Strategic Research Incentives 2008 - 2010
Aim
To promote the performance of R&D that is aligned with the objectives of the Curtin Sarawak Strategic Plan.
Introduction
The Strategic Research Incentives (SRI) are financial incentives that aim at encouraging the performance of research that is aligned with the objectives of Curtin Sarawak's Strategic Plan. The incentives are grouped into the following four categories.
Research Input;
Research Output;
Impact on Community and
Initiation of Research
An important characteristic of the SRI scheme is that it recognizes research input. As Research and Development at Curtin Sarawak are at an initial stage, it is crucial that not only research performance is rewarded, but also the time, effort and leadership by individuals or groups to realize the objectives of the strategic plan. It is believed that rewarding research input will allow a faster and more dynamic response to the objectives set by the strategic plan. Further, to build research capacity across the university, new researchers should also be motivated to initiate their research.
As a tool to promote the performance of R&D at Curtin Sarawak, the range of incentives included into the SRI scheme will require a yearly review.
Available funds
Funds available for the SRI scheme form part of the yearly R&D budget and as such are approved by the Board of Directors of Curtin Sarawak Malaysia.
The incentives listed below are tentative. If the total amount claimed for the period running from 1st January to 31st December of a year exceeds the available budget, the incentives would be re-calculated on a pro-rata basis.
The financial incentives will be paid into a cost center in the name of the researcher who has earned them. The incentives can be used for staff development, conference attendance, research and development or any other academic activity.
List of Incentives
Research Input
A.1 |
Submission of Research Proposal to an External Funding Agency |
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Activity
Write a research proposal as Chief Investigator or Project Leader for submission to an external funding agency through R&D Office of Curtin Sarawak.
It is assumed here that the standards for writing a research proposal to seek external funding are comparable to the standards for writing a paper to be published in a refereed journal. While most fields of research offer a wide range of journals in which to publish, the access to research funding is more limited and therefore more competitive.
In order to be eligible for SRI, a research proposal will have to successfully pass an in-house quality control comparable to the peer-reviewing applied to CSRF proposals.
Evidence
Copy of final version of research proposal, after internal peer-reviewing. Copy of the letter of submission to the external funding agency.
Reward
The reward will be paid into a cost center in the name of the Chief Investigator of the proposed project.
| Field of research aligned with CSM strategic plan (i.e. Research relevant to the needs of Sarawak) |
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Strategic partnership (Collaboration with University/ Research Laboratory/ Industry within the region) |
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Amount to be funded externally is less than RM 50,000 |
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Amount to be funded externally is between RM 50,000 and RM 100,000 |
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Amount to be funded externally is between RM 100,000 and RM 200,000 |
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Amount to be funded externally is more than RM 200,000 |
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A.2 |
Research Income |
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Activity
Receive research grant from external funding agencies.
Evidence
Receipt of actual research grant received during the year
Reward
The reward will be paid into a cost center in the name of the Chief Investigator of the project or as advised by the Chief Investigator.
The reward will be at the rate of 1.5% of the grant received. |
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A.3 |
Organizing Conferences at Curtin Sarawak |
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Activity
Organize a research conference at Curtin Sarawak.
It is assumed here that the conference will meet standards of a research conference in terms of organization and participation. Organization includes conference management through committees, dissemination of information through website and other means, ensuring quality of papers and the proceedings, conduct of the actual event and other conference organization activities. Participation includes authors and researchers from different institutions, keynote speakers, invited lecturers and others. Internal and closed conferences and those organized chiefly for undergraduate students and Curtin Sarawak staff are excluded.
Evidence
Details regarding the organization of conference, participation in the conference and list of organizers at Curtin Sarawak
Reward
The reward will be paid into cost centers in the names of the Conference organizers at Curtin Sarawak. The total incentive will be shared equally among all the organizers or as advised by the Organizing Chair.
Local conference |
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National conference |
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International conference |
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A.4 |
Research Collaboration with other Institutions |
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Activity
Engage in research collaboration with other research institutions through memorandum of understanding, research agreement, supervision of HDR students, joint research proposals and joint publications.
Evidence
Portfolio of research collaboration with other institutions with supporting evidence.
Reward
Will be based on the portfolio on case-by-case basis. |
Research Output
B.1 |
Publication of Research Papers in Refereed Journals |
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Activity
Publish a research paper in a refereed journal. Submit claim in the annual RPI round.
Evidence
As per RPI annual round specifications. Letter of acceptance of paper by editor of journal. Hardcopy of paper. Publication policy of journal confirming the refereeing process. Acceptance of the RPI claim.
Reward
First and only author in scholarly indexed and refereed journal |
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First but not only author in scholarly indexed and refereed journal |
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Co-author in scholarly indexed and refereed journal |
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B.2. |
Research Consultancy Reports |
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Activity
Undertake and complete research consultancy.
Applies only to consultancy projects that are research oriented but do not result in any publications due to confidentiality agreements. Does not apply to consultancy projects of training, material testing, design and other routine works.
Evidence
Hardcopy of report. Copy of research consultancy proposal with time schedule. Copy of letter of submission of report. Contribution to university infrastructure.
Reward
The total incentive will be shared equally among all the consultants or as advised by the Chief Investigator/Consultant.
Research consultancy project amount RM > 100,000 |
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Research consultancy project amount RM 75,001 - 100,000 |
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Research consultancy project amount RM 50,001 – 75,000 |
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Research consultancy project amount RM 25,000 – 50,000 |
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Research consultancy project amount < RM 25,000 |
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Impact on Community
C.1 |
External Recognition, Awards |
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Activity
Produce research that, through its beneficial impact in the community, results in external recognition of the researchers involved.
Evidence
Citation index, awards, invitation as keynote speakers to conference, editorship of Journal
Reward
International award |
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National award |
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Paper is cited by > 30 other scholarly publications |
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Paper is cited by 21 to 30 other scholarly publications |
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Paper is cited by 11 to 20 other scholarly publications |
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Keynote speaker at international conference |
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Keynote speaker at national conference |
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Session chair at international conference |
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Session chair at national conference |
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Editorship of indexed and refereed journals |
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C.2. |
Impact on community |
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Activity
Produce research that results in a visible impact within the community, either on a local or on a broader level.
Evidence
As appropriate. e.g. Change in governmental policy.
Reward
To be discussed on a case-by-case basis |
Initiation of Research
D.1 |
Initiation of Research by New Researchers |
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This incentive is to motivate new researchers to initiate their research. Experienced researchers are excluded.
Activity
Initiate research activity through working with an experienced mentor.
Choose a mentor for your research. Use the Research Initiation Application and write a research initiation proposal outlining aim, scope, methodology, outcome and budget.
Evidence
Research initiation proposal supported by the mentor. The proposal should be reviewed and recommended by the School Research Coordinator. Ethics approval, if any, is required should be obtained from the Ethics Committee.
Reward
The incentive will be paid into a cost center in the name of the investigator. The cost centre will be closed after one year. The investigator should submit a completion report.
Research initiation proposal |
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D.2 |
Completion of HDR |
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Activity
Complete a higher degree by research Masters or PhD.
Evidence
Award of higher degree by research Masters or PhD.
Reward
The reward will be paid into a cost center in the name of the applicant.
Completion of Masters degree by research |
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Completion of Doctoral degree by research |
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Administrative Procedure
• Claims for incentives under categories A, B and C for a year (from January 1 to December 31) should be submitted in the subsequent year.
• The closing date for submission of claims and corresponding evidence for categories A, B and C is April 30 of each year. (e.g. SRI claims for January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 should be submitted before April 30, 2010.)
• The application for SRI and all relevant evidence are to be submitted to the R&D Office.
• New researchers can submit applications for incentive under category D throughout the year. Approval is subjected to availability of funds allocated to category D.
• After verification of the evidence, the researcher will be informed of the total SRI rewards that he/she has earned. • These SRI rewards will be transferred to the corresponding cost center.
Download Strategic Research Incentives Application
Download Research Initiation Application for New Researchers