National Science Foundation
Call for proposals: Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF)

Important: The US Principal Investigator (PI) for your partnership is responsible for submitting the complete application package (including the research proposal) to NSF, following their instructions.

Canadian researchers involved in a DMREF project must be identified in the NSF application.

To be a Canadian applicant or co-applicant on a DMREF application, you must be working in a research area supported by NSERC and meet NSERC’s eligibility requirements at the time of application.

As the Canadian applicant, you must submit a simplified application package to NSERC, and on behalf of any additional Canadian co-applicant if applicable, at the same time that the US PI submits the full application to NSF.

Deadline

NSERC: You must submit your application via NSERC’s online system using the NSERC-DMREF application template. Applications must be received by NSERC by February 4, 2025, 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Important: Institutions may have an earlier deadline. Applicants should contact their research grants office for that internal deadline.

Every Canadian research team member participating in the DMREF grant application (the applicant and all co-applicants) must create an account in the NSERC online system if they do not already have one. The applicant and all co-applicants must create and submit a personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) with the application. For more information, please refer to the instructions for completing a personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) or the NSERC Frequently asked questions page.

As the applicant, you are responsible for providing the following documents and information to NSERC via the online system by the application deadline:

• A completed form 101 (application for a grant) containing a summary of your proposed research and keywords.
• List your NSF PI as a collaborator on form 101. You do not need to include a biosketch for the NSF PI and co-PIs.
• The Canadian simplified proposal template (available here) includes:
  • Title of the proposal submitted to NSF
  • Name of the US PI
  • Names and affiliations of collaborators and/or partners on the Canadian team from the private sector, if applicable
  • A discussion on the relevance and expected outcomes; the benefit to Canada and the roles and responsibilities of the Canadian team in the DMREF project; the Canadian training plan; and the concrete innovative measures supporting equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan
• If applicable, the Impact assessment form (Appendix A) must be completed and uploaded to the Impact assessment section of your application.
• Attestation forms from each researcher with a named role if your application aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA)
• A Risk Assessment Form must be completed as part of the Partnerships module in the application, if applicable.
• A budget (in Canadian dollars) and accompanying justification for the funds you are requesting from NSERC. Budgets must identify expenses related to non-NSE activities if applicable.
• A completed and up-to-date personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) for yourself and all Canadian co-applicants; college faculty may submit a CCI format CV.
• Do not include a copy of the proposal your US collaborator submitted to the NSF. NSERC will be given access to that proposal by the NSF.

Instructions for submitting the above-mentioned documents and information to NSERC on behalf of the Canadian research team:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system and select Create a new form 101.
• Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants.
• For the Proposal type field, select Letter of Intent.
• For the Type of call field, select NSF-DMREF from the drop-down menu.

By submitting an application, you, your co-applicants and your partners (when applicable) agree to the NSERC Terms and conditions of applying for applicants and the NSERC Terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations.

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 Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you provide is stored in a series of NSERC data banks as described on the Information about programs and information holdings page. You must ensure that others listed on the application have agreed to be included.

If you submit a proposal under this call, you agree that information in your proposal may be shared between NSERC and the NSF for purposes consistent with the program objectives. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are aware of the NSF rules concerning the disclosure of information in the proposal. Participants should also ensure they are aware of the policies surrounding NSF programs and post-award policies.

Research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities

NSERC is committed to supporting Indigenous research. NSERC defines Indigenous research as research in any field or discipline related to the natural sciences and engineering that is conducted by, grounded in, or meaningfully engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

We encourage you to consider the relevant concepts, principles and protocols for any research involving Indigenous People and communities, which are outlined in the following documents:

• The Tri-agency’s strategic plan, Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada, identifies strategic directions guided by the following key principles of self-determination, decolonization of research, accountability and equitable access.
• Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2) - Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada
• SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research
• Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act