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 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.
Start the application
The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) supports research conferences taking place in 2024 held in NSW in areas of relevance to the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap (PDF 2.49MB).
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.