NSERC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMInformation Session & Discussion Forum
R AQ U E L D E S O U Z A, N S E R E S E A R C H D E V E L O P M E N T O F F I C E R , S P A R C & A P S CJ O AN N E M O S Z Y N S K I , N S E R E S E A R C H D E V E L O P M E N T M A N A G E R , S P A R C & A P S CP R O F . T I M S AL C U D E A N , S C I E N C E S & E N G I N E E R I N G R E S E A R C H A D V I S O R , V P R I
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AGENDA
• Program framework• Program transitions• SPARC support• Discussion forum
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PROGRAM FRAMEWORK
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OVERVIEW In response to the 2018 Federal Budget, NSERC is consolidating 6 of its partnerships programs:
The new program is expected to be in place by Spring 2019 (TBC by NSERC).
Connect Engage
CRD(Collaborative Research & Development Grants)
IRC(Industrial Research Chairs)
SPG-P and N(Strategic Partnerships Grants for Projects & Networks)
Experience
Research Partnerships
Program
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OVERVIEW
• The new program will support a wide array of projects, from new, short-tem, one-on-one collaborations, to larger, multi-stakeholder research teams.
• Eligible partners include those from the private sector, non-profit organizations, government, multinationals with a Canadian presence, and foreign companies.
• Incentives for partnerships with SMEs*, industrial value chains, multi-sectoral partnerships.
• Risk-based approach to funding decisions, with a 4-16-week turnaround time.• Applications can be submitted at any time.
The current Program Framework can be accessed through this link. Feedback may be sent directly to NSERC before January 2nd.
*SMEs = small to medium enterprises
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APPLICATION PROCESS & FUNDING DECISIONS
• Apply at any time throughout the year.• Risk-based assessment of applications.
Ris
k Le
vel
Evaluated by NSERC
Evaluated by external referees Funding decision within 16 weeks
Funding decision within 4 weeks
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
“CRD-like”
In all cases, in-kind contributions
will not be matched monetarily
“Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
SMEs
Industrial value chains
Multi-sectoral partners
All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations
“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
SMEs
Industrial value chains
Multi-sectoral partners
All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations
$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs
$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs
$20K - $200K/yr1-5 yrs
“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
SMEs
Industrial value chains
Multi-sectoral partners
All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations
2/3 of total budget 1/3 of total budget
$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs
$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs
$20K - $200K/yr1-5 yrs
“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
Applications/year:
No limit
“CRD-like”
Applications/year:
No limit
Applications/year:
2 for non-academic partners
2 for applicants:1 as PI
1 as co-applicant
“Engage- & Strategic-like”
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CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH
50% from NSERC(1:1 match)
66% from NSERC(2:1 match)
90-100% from NSERC
“CRD-like”
Projects…
must include ≥1 partner eligible for cost sharing
that include any private sector partners require a 10% cash contribution from the combination of partners
that include exclusively non-profit and public partners can be supported by NSERC at 100%
“Engage- & Strategic-like”
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ELIGIBLE PARTNERS
Private sector
Considered in cash-matching Not considered in cash-matching
• Canadian private companies• Multinationals w/ Canadian presence• Foreign companies
(but not as sole partners)
• Venture capital / Angel investors / Seed funds
• Holding companies• Companies with
<2 full-time employees
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ELIGIBLE PARTNERS
Public sector
Considered in cost-sharing Not considered in cost-sharing
• Municipalities and local/regional governments (established by/under provincial/territorial statute)
• Provincial/territorial government departments*
• Federal government departments• Indigenous communities*• Public utilities• Crown corporations
• Organizations whose primary mission is to fund/perform R&D and are funded/controlled by government
• Foreign governments
*Excluding funding agencies
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ELIGIBLE PARTNERS
Non-profit sector
Considered in cost-sharing Not considered in cost-sharing
• Producer groups• Industrial associations• Registered charities that have a
mandate to carry out and apply NSE research
• Museums and libraries• Indigenous groups• Community groups
• Organizations whose primary mission is to fund/perform R&D and are funded/controlled by government
• Universities• Incubators/accelerators• Foreign non-profits• Other registered charities• Hospitals and medical/clinical
research institutes
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ADDITIONAL FEATURES
• Shorter projects can be scaled up or extended within a 5-year period using a simplified application process.
• Eligible expenses: HQP training, knowledge mobilization, tech transfer activities, connection-development activities to expand research collaborations.
• Non-eligible expenses: Compensation to applicants, co-applicants and collaborators on the grant (e.g., chair holder salaries) An IRC-like program will not exist.
• Joint funding opportunities will exist between NSERC and other funding agencies / international governments.
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STRONG PROPOSALS WILL:
• Be clear on research objectives, suitability and feasibility of methodology, appropriateness of team expertise and leadership.
• Show the synergistic added value between academics and partners.• Essentiality of partner contributions to research.• Acceleration of knowledge mobilization and utilization.
• Emphasize research outcomes, their relevance, and likelihood they will be used and lead to impact for partners and Canada.
• Show opportunities for enriched HQP training experiences.• Emphasize EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) throughout the application.
Please refer to the Framework’s Appendix (page 9) for full Evaluation Criteria.
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PROGRAM TRANSITIONS
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• Collaborative Research & Development (CRD) and Engage• NSERC will continue to accept applications until the new program is in place
• Connect• Apply by January 18th 8pm EST for events/travel occurring by March 31st
• Experience• Applications will be accepted for awards starting prior to January 14th
• Applications must be submitted by 8pm two months after the proposed start date
• Strategic Partnership Grants (SPG-P and SPG-N)• No further SPG-P and SPG-N competitions will be held• SPG-N applications invited in July 2018 to apply for the full competition
will not be affected.
In all cases, previously awarded grants will not be affected.
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• Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)• Due February 1st:
• New IRC applications• Renewals for IRCs ending in April/May/June of fiscal year 2019-20
• After February 1st, NSERC will accept: • First-to-second term renewal applications for IRCs whose current first term ends
in fiscal year 2019-20• New applications for external candidates who have been hired, or are in the process of
being hired, with the specific objective of being nominated as NSERC IRC candidatesDue February 1st: 1. NOI from the university2. 2-page summary of research program3. Form 100 or free-form CV4. Candidate’s consent5. Hiring offer & acceptance, or demonstration that the process is at advanced stages Due September 2nd or by 1 year post-hiring, whichever comes first:1. Full application (by invitation).
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SPARC SUPPORT
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SPARC'S PROACTIVE APPROACH
Before the new Program is in place:• Information sessions, with NSERC involvement whenever possible• Relaying of up-to-date information to researchers as it becomes available• Proactively liaising with NSERC representatives
Once the new Program is in place:• Implementation of a support process that will include:
• Workshops• Resources (e.g. Playbook, partnership resources, templates)• Strategic consultations• Full application reviews
• Initially, review requests will be accepted at any time, with a turnaround time of 2 weeks• Depending on demand, SPARC may implement multiple intakes for reviews
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UPCOMING GRANTS – EARLY 2019
New Frontiers in Research Fund• For early-career researchers (up to 5 years since 1st academic appointment)• Up to $125,000 per year, up to 2 years – ‘high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research• LOI due January 11th, full application due February 7th
• TIPS will hold webinars in the upcoming weeks – see program updates page
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund (IF)• Large-scale (potentially multi-million $ request), team infrastructure grant• Expected to be announced in early 2019, full application potentially due Fall 2019• UBC internal deadlines: EOI January 11th, internal proposal March 1st – see IPO website
for details (CWL required)
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UBC FEEDBACK PROVIDED TO NSERC
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UBC FEEDBACK PROVIDED TO NSERC
Ask ResultAllow for applications without matching (i.e. Strategic grants)
90% cash provided by NSERC for industry partnerships
Show more flexibility in Engage-like grants (was 1x/lifetime)
Applications allowed 1x/yr as PI, 1x/yr as co-PI. Would prefer 2, regardless of type. Partner limit (2x/yr) may pose issues.
Academic involvement in the review process None
Allow for foreign partnerships No change
IRC query None
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DISCUSSION FORUM
• What do you like about the new program? • What concerns you about the new program?• What would you change if you could? • What else would you like to pass on to NSERC?