The great majority of our research is commissioned research, being research that is managed under commissioned programs which are aimed at meeting identified R&D priorities which have been determined through consultation with stakeholders.

Research and development is a vital component of the continuing process of developing new attitudes towards, and practices in, natural resources management. Land & Water Australia provides a national focus for awareness of key R&D issues in natural resource management.

The Corporation also makes funds available for R&D to build the necessary knowledge base, and to ensure that knowledge is applied to improve management practices.

Land & Water Australia does not operate as a research grants scheme. R&D results or scientific publications are not the primary focus of the Corporation's activities. The final aim is the achievement of innovation in the form of improved and more-sustainable management of natural resources.

When evaluating R&D proposals, we ensure that the R&D to be supported has been incorporated within an innovation process with strong involvement by those who will implement the research results. In some cases, as much attention and funding may be directed to the communication and adoption of research results as to the technical R&D itself. It is important that researchers understand we manage our R&D portfolio as an investment activity using public funds to achieve significant public benefits.

We support R&D in three basic ways, either: 

1. Commissioning specific work from research or other organisations that have demonstrated they have the expertise to meet the specified objectives in the required time;
   
   
2. Seeking tenders against tightly-specified outcome and objective statements from groups which may be able to do the work (Commissioned Research); and
   
   
3. Where there is room for different approaches, or in the case of strategic or basic research, seeking applications through an open call. (Innovation Call Research)

In each case, a two-stage evaluation process is generally used. This involves an initial expression of interest from the researcher or research organisation. This focuses on the purpose and specific objectives of the work, and provides evidence of the close involvement of resource managers.

A Land & Water Australia Program Manager will then liaise with successful applicants to provide feedback on the expression of interest and to enable them to provide a full application.

This second application has a much stronger focus on the research methods to be followed and the past performance of the research group involved. As part of this assessment process, applicants should review their applications against the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act.

The second-stage application is forwarded to scientific referees, and the program management committee in making its final decision on funding then reviews their comments, together with the application.

IMPORTANT: Only researchers who have been successful in the first-round application process should, at a later date, use the second-round application form. Land & Water Australia will not accept or process any unauthorised second-round application forms or referee forms submitted by researchers who have not successfully completed the first-round application process.