The ACGR lists qualifying, nationally competitive research schemes. The income that Higher Education Providers receive from schemes listed on the ACGR drives the allocation of over $200 million of Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG) annually. The qualifying criteria for inclusion in the ACGR are:
- Funds must be provided on a nationally competitive basis and clearly be for research only.
- The funding scheme must be nationally advertised and available to universities throughout Australia.
- The funding scheme must have a well-defined mechanism for competition and selection by a well-qualified panel.
- Funds must be provided through direct transfer from the funding agency to the higher education institution.
- Grants in kind such as the use of facilities, equipment etc. or subsidised travel or accommodation are not eligible.
- Funding schemes used exclusively to fund student scholarships are not eligible.
- Schemes that provide funding wholly or mainly for infrastructure purposes are not eligible.
- The funding body must agree to provide funding data to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the data must be up to date.
- For non-Commonwealth research funding schemes, the total annual budget in 2006 must be at least $200,000.