The International Researcher Exchange Programme is a source of support for research collaboration between the best researchers in Australia and overseas. Commencing in the year 2000 the Fellowships component of the scheme will include opportunities to bring to Australia, outstanding early career researchers from France as well as the United Kingdom. Existing arrangements for Fellows from Korea and Germany will continue. Up to five Fellows may be selected from French, German and United Kingdom applicants and up to ten from Korean applicants. Changes to the Awards element of IREX seek to develop in-depth and sustained research links between Australia and overseas.
New emphasis is placed on the exchange of researchers at both senior and junior levels.
A key change is to extend the period of funding to a maximum of 3 years to allow time for results to become evident. An explicit aim is to strengthen the international research experience of junior researchers. The ARC encourages proposals for researcher exchange between Australia and any other country, however preference may be given to proposals involving countries where the ARC has Memoranda of Understanding or traditional research links or which involve collaboration within the Asia-Pacific region. Items funded Funding under the proposed Awards element will cover the direct costs of the collaboration to the Australian partners, including fares, subsistence contribution and some consumables. The funding of Australian participation should be approximately matched by contributions from the overseas collaborating partner organisation.