Scheme to attract world-leading researchers

Outstanding researchers from Australia and around the world will be attracted to work in Australian universities under a new Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme announced today by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

“Under the new scheme, researchers at the peak of their careers will have the opportunity to develop strong teams of emerging talent — passing on their experience and knowledge to the next generation,” Senator Carr said.

Costing $239 million over five years, the program will be run by the Australian Research Council (ARC) alongside Labor’s new Future Fellowships scheme for mid-career researchers.

"Up to 15 fellowships will be awarded every year. Each fellowship will be worth around $3 million over five years and will allow the Laureate Fellow to work with, and mentor, up to four postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers," he said.

"The new scheme takes the best elements of Federation Fellowships and adds a focus on teamwork and building career paths for the best, emerging researchers.

"Australian Laureate Fellowships also allow the best research leaders in the world to qualify, while ensuring that most of the work will be conducted in Australia.

“The development of this scheme demonstrates the Rudd government’s commitment to fostering research excellence, and to building a stronger, more diverse research community and a robust national innovation system.

“Australian Laureate Fellows will provide gifted researchers with an attractive career path, allowing them to tackle the big issues, with benefits for the whole community," Senator Carr said.

Australian Laureate Fellowships will replace the Federation Fellowships program and takes into consideration the recommendations of the 2007 review of that scheme and the opinions of the independent ARC Advisory Council.

The government anticipates that the scheme will open from mid-October.