ARC Linkage grants are about building bridges between research and industry, government or community partners. It’s all about collaboration, impact, and real-world application. 

With that in mind, here’s how to emphasise the ‘links’ in your Linkage application to make your proposal stand out.

1. Start with the Right Partner

It’s hard to overstate how important it is to choose an engaged partner with a real stake in the research. The research problem should matter to the partner now, not just in theory or at some time in the future, and the application must demonstrate that the research addresses this genuine, practical challenge. The best way to work towards a high level of partner engagement is to understand that trust and shared goals take time and effort to build.

The Linkage grants recipients we work with treat their partners like real people (shocking, I know!). They get to know them as people, actively listen to their goals, and commit to working collaboratively on their challenges.

2. Co-design the Project with Your Partner

A genuine engagement with the partner is integral to the success of your application, so you need to make sure the partner’s priorities are visible in the project aims, methodology and outputs. Co-design will shape the project in many details, and co-authorship on the proposal goes a long way.  

In fact, many of the assessors we speak to can tell when a partner isn’t genuinely involved. They can “smell” it a mile away.

3. Demonstrate Impact

The project’s impact will need to reach a lot further than publishing the research, and you need to explain what will actually change if your project succeeds. Who will use the results, and how? Will it lead to new products, policies, tools, or better ways of doing things? 

Be clear about the benefits and how they’ll be shared with the people who need them. If it helps, use a simple diagram like a roadmap or theory of change to show how your work leads to impact. 

4. Nail the Partner Organisation Statement

The Partner Organisation Statement must be specific, compelling and authentic. It should explain why the project matters to the partner, how they’ll benefit, and what they’re contributing. The quality of this statement reflects the strength of the partnership and the involvement of the partner in co-design. 

The best statements give specifics. “Our operations leader, Ms Betty Smith, will spend half a day a week working on [insert a particular aspect of the project]”; or “Our company is committed to integrating the project outputs into our business model by [describe how]”.

5. Be On the Front Foot in Asking for Feedback

Early feedback is one of the most powerful tools you have to align your proposal with what partners and assessors are really looking for. Top notch Linkage proposals are not written alone, and getting feedback can help sharpen your case and identify blind spots. 

Engage your university’s research grants office or impact team, and ask colleagues who’ve won Linkage grants to review your proposal. This will give you the outside perspective you need to frame your proposal succinctly and show the impact you want to make in the world.