This document applies specifically to concurrent calls for joint research projects established by Memoranda of Understanding and must be read in conjunction with the description and instructions for NSERC Strategic Partnership Grants for Projects (SPG‑P).
Concurrent calls for joint research projects with international granting agencies are part of NSERC’s international strategy to increase scientific collaboration between Canada and other countries. Where priorities and programs align, NSERC may sign Memoranda of Understanding to establish mechanisms for joint funding of collaborative research and innovation projects conducted by teams from both countries. Such activities will strengthen the collaboration between the countries’ research and innovation communities to achieve world-class scientific and technical results, leading toward new innovative technologies.
NSERC has introduced a mandatory letter of intent for SPG-P proposals. Letters of intent must be submitted by February 1. SPG-P full applications must be submitted by June 7. Counterpart proposals must be submitted by their agencies’ schemes and deadlines—refer to the table below.
Granting Organization, Country | |
---|---|
Program | Priority Areas* |
Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR), France (Deadline for full proposals: End of March, 2018) |
|
Generic Call for Proposals | Advanced Manufacturing Environment and Agriculture Information and Communications Technologies Natural Resources and Energy |
Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Taiwan (Deadline: June 7, 2018) | |
Global Partnership Programs | Advanced Manufacturing Environment and Agriculture Information and Communications Technologies Natural Resources and Energy |
*These priority areas reflect the titles of specific target areas or research topics within NSERC’s SPG‑P. The priority areas may have slightly different names in other countries.
The international agency will fund its scientists, and NSERC will fund Canadian researchers, each according to its own regulations and practices.
A joint project will be supported if it is positively reviewed by both NSERC and the corresponding international agency. The number of joint projects selected for funding and the total amount awarded will strongly depend on the number and quality of projects submitted. The agencies expect balanced scientific contributions and cooperation in joint projects. The proposal must demonstrate a strong synergy among the teams from each country and a true integration of the work.
Unless otherwise indicated, two separate (but linked) proposals constitute the joint research project—one to be submitted to NSERC for a SPG‑P, and the other to be submitted to the designated program at its counterpart agency. Each application must follow the respective application guidelines and eligibility rules. The proposals must be linked through common information provided in each proposal and must clearly reflect the contributions of the international partners. A proposed joint project submitted to only one agency is not eligible.
Canadian applications must meet all the requirements of the SPG-P including:
Canadian applicants must submit a letter of intent. The letter of intent must clearly indicate that the proposed research will be conducted in collaboration with international researchers. The appropriate prefix (ANR or MOST) must be added to the title. In a cover letter, provide the name and institution of the collaborating principal investigator. Refer to the instructions for completing an SPG-P letter of intent. Applicants who submit letters of intent for an international joint research project will be automatically invited to submit full applications provided that all requirements for an SPG-P grant are met.
Applications to each agency must include at least the following information, as appropriate within the total page limits (some information requirements may overlap with standard requirements):
NSERC will allow up to three additional pages above the 11-page limit for SPG-P applications.
The evaluation process does not involve joint review; each agency independently evaluates proposals through its respective peer review processes and evaluation criteria. Representatives of both agencies will compare their respective evaluations of joint proposals to identify awards and reach consensus on joint projects to be funded on the basis of scientific evaluation, national rankings, value-added and balance of the collaboration. Applicants presenting proposals in response to this announcement should take note that NSERC reserves the right to share information in their application and/or in external referee reports of their application with representatives of the international agency. Presentation of a joint application will imply acceptance that information in proposals may be shared among the agencies, as appropriate. It is the responsibility of the Principle Investigator to ensure that all co-applicants, partners and collaborators are aware of these precise uses and disclosures of the personal and scientific information contained in the proposal. Please note that applications submitted to NSERC contain personal information and may contain confidential technical information and, therefore, are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act (ATIP), and other related federal information policies and regulations. Information on these laws and policies are available on request.
NSERC and the international agencies have collaborated in the development of their respective Calls to help ensure compatible time lines and criteria for the parallel application and review processes, as well as the announcement of results. It is expected that awards will be confirmed by early October.
The project participants should enter into a Collaboration Agreement to specify how Intellectual Property Rights will be handled. According to their normal procedures, granting agencies may withhold funds until a Collaboration Agreement is in place.
The progress report required by NSERC during the second year of funded projects will be a common progress report submitted to both NSERC and the international agency by the respective national PIs.
For more information, contact SPG_international@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.