The Conference Sponsorship Program supports research conferences taking place in 2024 in NSW in areas of relevance to the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $10,000
- Application opened: 20 October 2023
- Application closed: 17 November 2023, 10:00 am
Program objective
The Conference Sponsorship Program (Program) aims to encourage groups to meet in NSW to exchange ideas, knowledge and expertise, making a significant contribution for NSW.
The Program supports research conferences taking place in 2024 in NSW in areas of relevance to the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap (PDF 2.49MB).
The intended outcomes of the program are to
- disseminate knowledge leading to advancements in science, and technology, benefiting NSW’s overall intellectual capital.
- foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and expertise sharing among participants, leading to significant contributions and outcomes
- collaborate and drive change through innovation.
This program is funded and administered by Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for the program applicants must be from a NSW public sector research institution or from the NSW community sector. This includes:
- non-profit organisations incorporated under the Federal Corporations Act 2001 as applied in NSW OR a national non-profit organisation planning a conference in NSW
- community groups
- universities
- government associations.
A Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) may apply in partnership with the above entities.
The research area of the conference must fall into one of the following categories:
- mathematical, information and computing sciences
- physical, chemical and earth sciences
- engineering, environmental sciences and renewable energy
- biological and biotechnological sciences.
Sponsorship grants will be available for scientific conferences to be held between February and December 2024. The conference must take place in NSW.
Who can’t apply
Applicants are not eligible to apply for the Program if they are
- insolvent
- an individual
- a partnership
- unincorporated association
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agency or body excluding government corporate entities.
- conferences that received funding from the Department (including OCSE) in 2023 are ineligible.
Eligible costs
A conference is defined as a formal meeting of various people, including researchers, industry and government representatives, and students, whose primary purpose is to share knowledge and collaborate on a particular scientific topic.
Funding will take the form of a cash contribution following the execution of an agreement between the applicant and the Department. Each successful applicant will receive up to $10,000, at the discretion of the assessment panel.
Funds can be expended on any aspect of conference organisation occurring in NSW. Examples include (but not limited to)
- speaker costs – airfares and accommodation
- venue hire
- catering
- promotion - marketing/advertising
- audio visual services
- conference management fees
- transportation
- insurance.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for University of New South Wales
The Mars Mission Conference will bring together research, government, and industry representatives to develop a Team NSW to participate in a new, independent, sample return mission to Mars to search for signs of ancient life led by UNSW scientists and engineers in collaboration with partners in Japan, USA, and New Zealand, including members of the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) and NASA. Value to the NSW community The conference provides the first opportunity for space sector leaders to come together in Sydney to discuss a bold new initiative that will advance the State’s position as a leader in the space economy and lead to economic and social benefits for the people of NSW for the next decade. The conference will provide an opportunity to map existing space technology in NSW and identify requirements for new products that can be made in NSW for mission stages including launch, transport, entry descent and landing, on-planet activity, sample return, and sample analysis stages. The conference will progress how the mission will expand the international knowledge base, translate NSW research for commercial benefits, and strengthen Australia’s research, exploration and technological capability.
$5,000 was approved by
Director, Policy – Science & Research, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & EngineerDate approved
April 2023Location of the recipient
RandwickAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
50
Conference Sponsorship Program
Agency funding this grant
Office of the Chief Scientist and EngineerProgram term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement executionWhat was approved
Approved for University of Sydney
The aim of the conference is to share and promote discovery and advancements in nanotechnology and applications as key mechanisms for sustainability on energy security aligned with UN SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy. This conference will focus on Energy Security bringing together global leaders in nanotechnology, policy makers, end users and government agencies to provide national and international perspectives on the role and impact of nanotechnology on energy security aligned with UN SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy. This conference supports NSW’s key policy priorities in a strong economy, highest quality education and well-connected communities with quality local environments through following activities.
$8,000 was approved by
Director, Policy – Science & Research, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & EngineerDate approved
January 2023Location of the recipient
SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
50
Conference Sponsorship Program
Agency funding this grant
Office of the Chief Scientist and EngineerProgram term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement executionWhat was approved
Approved for University of Sydney
The Early Career Women in STEMM Grant and Article Writing Workshop (ECWW2023) is designed for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) and is aimed at strengthening the scientific writing, critical thinking and communication skills of Australia's next generation of scientists and academics. Designed to help increase the number of female academics in STEMM-related departments, it will provide mentoring, transparent peer review and centralised writing training opportunities that young women in STEMM may not have at their home institutions.
$3,000 was approved by
Director, Policy – Science & Research, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & EngineerDate approved
January 2023Location of the recipient
SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
50
Conference Sponsorship Program
Agency funding this grant
Office of the Chief Scientist and EngineerProgram term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement executionWhat was approved
Approved for University of Sydney
The Symposium on Frequency Standards and Metrology (held every seven years) is the world’s most prestigious conference of its kind. It has always been attended by Nobel Laureates and high-impact world’s leading experts from prestigious universities and leadership teams at national laboratories from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, etc. Legacies resulting from previous symposiums have revolutionized and made enormous impacts in fundamental and applied sciences in the fields of quantum communications, quantum sensing, precision navigation and timings, and quantum computations, which are critical topics for the 20-Year R&D Roadmap for Shaping the future of NSW in science and technology. Furthermore, this symposium is the summit of global leaders who wield critical decision-making power in updating the international SI standard of atomic time and frequency. It is expected that a critical international roadmap in the change of SI standard of time will be among the most important discussions in this symposium.
$3,000 was approved by
Director, Policy – Science & Research, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & EngineerDate approved
January 2023Location of the project
TweedLocation of the recipient
SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
50
Conference Sponsorship Program
Agency funding this grant
Office of the Chief Scientist and EngineerProgram term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement executionWhat was approved
Approved for University of Sydney
It is expected that QEC'23, held in Sydney, will be the most significant of this conference series to date. This is because quantum error correction has recently emerged as one of the hottest and most active topics in quantum computing. Quantum error correction is widely viewed as necessary in order to build practical quantum computers using faulty parts. Quantum hardware is only recently at the stage where the quality of components and the level of complexity integrating these components together has reached the point where quantum error correction becomes possible and relevant. Implementing quantum error correction in quantum devices developed in industry and universities is considered the next 'grand challenge' for the field.
$5,000 was approved by
Director, Policy – Science & Research, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & EngineerDate approved
January 2023Location of the recipient
SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
50
Conference Sponsorship Program
Agency funding this grant
Office of the Chief Scientist and EngineerProgram term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement executionWhat your application needs to include
You can download the full guidelines:
Conference Sponsorship Program guidelines (PDF 384.11KB) (PDF 384.11KB)
And view a sample application form:
Conference Sponsorship Program application form (PDF 93.22KB) (PDF 93.22KB)
Prepare your application with this checklist
- The application form must be completed in its entirety to be eligible for consideration. Clearly mark any information that should be treated confidentially.
- The application must be signed by at least one of the conference organisers.
- An assessment panel will consider all eligible applications against the selection criteria.
Address the eligibility criteria
The applicant must be from a NSW public sector research institution or from the NSW communities sector. This includes
- non-profit organisations incorporated under the Federal Corporations Act 2001 as applied in NSW OR a national non-profit organisation planning a conference in NSW
- community groups
- universities
- government associations.
A Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) may apply in partnership with the above entities.
The research area of the conference must fall into one of the following categories:
- mathematical, information and computing sciences
- physical, chemical and earth sciences
- engineering, environmental sciences and renewable energy
- biological and biotechnological sciences.
Address the assessment criteria
The Assessment Panel will make recommendations for funding against the assessment criteria:
- Purpose of conference – demonstrate value of conference to the community, research sector and the NSW Government, including how the conference will recognise the financial contribution of the Department.
- Alignment with the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap (PDF 2.49MB) as per Table1 within the guidelines.
- Evidence the conference would deliver economic, environmental, social and/or technological benefits to NSW.
- Evidence of engagement and collaboration with established research entities, networks or platforms.
- Demonstration of how diversity, equity and inclusion will be considered and implemented in the planning and delivery of the conference. Note: Diversity metrics may include gender, age, cultural and linguistic background, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, neurodiversity, LGBTIQ+, non-binary or gender diverse, disability/chronic illness, and regional/remote location.
- Demonstrate need for funding through a budget breakdown, including co-sponsorship and other financial contributors.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: The Assessment Panel will provide advice to the NSW Government on the suitability of each proposal for funding. The OCSE Director, Policy, Science and Research will consider recommendations from the Assessment Panel and make final decisions on whether to support conferences.
The OCSE Secretariat will conduct an initial eligibility screening for all applications according to the published eligibility criteria.
The Assessment Panel will assess each application against the assessment criteria and compare it to other eligible applications before recommending which applications should be awarded a grant.
Support and contact
Contact
- Email: raap.grants@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: 02 9228 4184