End Food Waste Australia, through the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, is conducting world-leading research that is shifting the dial on food waste reduction.
We work with researchers, research institutions, industry and government partners to co-invest in projects across our three programs that aim to ENGAGE with industry and consumers to REDUCE food waste across the supply chain and to TRANSFORM unavoidable waste into innovative products.
The Research Investment Framework outlines the specific investment opportunities with End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.
End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre is Australia’s leading research and development organisation for food waste action. See the scope of our current and past research projects from our REDUCE, TRANSFORM and ENGAGE programs.
Project ideas and concepts should be discussed with a EFW CRC Program prior to commencing proposal development:
As a first step, prospective project leaders should use the project-on-a-page template when initially planning a new project, which summarises the key areas of a research project. The project-on-a-page template has been created to help conceptualise potential projects and ensure that they are likely to meet the funding criteria before the formal application process commences.
The final project proposal consists of three components:
The proposal should be developed and shared amongst the intended project parties right up until the point that all parties are comfortable with it being submitted for proposal review, evaluation and approval. If approved, the final project proposal will form the schedules and annexures to the project agreement.
All project proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the EFW CRC management team. The review and evaluation process can take up to 2 weeks.
Approval
The proposal approval process depends on the size of the project (total cash value) as follows:
Research and Commercialisation Committee meeting dates
The Research and Commercialisation Committee (RCC) meets throughout the year, on the dates below. Keep these dates in mind when developing a proposal that requires approval by the RCC, noting that proposals should be submitted at least 1 month prior to the meeting to allow time for the review and evaluation process. The RCC is also able to meet outside of these dates to ensure project approval can occur any time of the entire year.
Project FAQ
The Project FAQ document addresses some of the most frequently asked questions once a project is underway.
Quarterly Reporting
Project leaders will report on project progress each quarter. The quarterly report is the key means by which progress is monitored by EFW CRC and the other project parties. The report provides details such as key achievements, impediments, progress against milestones (both project milestones and EFW CRC milestones), project resourcing and communication activities. It will also be the means by which project expenditure (actual versus budget) is tracked.
Selected information from project quarterly reports is used by EFW CRC to inform:
The quarterly report is prepared within Smartsheet and will be available one week prior to the end of each quarter. Project Leaders will be reminded by email each quarter.
Interim Reports
Project teams are welcome to prepare and submit interim reports at any stage of the project’s life, although there is no formal requirement to do so. These reports are an opportunity to communicate results in more detail than what is required in the quarterly project reports. Interim reports should follow the Interim Project Report Template and be submitted to the relevant program leader/coordinator when completed.
Project Variation Requests
If changes are required to the project once it’s underway, the project leader should discuss the changes with a representative from each of the project parties and seek their consent. The project leader should then complete and submit the Project Variation Request Form.
Approval of Publications
As per the EFWL Publication and Presentation Policy, all publications generated throughout the life of a project must be submitted to the End Food Waste CRC for approval 30 days before required for reports and publications, and 7 days before required for external presentations. The project leader should complete and submit the Publication Approval Form to initiate the review and approval process.
On completion of the project, Project Leaders will be required to complete and submit a final report and financial acquittal.
Final reports must be submitted by 30 days after the project end date.
End Food Waste CRC will also coordinate a project finalisation meeting within 30 days after the project end date.
Project ideas and concepts should be discussed with a EFW CRC Program prior to commencing proposal development:
As a first step, prospective project leaders should use the project-on-a-page template when initially planning a new project, which summarises the key areas of a research project. The project-on-a-page template has been created to help conceptualise potential projects and ensure that they are likely to meet the funding criteria before the formal application process commences.
The final project proposal consists of three components:
The proposal should be developed and shared amongst the intended project parties right up until the point that all parties are comfortable with it being submitted for proposal review, evaluation and approval. If approved, the final project proposal will form the schedules and annexures to the project agreement.
All project proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the EFW CRC management team. The review and evaluation process can take up to 2 weeks.
Approval
The proposal approval process depends on the size of the project (total cash value) as follows:
Research and Commercialisation Committee meeting dates
The Research and Commercialisation Committee (RCC) meets throughout the year, on the dates below. Keep these dates in mind when developing a proposal that requires approval by the RCC, noting that proposals should be submitted at least 1 month prior to the meeting to allow time for the review and evaluation process. The RCC is also able to meet outside of these dates to ensure project approval can occur any time of the entire year.
Project FAQ
The Project FAQ document addresses some of the most frequently asked questions once a project is underway.
Quarterly Reporting
Project leaders will report on project progress each quarter. The quarterly report is the key means by which progress is monitored by EFW CRC and the other project parties. The report provides details such as key achievements, impediments, progress against milestones (both project milestones and EFW CRC milestones), project resourcing and communication activities. It will also be the means by which project expenditure (actual versus budget) is tracked.
Selected information from project quarterly reports is used by EFW CRC to inform:
The quarterly report is prepared within Smartsheet and will be available one week prior to the end of each quarter. Project Leaders will be reminded by email each quarter.
Interim Reports
Project teams are welcome to prepare and submit interim reports at any stage of the project’s life, although there is no formal requirement to do so. These reports are an opportunity to communicate results in more detail than what is required in the quarterly project reports. Interim reports should follow the Interim Project Report Template and be submitted to the relevant program leader/coordinator when completed.
Project Variation Requests
If changes are required to the project once it’s underway, the project leader should discuss the changes with a representative from each of the project parties and seek their consent. The project leader should then complete and submit the Project Variation Request Form.
Approval of Publications
As per the EFWL Publication and Presentation Policy, all publications generated throughout the life of a project must be submitted to the End Food Waste CRC for approval 30 days before required for reports and publications, and 7 days before required for external presentations. The project leader should complete and submit the Publication Approval Form to initiate the review and approval process.
On completion of the project, Project Leaders will be required to complete and submit a final report and financial acquittal.
Final reports must be submitted by 30 days after the project end date.
End Food Waste CRC will also coordinate a project finalisation meeting within 30 days after the project end date.