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August 2010 - Volume 34 No. 4
In this issue
- Upcoming NSERC deadlines
- Program information updated
- PGS and PDF applications move to fully electronic submission
- More funding allocated to college-industry R&D
- Doctoral Prizes program to close
Upcoming NSERC deadlines *
| September 1, 2010 | Expression of Interest letters for the  Industrial Research and Development Internships program |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2010 | Nominations close for the NSERC Awards for Science Promotion |
| September 15, 2010 | Applications for the PromoScience program |
| September 22, 2010 | For those invited to submit full applications for the Collaborative Research and Training Experience program |
| September 27, 2010 | Applications for the Idea to Innovation program |
| October 1, 2010 | For those invited to submit full applications for the Collaborative Health Research Projects program |
| October 1, 2010 | For those invited to submit full applications for the Major Resources Support program |
| October 1, 2010 | Applications for Subatomic Physics projects requesting $500,000 or more per year |
| October 1, 2010 | Applications for Ship Time grants |
| October 1, 2010 | Applications for Research Tools and Instruments grants (Categories 2 and 3) |
| October 10, 2010 | Applications for CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements Program |
| October 10, 2010 | Applications for Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan |
| October 15, 2010 | For students who are applying directly to NSERC for an NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship or a Canada Graduate Scholarship |
| October 25, 2010 | Applications for Research Tools and Instruments grants (Category 1) |
| November 1, 2010 | Applications for Discovery Grants (including Subatomic Physics projects below $500,000 per year) |
| November 3, 2010 | Applications for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program |
*Applicants for scholarships and fellowships should note that they may also be required to meet additional deadlines established by their university.
Program information updated
NSERC has posted the annual updates to the descriptions of its grants and scholarships programs. An overview of the major changes affecting this year’s competitions can be found in the Summary of Changes – 2010-2011 Program Guide for Professors and the Summary of Changes – 2010-2011 Program Guide for Students and Fellows. New information and smaller revisions are posted on an ongoing basis throughout the year as they become available.
PGS and PDF applications move to fully electronic submission
The application process for the Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS) and Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) programs has moved to a fully electronic submission system for this year’s competition. Students will continue to complete their applications using NSERC’s On-line System, but will no longer print and sign paper copies. Completed applications will now be forwarded electronically to universities or directly to NSERC, depending on the requirements for each applicant and program. Transcripts will now be scanned and attached to the application. The process for referees to be invited and complete their reports will also be completely electronic. For more details, visit the Students and Fellows section of our Web site.
More funding allocated to college-industry R&D
The additional funding allocated in this year’s federal budget to NSERC’s successful College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program has resulted in three new initiatives that will boost R&D capacity at Canada’s colleges. Three types of Applied R&D (ARD) grants will be available, starting with small, short-term grants of up to $25,000 to support projects of up to six months. Projects lasting one to three years can be supported with medium-sized grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000, or large grants ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. Medium-sized and large grants will require cash and in-kind contributions from partners. NSERC is also introducing Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) Grants, providing support to buy equipment valued from $7,000 to $150,000. Finally, NSERC will provide support on a pilot basis for Technology Access Centres (TAC) located in each region of Canada. Full descriptions of these new initiatives will be posted on NSERC’s Web site in the coming weeks.
Doctoral Prizes program to close
Since the NSERC Doctoral Prizes were introduced nearly 20 years ago, much has changed with respect to NSERC’s support for excellence in postgraduate and postdoctoral research. This includes the introduction of the NSERC Howard Alper Postdoctoral Prize in 2001, the NSERC André Hamer Postgraduate Prizes in 2004 and the Innovation Challenge Awards in 2004. As a result, NSERC will no longer hold competitions for the Doctoral Prizes. The designated funding will continue to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through enhancements being planned for the André Hamer and Howard Alper prizes. This decision is in line with NSERC’s mission to deliver programs that meet the Council’s mandate of supporting high-quality research. More information will be available in the fall.