Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program

Important Information

• Discovery Grants Program
• Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program – Frequently Asked Questions

Objective

The Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program (DAS) provides substantial and timely additional resources to accelerate progress and maximize the impact of outstanding research programs.

Description

The DAS Program provides substantial and timely resources to a small group of outstanding researchers who have a well-established research program, and who show strong potential to become international leaders in their respective area of research.

Each supplement is valued at $120,000 over three years, and provides recipients with additional resources to compete with the best in the world. These resources may be used to expand the supplement holder’s research group (i.e., students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians), to purchase, or to have access to, specialized equipment, or for other initiatives/resources that would accelerate the progress of their research program.

A DAS may not be held concurrently with an E. W. R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship.

Application Procedures

No separate application is required. Selection is made in conjunction with the review of Discovery Grant applications each year.

Review Procedures

The Discovery Accelerator Supplements will be awarded to applicants who best meet the objective of the program.

Evaluation Groups will review applications in accordance with the Discovery Grant criteria, and will recommend a small number of applicants for a supplement according to the objective and description of the DAS Program. Evaluation Group recommendations will be forwarded to multidisciplinary selection committees that will make the final recommendations to NSERC.

Universities, through their vice-president of Research, will be allowed to request a reduction in the duration of the Discovery Grant for a limited number of researchers from their institution; the ones they believe would best meet the objective of the DAS Program. This reduction will allow those researchers to come back earlier in the Discovery Grants competition and possibly be nominated for a DAS by the Evaluation Group.

Selection Criteria

Evaluation Groups will review Discovery Grant applications in accordance with the current established criteria for that program:

• Scientific or engineering excellence of the researcher(s);
• Merit of the proposal; and
• Contribution to the training of highly-qualified personnel.

During the review process, a pre-determined number of nominations from within each of the Evaluation Groups will be identified by NSERC. Potential recipients will:

• meet the objectives of the supplement program;
• have a well-established research program; and
• show strong potential to become international leaders in their respective area of research

The supplement is not meant for researchers who have already reached an international stature and who have funding that allows them to compete at such level.

Award

NSERC will award up to 100 Discovery Accelerator Supplements, of which a majority must come from one of the areas identified as a federal government priority, and that fall within NSERC’s mandate. Each supplement will have a total value of $120,000 and will normally be paid over three years. Under special circumstances, NSERC will consider profiling the supplement differently. Payments are made separately from the current Discovery Grant.

Reporting Requirements

Supplement holders are required to complete a Grants in Aid of Research, Statement of Account (Form 300) at the end of each fiscal year. Furthermore, they are required to submit a report at the end of the supplement period. The report must outline the following:

• the use of the supplement funds;
• the accomplishments reached with the supplement; and
• how the supplement allowed the researchers to accelerate the research program and maximize its impact on their research area.

Inquiries

For additional information, please contact the NSERC program officer responsible for the Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program.

Program Officer
Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program
Tel.: 613-944-6246
Fax: 613-992-9110
E-mail: resgrant@nserc-crsng.gc.ca