basic, strategic basic, and applied research and research training through the acquisition of research equipment and infrastructure and access to national and international research facilities,” Dr Johnson said.
“This funding ensures the transfer of knowledge, skills, and ideas as a foundation to strengthen the scale and focus of existing and emerging areas of research.”
Among the 2025 LIEF funding recipients are notable projects that target diverse areas of scientific inquiry:
- Professor Paul Jackson, University of Adelaide – Awarded $900,000 to collaborate with global partners such as the European Laboratory of Particle Physics at CERN and the KEK Laboratory in Japan, this project will facilitate Australian research access to leading high-energy physics facilities, advancing high-precision scientific exploration.
- Professor Gary Foley, Victoria University – Granted $988,174 for the expansion of the Aboriginal History Archive, this project, titled “Aboriginal History Archive 2.0,” will improve accessibility and contextualisation of previously unavailable materials, enhancing the understanding of Indigenous history in Australia.
- Professor Damian Candusso, Queensland University of Technology – With $261,250 in funding, this project will augment Australia’s capacity for 3D digitisation to address challenges in cultural heritage preservation and dissemination, crucial for sustaining Australia’s cultural legacy.
- Associate Professor Nicholas Deutscher, University of Wollongong – Allocated $770,891 to establish a network of sun-sensing spectrometers, this project aims to detect atmospheric changes, providing independent estimates of greenhouse gas emissions to support Australia’s commitment to a net-zero future.
For further details on the 2025 LIEF scheme, visit the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment, and Facilities page.
