Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
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Summary of Changes – 2009-2010 Program Guide for Professors

  1. NSERC has revised the Program Guide for Professors. A summary of the most significant changes appears below.
  2. The Summary of Changes to the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide is also available.
Programs
CHRP – Collaborative Health Research Projects Program
Revision: March 1, 2010

For the upcoming 2011 competition, the CHRP program will be using NSERC’s on-line Form 182 for the submission of all Notifications of Intent (NOI).

Highlights for the 2011 competition:
  • All Notifications of Intent will be submitted electronically using NSERC’s on-line Form 182.
  • Co-applicants will not be required to provide electronic consent to their participation on the NOI application. However, co-applicants and collaborators need to be informed of the precise uses and disclosures of their personal information.
  • Research Grants Offices (RGO) will not need to approve NOIs prior to submission to NSERC. However, RGOs will have view-only access to the NOIs via the Institution Service.
  • The full application will be submitted electronically using NSERC’s on-line Application for a Grant (Form 101).
CREATE – Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program
Revision: June 9, 2009

In 2008, NSERC announced this new CREATE Program to encourage collaborative training approaches.

Important clarifications have been incorporated into the program description based on the questions asked about the first competition and the observations of the CREATE committee.
DG – Discovery Grants
Revision: July 15, 2009

Applications are reviewed by Evaluation Groups. We now refer to "group grants" as "team grants."
DG-NRS – DG-Northern Research Supplement
Revision: February 3, 2009

The program description clarifies the fact that, to be considered for this supplement, applicants must submit a separate Form 101, Discovery Grants – Northern Research Supplement and a Form 100, Personal Data Form for the applicant and each co-applicant.
EG – Engage Grants
Created: November 27, 2009

New grant supporting the total direct costs of research, capped at $25,000 over six months, aimed at resolving an identified company-specific problem involving an academic researcher and a Canadian company entering into a research partnership for the first time.
G8 Research Councils Initiative on Multilateral Research Funding
Created: February 5, 2010

This initiative is aimed at supporting excellent research on topics of global relevance which can best be tackled by a multinational approach. Funding should help researchers to cooperate in consortia consisting of at least three partners from three of the participating countries.
GEM – NSERC/ESS Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals
Created: August 31, 2009

NSERC, together with the Earth Sciences Sector (Natural Resources Canada), support research networks and projects that focus on one of the following six priority areas:
  • Field mapping in Arctic sedimentary basins
  • Mesozoic biostratigraphy
  • Indicator mineral methodologies
  • Diamond research
  • Quantative Geoscience integration
  • Hyperspectral sensing in northern mineral exploration
There is a two-stage application process. Please consult the appropriate program literature.
I2I – Idea to Innovation
Revision: November 25, 2009

NSERC is adding a new funding option to the Idea to Innovation (I2I) program: Market Assessment. Deadlines to submit applications are the same as regular I2I phases.

Phase Ib extensions are available to successfully completed Phase I projects. ILOs should contact their NSERC regional office for more information.
IG – Interaction Grants
Created: November 27, 2009

New grant supporting the creation of new contacts between academic researchers and Canadian companies seeking an opportunity to jointly identify and resolve a company-specific problem through a subsequent research partnership.
IPM – Intellectual Property Mobilization
Revision: March 9, 2009

The Intellectual Property Mobilization program will be discontinued as of Budget 2009. Current awards run until November 2009.
IRIACC – International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change
Created: November 5, 2009

NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR and IDRC launched a call for proposals under the Collaborative Initiative on the International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change.

Preliminary applications (LOIs) are due January 7, 2010.
MRS – Major Resources Support
Revision: March 23, 2009

Starting from fiscal year 2009-10, the Major Resources Support (MRS) program will only provide support to unique national or international (located in Canada) research resources.
RTI – Research Tools and Instruments
Revision: August 5, 2009

Categories 2 and 3 are only open for Subatomic Physics.

Applications for RTI – Category 1 Grants are reviewed by experts that are drawn from NSERC's Evaluation Groups. In the case of Subatomic Physics, all RTI Grant applications (Categories 1, 2, and 3) are reviewed by the Subatomic Physics Section.
SNG – Strategic Network Grants
Revision: December 11, 2009

Preliminary Applications are due May 1.

NSERC has created three categories of full applications. Please consult the program literature.
SNG-SC - Strategic Network Grants Supplemental Competition
Created: June 4, 2009

New one-time supplemental competition in Capture Fisheries.

No preliminary application is required. Applications are due September 1, 2009.
SPG – Strategic Projects Grants Program
Revision: February 2, 2010

There is a specific call for collaborative proposals with researchers in France or Taiwan.

Project management costs may now be included in the direct costs of research.
NSERC’s new Policy on Intellectual Property is now in effect.

Small clarifying changes have been made to some of the target areas.
Two new documents are now available from the program description:
  • a PowerPoint presentation on the Strategic Project Grants Program
  • Frequently Asked Questions on the Strategic Project Grants Program
SRO – Special Research Opportunity
Revision: March 10, 2009

As of Budget 2009, NSERC will continue to support research that is urgent and has a strong potential for breakthroughs through other programs. Existing funding commitments will be honoured, however, NSERC will not continue the Special Research Opportunity program.

This includes the SRO–CIAM – Special Research Opportunity Inter-American Collaboration in Materials Research.
SWP – Strategic Workshops Program
Revision: March 2, 2010

The SWP pilot has been extended until March 2011.

Workshops funded by the SWP are no longer required to be aligned with one of the seven Strategic Project Grants and Strategic Network Grants target areas.
Tri-Agency Partnership on Knowledge Syntheses on the Environment
Revision: July 15, 2009

NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR launched a second call for proposals under the Tri-Agency Partnership on Knowledge Syntheses on the Environment.

Advance registration is no longer required. October 1, 2009 is the application deadline.
Forms for Professors
Common changes to most forms
Revision: August 5, 2009

Electronic file attachments must be in PDF format. Instructions have been added to help researchers get the free software and convert their attachments into PDF.
Form 101 DG - Discovery Grant
Revision: August 5, 2009

All samples of research contributions are to be submitted electronically.

All references to submitting paper applications have been removed.

We now refer to "group grants" as "team grants."

Applicants are asked to suggest the most appropriate Evaluation Group to review their application.

Instructions were added to help applicants ensure the font size remains acceptable.
Form 101 MRS - Major Resources Support
Revision: August 5, 2009

All references to submitting paper applications have been removed.

Instructions were added to help applicants ensure the font size remains acceptable.
Form 101 RTI - Research Tools and Instruments
Revision: August 5, 2009

RTI Categories 2 and 3 are specific to Subatomic Physics. They are evaluated by the Subatomic Physics Section.

All references to submitting paper applications have been removed.

Instructions were added to help applicants ensure the font size remains acceptable.
Form 101 SRO – Special Research Opportunity
Revision: August 5, 2009

Form removed from the Web site. As of Budget 2009, NSERC will not continue the Special Research Opportunity program.
Form 102 CREATE - Collaborative Research and Training Experience Grant
Revision: June 9, 2009

Co-applicants outside natural sciences and engineering fields may provide a curriculum vitae (maximum five pages) in lieu of the Personal Data Form.

Only major collaborators are required to provide a curriculum vitae (maximum five pages).

Additional important clarifications have been incorporated into the forms instructions based on the questions asked about the first competition and the observations of the CREATE committee.
Form 180 DG – Notification of Intent to Apply
Revision: May 13, 2009

Grant Selection Committees are being replaced by Evaluation Groups. Henceforth, applicants are required to suggest the Evaluation Group most appropriate to review their research proposal.

We now refer to "group grants" as "team grants."
Form 181 MRS – Letter of Intent to Apply
Revision: May 13, 2009

NSERC may request an assessment of the full grant proposal from individual referees with relevant expertise. Consequently, applicants are asked to provide, in Form 181, the names and complete mailing address of five individuals who could provide an independent assessment of their application.

An additional attachment is permitted to request NSERC not to use specific researchers as referees.
Form 184 SRO – Letter of Intent to Apply
Revision: August 5, 2009

Form removed from the Web site. As of Budget 2009, NSERC will not continue the Special Research Opportunity program.
Policies and Guidelines
Applications in Interdisciplinary Research - Preparation and Review
Revision: July 17, 2009

Changes have been made to the document to reflect that Grant Selection Committees have been replaced with Evaluation Groups.
ATIP – Access to Information Act and Privacy Act
Revision: July 30, 2009

NSERC has made changes in the way some programs are now managing their information electronically. To protect your privacy, NSERC ensures that all information managed electronically is stored, handled and distributed in a secure manner at all times through electronic password-protected devices to prevent unauthorized access.
Contributions to Research and Training: Assessment
Revision: August 5, 2009

In assessing researchers' contributions to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP), selection committees and panels look to the Form 100 (Personal Data Form) to determine what was the applicant's role in the training of the different types of HQP.
Policy on Intellectual Property
Revision: June 11, 2009

The NSERC's Intellectual Property (IP) Policy has been revised.

In order to give participants time to adapt to the new policy, NSERC is introducing a six-month period of overlap from June 1 to November 30, 2009, during which research agreements that are submitted to NSERC may conform to either our previous IP Policy or the new policy.
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