Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (AINST) AINST Accelerator Scheme The AINST Accelerator Scheme – Overview. The AINST Accelerator Scheme seeks proposals from the AINST Community in the range of $50‐200k for expenditure in 2015 for projects, activities and equipment that develop capabilities and/or establish collaborations that contribute to the AINST community and mission, and that prepare AINST researchers to target external funding. Proposals will also inform review and strategic planning processes for the AINST, and applicants are encouraged to envision how proposals could up‐scale if significant additional funding were available over the next 2‐3 years. Closing Date: COB Thursday 20th November 2014. Applications to: Grant Cruchley [email protected] Background The Vice Chancellor has charged the University to establish world‐leading research infrastructure for nanoscale science and technology research and to make AINST a game‐changer for nanoscience research and education at the University and for Australia. To this end parallel review and planning processes are underway for the AINST: a review to assess our strengths and identify our strategic advantages in the area of nanoscale science & technology, and strategic and business planning to develop a vision and business case. Both processes will deliver reports to the Vice Chancellor in early‐ to mid‐ December 2014. The AINST Mission The AINST mission is to have real and visible impact in addressing complex problems facing our nation and our world through harnessing relevant intellectual resources from across the University. To achieve this mission we will build disciplinary and cross‐disciplinary research programs focused on nanoscale science and technology that evolve toward visionary research initiatives, nationally and internationally recognized transformational research and technology that directly address societal grand challenges, as well as Australian societal needs and opportunities. The areas of concentration are:  energy and environment  computing  health and medicine  security, and  communications  frontiers of knowledge. The AINST Accelerator Scheme, Foundational Research Projects and Flagships. The AINST accelerator scheme is one component in building the AINST research community, the University’s research capabilities, and the AINST concept. It is a first evolutionary step up a ladder of increasing scale towards Foundational research projects and, ultimately, flagship programs of research. AINST accelerator scheme proposals should anticipate and align with the objectives of the Foundational Research Projects. Foundational Research Projects are larger, multi‐year foundational projects capitalising on the University’s current intellectual assets and capabilities including the soon to be completed Sydney Nanoscience Hub with its state‐of‐the‐art Research and Prototype Foundry (See Appendix 1). 1 of 6 The Foundational Research Project objective is to undertake projects that will develop or advance capabilities, resources, and research outputs that build the strengths of AINST that are foundational for new programs, directions, and/or flagship projects. The elements of these projects are:  undertake research that leads to a significant advancement of capabilities and knowledge;  utilize, develop and/or advance the University’s research facilities in nanoscale science and technology;  link existing University research strengths and resources to build critical mass with collaborative interdisciplinary approaches;  build the University’s intellectual and research capacities by attracting and retaining researchers of high international standing as well as the most promising research students;  provide a high‐quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training environment for the next generation of researchers; and  develop relationships and build networks with industry and major national and international research programs. In turn, the Foundational Research Projects will build scale and excellence within the research community and establish an incubator for ideas and concepts leading to future Flagship projects responding to the goal of visionary, transformational and societal directed research. Applicants for the AINST Accelerator scheme with an ambition and vision to take the AINST forward are asked to anticipate how their proposal could be scaled‐up, or how the outcomes would progress into larger‐scale research, if significant additional funding was available over the next 2‐3 years. The University and the AINST community will strenuously seek external and internal funding to support the next stage of development. 2 of 6 AINST Accelerator Scheme Application Process An open call made seeking applications for AINST Accelerator projects from the University AINST community will be announced in Research News + Opportunities. To enhance the flow of communication the call will also be emailed to all researchers invited to or attending AINST Community Development Day. Additionally, as champions of the process, the Nanoscale Science and Technology Research Review committee members will directly communicate the call to the schools and faculties (see Appendix 2). The DVCR has dedicated funding for the scheme in 2015. Applications will be in the range of $50‐ $200k for expenditure in 2015 for projects, activities and equipment that develop capabilities and/or establish collaborations that contribute to the AINST community and mission, and that prepare AINST researchers to target external funding. The following examples are intended as a guide, and are not exhaustive:  seeding resources for targeted external funding;  research to develop preliminary data for a specific opportunity;  increased activity required to lead an ARC Centre of Excellence, CRC or similar bid;  resources to prepare a bid to new customers (US/UK Australian defense, HMR);  project officer support for these kinds of targets or for building new collaborations;  equipment that opens up new opportunities. The scheme will not fund operating or business as usual costs. Requests for research infrastructure or other resources will only be considered where they are fundamental to underpin the overarching research project. Completed application forms are to be submitted to the Research Portfolio (Grant Cruchley, [email protected]) by no later than COB Thursday 20th November 2014. Assessment and Selection Process The Review team has developed a simple form to capture and structure proposals. A panel of Review team members, with external expertise as required, will assess the applications. The review panel will shortlist, prioritize and review budgets for applications. These results will be forwarded to the DVC‐R who will establish a process leading to a final decision. When assessing applications the Review team may provide advice to, and seek revised applications from, CIs on applications that demonstrate outstanding potential but require additional work and/or where synergies arise from combining projects. Proposals will also inform review and strategic planning processes for the AINST. 3 of 6 APPENDIX 1. Sydney Nanoscience Hub (AIN Building A31) The Sydney Nanoscience Hub (AIN Building A31) provides three new experimental capabilities, the Research and Prototype Foundry (RPF), eleven unassigned laboratory modules, and two TEM suites. Through conversion of office workspace to laboratory space approximately an additional four modules could be added in the future. Research and Prototype Foundry (RPF) The RPF is a 900 m2 clean room with a combination of class ISO‐7 and ISO‐5 space. The tools that will be installed are a combination of those in the Bandwidth Foundry International (BFI) and new tools purchased by the University. The tools in the list below when added to the current toolset of the Bandwidth Foundry (BFI), which will be moved into the RPF, provides an excellent base in which to build the full fabrication capability needed for the long‐term success of the current University research programs and the developing AINST program. Essential Tool Priority list These tools are included in the approved FAC 2014 uplift business case Tool Cost Electron Beam Lithography Elionix F‐125 $3,000,000 Dektak Profilometer and / or AFM capability (DI Nanoscope) $300,000 Rapid Thermal Annealer (Allwin 610) $150,000 Manual Resist Spinner (Laurell‐R) $30,000 Photolith Contact Aligner (Electronic Visions 620) $300,000 Lithography Vacuum Oven $25,000 Metal Deposition: Thermal / Ebeam evaporator (KJLesker) $350,000 Hydrocarbon Plasma Asher $100,000 Atomic Layer Deposition (Cambridge Nanotech Savannah) $340,000 Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (HDPCVD) $700,000 TOTAL $5,295,000 These tools are subject of a LIEF Grant in the current round: Tool Cost Dry Etching: Inductively Coupled Plasma Therm Etcher for Silicon Oxide/Nitride $675,000 Wafer Probing system >$250,000 Transmission Electron Microscope – Titan Cubed Themis; X‐FEG $4,500,000 The Bandwidth Foundry International (BFI) The BFI is a central facility in the ANFF OptoFab Node based at Macquarie University. The Node offers specialist dedicated staff to provide services & technical support to users where appropriate in microprocessing and microfabrication of fibre, planar and bulk optical materials which include silica, silicon, lithium niobate and polymers. There are also a number of post‐processing capabilities ‐ e.g., surface functionalisation and advanced characterisation. These techniques have been used to produce artefacts for use in telecoms, biotechnology, biomedicine, microelectronics, optical sensing, industrial processing, defence and security applications. Further detailed information: http://www.anff.org.au/optofab‐node.html and http://www.bwfoundry.com/ 4 of 6 APPENDIX 1. Unassigned Space The unassigned laboratory space consists of eleven laboratory modules, five C Labs, four B labs, and two A Labs. The potential additional laboratories if converted from office work space would be similar to the C Lab characteristics. Utility A Lab B Lab C Lab Temperature +/‐ 0.1 +/‐ 0.5 +/‐ 1.5 Humidity +/‐ 5% +/‐ 10% +/‐ 10% Module size (approx) 40m2 40m2 40m2 Vibration VC‐E VC‐C VC‐B Research Laboratories General Teaching Space Sydney Microscopy Research and Prototype Foundry & Microanalysis TEM, FIB SEM High Quality labs Research & Prototype Foundry BFI ANFF Sydney Nanoscience Hub (SNH) A31 5 of 6 APPENDIX 2. University of Sydney Nanoscale Science and Technology Research Review Member Ben Eggleton David Reilly Nick King Philip Leong Simon Ringer Tom Maschmeyer Zdenka Kuncic Tony Weiss Ex officio Members Don Parkin Grant Cruchley Representing. Physics, Review Committee Chair Physics and Mathematics Health and Medical Electrical and Information Engineering and Information Technologies Engineering Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Physics and Charles Perkins Centre Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre AIN Chief Operating Officer Manager Research Strategy and Policy Framework, Research Portfolio 6 of 6