Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program – Frequently Asked Questions

General

1. What is the value of the Discovery Accelerator Supplements (DAS) Program?
   
   The supplements are valued at $120,000 each, normally paid over three years.
   
   
2. Who is eligible for a DAS?
   
   All Discovery Grant recipients who meet the objective of the DAS program are eligible.
   
   
3. Can a first-time applicant be eligible for a DAS?
   
   Yes. First-time applicants are eligible for the supplement if they meet the objective of the DAS Program.
   
   
4. Can a researcher be awarded more than one DAS during a career?
   
   Yes, but it is unlikely, although it is understood that a DAS holder could still meet the objective of the program later in a career.
   
   
5. Why not inject the funds directly into the Discovery Grants budget and let Evaluation Groups distribute them as they see fit?
   
   The recent evaluation of the Discovery Grants Program indicated that the program is successful in supporting a diversified base of research capability. However, because of the significant growth in the population of researchers and the resulting increased budgetary pressures, the program is not as successful in fostering research excellence in order that outstanding researchers might have the necessary resources to reach their full potential. The Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program is intended to help address this issue. In parallel to the supplements, NSERC will also discuss, with the Evaluation Groups, how to better foster excellence as part of the Discovery Grants process.
   
   
6. How many Discovery Accelerator Supplements will there be each year?
   
   NSERC will award up to 100 Discovery Accelerator Supplements annually, from which 50 must be in one of the areas identified as a federal government priority.
   
   
7. Is this a pilot initiative?
   
   No, this is an ongoing program supported by NSERC Council.

Process

8. How do I apply for a DAS?
   
   Researchers do not apply for a DAS. Rather, Discovery Grant recipients will be considered for a DAS during the annual Discovery Grants competition by their respective Evaluation Group.
   
   
9. Can applicants describe their need for a DAS in their Discovery Grant application?
   
   It is not necessary. The supplements will be awarded on the basis of the criteria for Discovery Grants, and Evaluation Groups already assess the potential for impact in every grant proposal. Applicants with established research programs that are considered by the Evaluation Group to have a very high potential for impact relative to other applicants will be more likely to be recommended for a DAS.
   
   
10. May I ask to have the duration of my Discovery Grant shortened in order to be recommended for a DAS sooner than the original duration of my grant would have permitted?
    
    Normally, no. However, universities, through their vice-president of Research, will be allowed to request a reduction in the duration of the Discovery Grant of a limited number of researchers from their institution, the ones they believe would best meet the objectives of the DAS Program. This reduction will allow those researchers to come back earlier in the Discovery Grants competition, and possibly be recommended for a DAS by the Evaluation Group. However, NSERC can neither guarantee that a supplement will be awarded, nor that the previous Discovery Grant level will be maintained.
    
    
11. Can recipients of Discovery Team Grants receive a DAS?
    
    Yes, team grant recipients are eligible for a DAS. As these grants support a collective research program, teams will be considered on the same basis as individual researchers. They will be awarded the same amount (i.e., $120,000 over three years).
    
    
12. How will DAS applicants be considered with respect to the Subatomic Physics envelope?
    
    Recipients of Discovery Grants awarded through the Subatomic Physics envelope will be eligible for supplements on the same basis as applicants to other Evaluation Groups. A process for considering researchers involved in Project Grants has been implemented and communicated to the community. For any inquiries regarding this process, please contact the Subatomic Physics group.
    
    
13. What are the selection criteria for the DAS Program?
    
    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. 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 that level.

14. Can a DAS bring the total amount of funding higher than what was requested in the Discovery Grant application?
    
    Yes. In such cases, supplement recipients will be asked to submit a revised budget corresponding to the possible new level of funding; that is, the sum of their new Discovery Grant and the supplement for which they are recommended.
    
    
15. What process is followed when recommending a researcher for a DAS?
    
    The peer review will be done in two steps: 1) Evaluation Groups will review the Discovery Grant applications in accordance with the usual selection criteria, and identify researchers according to the objective of the Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program; and 2) the applications identified by the Evaluation Groups will then be reviewed by one of the multidisciplinary DAS Selection Committees, which will make the final recommendations to NSERC. This second step will allow the selection committees to make cross-comparisons among nominations coming from different Evaluation Groups.
    
    
16. Who will serve on the DAS Selection Committees?
    
    Members of the DAS Selection Committees will be senior members of the research community, normally those with experience in NSERC peer review.
    
    
17. How many Discovery Accelerator Supplements Selection Committees will there be?
    
    The plan is to have two to four multidisciplinary selection committees.
    
    
18. How will the Discovery Accelerator Supplements be divided between the DAS Selection Committees?
    
    The supplements will be prorated based on the number of nominations that each committee will be required to review.
    
    
19. Will NSERC establish a quota of nominations by Evaluation Group?
    
    Yes. The quotas will be based on the number of applications assigned to each Evaluation Group every year, taking into account the proportion of applications falling in the areas that are directly related to the priorities of Canadians and that fall within NSERC's mandate. (see Question 6).

Post-competition

20. What types of expenditures are eligible under the DAS Program?
    
    Given that the supplements represent a sub-component of the Discovery Grants Program, the policies on the use of grant funds will remain the same as those for Discovery Grants (see the section “Use of Grant Funds” of the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide for more details).
    
    Note that “teaching relief” is not an eligible expense under the Discovery Grants Program.
    
    
21. Will my Discovery Grant duration be reduced to match that of the DAS?
    
    No. The Discovery Grant duration will remain as recommended by the Evaluation Group (normally five years), whereas the DAS will normally be profiled over three years.
    
    
22. What happens to my Discovery Grant level at the end of the term of the DAS?
    
    The supplement will be awarded separately from the Discovery Grant; it will not affect the current Discovery Grant. Review of the next Discovery Grant application will take into consideration that a DAS was received and the incremental value that it should have had on the research program.
    
    
23. Is there a reporting mechanism for DAS recipients?
    
    Supplement holders will be required to complete a Grants in Aid of Research, Statement of Account (Form 300) at the end of each fiscal year. Furthermore, they will be required to submit a report immediately at the end of the supplement period. The report must outline their accomplishments and the impact of the supplement on the progress of their research program in relation to the objectives of the supplements. More details will be provided at the time of award.
    
    
24. Is there an extension period at the end of the DAS period?
    
    NSERC expects that the supplements funds will be spent by the end of the award period. If not, a one-year extension will automatically be authorized to allow the grantees to use the funds that remain in their account beyond the funding expiry date of the supplement.
    
    
25. What is the process to get the DAS profiled over a different number of years?
    
    DAS recipients must contact NSERC, after the award has been made, should they wish to profile the supplement funds differently than over three years. Given that the objective of the supplement is to accelerate research, NSERC will normally agree to profile the funding over a shorter period (i.e., less than three years) to ensure that a significant funding boost can be provided. In certain exceptional circumstances, NSERC may agree to profile the supplement over a period longer than three years. In any case, a written justification must be provided. Note that the total amount of the supplement will remain at $120,000.
    
    
26. Will researchers be informed that they have been nominated for a DAS?
    
    Yes. Researchers who have been nominated for a supplement may be required to submit a revised budget before the DAS competition is held. Research Grants Offices will not be informed at the nomination stage.
    
    
27. May I appeal the decision if I am not selected for a DAS?
    
    No. Appeals will not be accepted from applicants to the Discovery Grant Program who were not recommended for a DAS, or from applicants who were recommended, but were unsuccessful.