The Australian Research Council (ARC) is a Commonwealth entity and advises the Australian Government on research matters, administers the National Competitive Grants Programme, a significant component of Australia's investment in research and development, and has responsibility for Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
The ARC is the primary source of advice to the Government on investment in the national research effort. The ARC:
- supports the highest quality research and research training through national competition in all fields of science, social sciences and the humanities. Clinical and other medical research is primarily supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
- brokers partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community.