Introduction

The HRPPC is an NCRIS facility. NCRIS investments are primarily in research equipment and infrastructure. The NCRIS access model requires infrastructure to be available to publically-funded researchers at marginal cost and on the basis of merit. The NCRIS support for the HRPPC includes staffing to develop and support the facility’s establishment and management, but not to conduct experiments. HRPPC focuses on:

• providing access to leading-edge equipment,
• assisting researchers develop experiments,
• training in the use of equipment,
• plant culture support and
• basic data interpretation.

The HRPPC’s cannot conduct experiments for users, other than on a contract basis.
There are three models of users, with differing costs and access arrangements. If you are a public sector researcher interested in a comprehensive estimate please submit a Request for Service. If you are a commercial customer please email your project proposal for a comprehensive estimate.

Public Sector Research Fees/Price List  |  Request for Service form - Public Sector Research

User Models

1. Members - membership is available to public-sector researchers for an annual fee of $15,000. A ‘Member’ can be a research scientist with a number of staff / students; all those involved in an approved project will have access to the HRPPC for that project.

The membership fee covers:

• No-cost access to Small Plant module analytic and imaging equipment
• No-cost access to Crop Shoot module analytic and imaging equipment
• No-cost access to Root module analytic and imaging equipment
• No-cost access to Field module analytic and imaging equipment
• ‘Case manager’ for each project (see note 2, page 4), including:
  • Assistance from HRPPC scientific staff with experimental design, experiment establishment, data capture and management.
  • Training in the use of HRPPC equipment
  • Assistance from HRPPC technical staff with experiment maintenance.
• a travel bursary funded by the ACT government is available for interstate and international researchers through the ‘Innovators in Residence’ scheme.

2. Non-member public sector researcher (NPSR) – non-members from Universities, CSIRO and other public sector research groups will have access to the Centre’s infrastructure. The cost will not include the subsidy available to Members, but will be less than commercial rates. A quote will be issued for use of facility, based on each proposed experiments.

3. Commercial users – costs to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Notes

1. Project proposals and contracts
Each project will be considered by the HRPPC’s local management committee and discussed with the project proposer. Once a project plan is agreed a formal quote and research strategy document will be written for the client, and a short contract covering the obligations of the parties, costs involved and approved project plan will be issued.

2. Staff support for project development
Currently, the HRPPC’s complement consists of three scientific staff and one technical support officer. These staff will be available to assist clients establish and run experiments. $6,000 worth of scientific staff support, training and data interpretation will be available to each Member annually. This free support is available during the year of membership and cannot be carried over to the next year of membership.