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Form 183C - Instructions |
Research Partnerships Programs |
Nomination for an Industrial R&D Fellowship |
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General InformationApplication InstructionsSignaturesList for a Complete ApplicationGENERAL INFORMATIONAbout the ProgramImportant: This form must be completed using the On-line System and cannot be submitted electronically. Read the program description in the Program Guide for Students and Fellows before you complete the application. Who Completes the ApplicationThe applicant must complete the application and include all required documentation using the On-line System. Presentation StandardsYou are responsible for submitting a complete application that conforms to the presentation standards established by NSERC. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected, or be at a disadvantage, in comparison with those that are complete and respect the presentation standards. For more information, read the NSERC On-line Presentation and Attachment Standards. Application DeadlinesThere are no set deadlines. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Personal InformationThe collection, use and disclosure of personal information provided to NSERC is outlined in the following policy statements:
The information you provide in your application is collected under the authority of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act. NSERC is subject to the Confidentiality/Review ProceduresNSERC understands the value of the proprietary information submitted in confidence by organizations. Please be assured that we manage this information in a secure manner commensurate with its sensitivity. It will be used only for the purpose for which it was originally collected, and it will be disclosed on a strict "need-to-know" basis. NSERC is subject to federal information laws (Access to Information Act and Privacy Act), policies and standards that govern how sensitive information is treated. Members of the NSERC Industrial R&D Fellowships (IRDF) College of Reviewers are advised about these and are required to sign detailed non-disclosure agreements. Here are some ways your organization can help us safeguard its information:
Intellectual Property (IP) PolicyNote that NSERC’s Intellectual Property Policy does not apply to this program. Help with Program Information
Help with the NSERC On-line System
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONSIRDFs aim to provide a meaningful industrial R&D experience to a recent doctoral graduate, therefore the main focus of your proposal should be on the R&D project(s) and, as much as possible, the specific activities in which the fellow will be involved. No more than two projects may be proposed under an IRDF application. Write your research proposal in plain language. IRDF applications are evaluated by a College of Reviewers, comprised of research scientists and engineers. Ideally, you should avoid the use of acronyms in your proposal. If you use acronyms, provide a reference list with full names/titles of the terms used. Completing Form 183CNOMINEE PROFILETitle of ProposalThe title will be used for publication purposes. It should describe the subject of the R&D activities for which you are seeking support. It should not contain an organization or trade name. Spell out scientific symbols and acronyms. GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE ORGANIZATIONConsult the NSERC Code Tables to find the appropriate Industry/Products and Services Codes. These are not the research subject codes. Note: Universities and Government agencies or departments are not eligible to participate in the IRDF program. Organizations applying for renewal of their eligibility status may continue to submit applications under our programs while their documentation is being reviewed. Provide the name and position of the person at the organization whom NSERC should contact, if necessary, regarding the application and subsequently, if a fellowship is awarded, regarding the administration of the award. This information will be used to provide the reviewers with basic background data on the organization (e.g., the size of the organization and the research environment in which the nominee would be located). ADDRESSESNominating OrganizationProvide the complete mailing address for the organization. Note: The nominating or host organization is the organization submitting the application and will be the employer of the Industrial R&D Fellow. Any other organizations involved in the project are collaborating organizations. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTIndicate the requested research and development (R&D) information. PROJECT LOCATIONIndicate the actual location where the project(s) proposed for the fellowship nominee will be carried out. This location must be eligible to host IRDFs. Consult the list of eligible organizations. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT (Attachment)Provide the following information in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the NSERC On-line Presentation and Attachment Standards (maximum one and one-half pages). Relate the proposal to scientific, technical and commercial developments in the field, referring to the current state of the art and the prevailing market conditions. Put this into the context of the organization's existing capabilities, and short- and long-term goals. If this proposal is a part of a larger project or program within the organization or if it is related to a currently or previously funded NSERC IRDF project, provide a brief overview and explain how it relates to the proposed project for the IRDF nominee. For uploading purposes, all the documents in this section must be saved into a single PDF file. DETAILED PROJECT PROPOSAL (Attachment)The Detailed Project Proposal should be specifically focussed on the project and research activities in which the IRDF will be engaged. In order for a project to be successful, the opportunity for the nominee's growth as a researcher and the suitability of the project for a doctoral-level researcher are essential. The quality of the R&D element of the overall proposal, and the nominee's role, will be carefully evaluated. It will be important to demonstrate how the nominee's research abilities will be developed, and the support that will be provided—in terms of suitably qualified supervision, mentoring, technical support (as required by the project), equipment, etc. If appropriate supervision is not available within the organization, it may be possible for a collaborating organization to assist in this regard. If the nominee's background training and experience are lacking some of the expertise needed for the project, explain how the organization will accommodate this requirement (e.g., are there other people within the organization who will carry out that aspect of the project; will specific training be provided to the nominee?). Provide the following information in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the NSERC On-line Presentation and Attachment Standards (maximum four pages). Under the following separate headings:
For uploading purposes, all the documents in this section must be saved into a single PDF file. CURRICULUM VITAE (Attachment)Provide a brief curriculum vitae (c.v.), not exceeding two pages, for each supervisor and other major participants. For uploading purposes, all the documents in this section must be saved into a single PDF file. WORK PLAN AND MILESTONESProvide a detailed two-year work plan for the nominee and a timetable for the project tasks. Identify measurable milestones and decision points in the project timetable. The milestone definition and work plan will be used to assess whether a project is feasible and whether the available resources are adequate to complete it on schedule. You may substitute your own project scheduling tool and add it to the final printed version. Please indicate the starting date for the first milestone as “Month 0” and progress to “Month 24” for the final completion date (one page maximum). SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCHDescribe the anticipated value of the project results, highlighting the relevance of the scientific or technical advances, or the innovative techniques, processes or products that will be developed. Show how the outcome will address a current or future industrial or market need. As much as possible, quantify the benefits to the organization and the importance to its overall goals and objectives. If possible, estimate the expected increase in revenues and the resulting increased employment within the organization if this project is successful. To the extent possible, indicate the additional work required for commercialization and the potential impact, within a reasonable time, on Canada's economy, industry, society and/or environment. VALUE OF THE EXPERIENCE AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NOMINEEDiscuss how the nominee's research abilities will be developed during the two years of the fellowship, other learning opportunities, opportunities to publish and opportunities to participate in conferences, etc. Also discuss the future opportunities or anticipated future plans for the nominee within the organization after the fellowship expires. INCREMENTALITYJustify the need to obtain NSERC funding in order to employ the nominee or to carry out the proposed research. If NSERC funding were not forthcoming, how would this affect the organization and the proposed project? Indicate how the organization's long-term R&D capacity would be enhanced if this fellowship were approved. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONSAlthough Industrial R&D Fellows are expected to spend all or the vast majority (minimum 80 percent) of their time in the R&D facilities of the nominating organization, it may be necessary for the fellow to spend time within the facilities of a collaborating organization because of the requirements of some projects. Because the prime objective of the program is to provide recent doctoral graduates with industrial experience, in such cases, the organization must clearly justify the need for the fellow to be located outside the organization, provide details on the interactions the fellow will have with the organization throughout the duration of the award, and provide sufficient information about how the arrangement will result in the fellow's industrial experience, in order that the reviewers will be satisfied that the objectives of the program will be met. LETTER(S) OF AGREEMENTFor all types of collaborations, letters of agreement must be provided at the time of nomination, signed by an authorized representative of the collaborating organization (e.g., Dean, Director of Research, etc.) on the organization’s letterhead. The letters of agreement must describe, in detail, the nature and extent of the collaboration and assistance, and how the organization expects to benefit from the collaboration. Where projects involve collaborations with other organizations, discuss the plans for the disposition of the intellectual property arising from the project. Outline the broad terms of the agreement between the organization and the collaborating organization(s) on the rights to exploit the technology. For uploading purposes, all the documents in this section must be saved into a single PDF file. APPROXIMATE ANNUAL COST OF THE FELLOW’S PROJECTThe organization should record the cost of discretionary benefits (i.e., organization’s own fringe benefit package), equipment, technical assistance and travel. Please note that the fellow’s fringe benefits should be comparable to those of other employees in the organization. The resources budgeted in the approximate annual cost of the fellow’s project are committed once the application is signed. The organization is responsible for honouring these commitments. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDSIdentify any other financial contributions, either held or applied for, from other government agencies (federal or provincial) for the research program related to this IRDF application. Explain how it relates to this application and why funding is required from NSERC. If any funding expected from other organizations is still at the application stage, when is a decision on the funding expected? If the application is not successful, explain the impact on the proposed project and the employment of the nominee. Other support, held or applied for, may not be used as part of the minimum $10,000 organization contribution towards the Industrial R&D fellow’s salary. These funds must come directly from the nominating organization. If organizations other than the one that is nominating the fellow will be contributing towards the salary, these contributions must also be paid through the host organization as part of the total salary. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENTThis section must be completed and signed by the officer of the organization who is authorized to offer employment. The nominee is required to sign the form to ensure that he or she is aware of the contents of the research proposal. Refer to the Signatures section in this document. PREVIOUS PARTICIPATION IN THE IRDF (FORMERLY THE IRF) PROGRAMFor all awards which are "complete" or "terminated", indicate whether the fellow was offered a permanent position, title and, where relevant, the date the fellow left the organization. "Terminated" refers to all those who did not complete the full two years of the award. LETTER OF OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT (Attachment)Provide a copy of your letter of offer of employment co-signed by the nominee. This letter must include the normal details that such a letter from your organization would include, and must also specify:
Note: The organization may not offer the nominee a long-term offer of employment between the date of submission of the nomination to NSERC and receipt of the notification of decision, unless the offer is conditional upon receipt of the fellowship. In the exceptional cases where a short-term employment contract (of no more than six months) has been offered to the nominee, the organization must also attach a copy of this contract and a written rationale explaining why it was necessary to hire the nominee prior to the competition. The offer of employment should state clearly that subsequent employment is dependent upon the receipt of a fellowship. Please note that candidates may not begin working on the proposed IRDF project during this time. The organization may offer the nominee a permanent position, provided that employment is conditional upon receipt of the fellowship. For uploading purposes, all the documents in this section must be saved into a single PDF file. SIGNATURESWhat do the signatures on the application mean?Original signatures are required on page 1 and on the Conditions of Employment when submitting Form 183C. Note: "Applicant" refers to the authorized organization representative and to the nominee. The signature of the applicant confirms that the applicant:
In addition, the authorized organization representative confirms that the nominee is not permanently employed by the organization at this time and agrees to:
LIST FOR A COMPLETE APPLICATIONUse the following list to make sure your application is complete. The original of each of the following must be submitted:
MAILING ADDRESSPlease use the list to ensure that the application is complete and then return the fully completed application to the address below. Please allow six weeks for processing complete applications. Submission of incomplete applications will result in further delays. Industrial R&D Fellowships |
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