NSERC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMInformation Session & Discussion Forum

R AQ U E L D E S O U Z A, N S E R E S E A R C H D E V E L O P M E N T O F F I C E R , S P A R C & A P S CJ O AN N E M O S Z Y N S K I , N S E R E S E A R C H D E V E L O P M E N T M A N A G E R , S P A R C & A P S CP R O F . T I M S AL C U D E A N , S C I E N C E S & E N G I N E E R I N G R E S E A R C H A D V I S O R , V P R I

2

AGENDA

• Program framework• Program transitions• SPARC support• Discussion forum

3

PROGRAM FRAMEWORK

4

OVERVIEW In response to the 2018 Federal Budget, NSERC is consolidating 6 of its partnerships programs:

The new program is expected to be in place by Spring 2019 (TBC by NSERC).

Connect Engage

CRD(Collaborative Research & Development Grants)

IRC(Industrial Research Chairs)

SPG-P and N(Strategic Partnerships Grants for Projects & Networks)

Experience

Research Partnerships

Program

5

OVERVIEW

• The new program will support a wide array of projects, from new, short-tem, one-on-one collaborations, to larger, multi-stakeholder research teams.

• Eligible partners include those from the private sector, non-profit organizations, government, multinationals with a Canadian presence, and foreign companies.

• Incentives for partnerships with SMEs*, industrial value chains, multi-sectoral partnerships.

• Risk-based approach to funding decisions, with a 4-16-week turnaround time.• Applications can be submitted at any time.

The current Program Framework can be accessed through this link. Feedback may be sent directly to NSERC before January 2nd.

*SMEs = small to medium enterprises

6

APPLICATION PROCESS & FUNDING DECISIONS

• Apply at any time throughout the year.• Risk-based assessment of applications.

Ris

k Le

vel

Evaluated by NSERC

Evaluated by external referees Funding decision within 16 weeks

Funding decision within 4 weeks

7

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”

8

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

“CRD-like”

In all cases, in-kind contributions

will not be matched monetarily

“Engage- & Strategic-like”

9

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

SMEs

Industrial value chains

Multi-sectoral partners

All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations

“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”

10

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

SMEs

Industrial value chains

Multi-sectoral partners

All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations

$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs

$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs

$20K - $200K/yr1-5 yrs

“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”

11

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

SMEs

Industrial value chains

Multi-sectoral partners

All partner sizes/types>500 employee organizations

2/3 of total budget 1/3 of total budget

$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs

$20K - $1M/yr1-5 yrs

$20K - $200K/yr1-5 yrs

“CRD-like” “Engage- & Strategic-like”

12

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

Applications/year:

No limit

“CRD-like”

Applications/year:

No limit

Applications/year:

2 for non-academic partners

2 for applicants:1 as PI

1 as co-applicant

“Engage- & Strategic-like”

13

CASH MATCHING – BASED ON PARTNERS & TYPE OF RESEARCH

50% from NSERC(1:1 match)

66% from NSERC(2:1 match)

90-100% from NSERC

“CRD-like”

Projects…

must include ≥1 partner eligible for cost sharing

that include any private sector partners require a 10% cash contribution from the combination of partners

that include exclusively non-profit and public partners can be supported by NSERC at 100%

“Engage- & Strategic-like”

14

ELIGIBLE PARTNERS

Private sector

Considered in cash-matching Not considered in cash-matching

• Canadian private companies• Multinationals w/ Canadian presence• Foreign companies

(but not as sole partners)

• Venture capital / Angel investors / Seed funds

• Holding companies• Companies with

<2 full-time employees

15

ELIGIBLE PARTNERS

Public sector

Considered in cost-sharing Not considered in cost-sharing

• Municipalities and local/regional governments (established by/under provincial/territorial statute)

• Provincial/territorial government departments*

• Federal government departments• Indigenous communities*• Public utilities• Crown corporations

• Organizations whose primary mission is to fund/perform R&D and are funded/controlled by government

• Foreign governments

*Excluding funding agencies

16

ELIGIBLE PARTNERS

Non-profit sector

Considered in cost-sharing Not considered in cost-sharing

• Producer groups• Industrial associations• Registered charities that have a

mandate to carry out and apply NSE research

• Museums and libraries• Indigenous groups• Community groups

• Organizations whose primary mission is to fund/perform R&D and are funded/controlled by government

• Universities• Incubators/accelerators• Foreign non-profits• Other registered charities• Hospitals and medical/clinical

research institutes

17

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Shorter projects can be scaled up or extended within a 5-year period using a simplified application process.

• Eligible expenses: HQP training, knowledge mobilization, tech transfer activities, connection-development activities to expand research collaborations.

• Non-eligible expenses: Compensation to applicants, co-applicants and collaborators on the grant (e.g., chair holder salaries) An IRC-like program will not exist.

• Joint funding opportunities will exist between NSERC and other funding agencies / international governments.

18

STRONG PROPOSALS WILL:

• Be clear on research objectives, suitability and feasibility of methodology, appropriateness of team expertise and leadership.

• Show the synergistic added value between academics and partners.• Essentiality of partner contributions to research.• Acceleration of knowledge mobilization and utilization.

• Emphasize research outcomes, their relevance, and likelihood they will be used and lead to impact for partners and Canada.

• Show opportunities for enriched HQP training experiences.• Emphasize EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) throughout the application.

Please refer to the Framework’s Appendix (page 9) for full Evaluation Criteria.

19

PROGRAM TRANSITIONS

20

• Collaborative Research & Development (CRD) and Engage• NSERC will continue to accept applications until the new program is in place

• Connect• Apply by January 18th 8pm EST for events/travel occurring by March 31st

• Experience• Applications will be accepted for awards starting prior to January 14th

• Applications must be submitted by 8pm two months after the proposed start date

• Strategic Partnership Grants (SPG-P and SPG-N)• No further SPG-P and SPG-N competitions will be held• SPG-N applications invited in July 2018 to apply for the full competition

will not be affected.

In all cases, previously awarded grants will not be affected.

21

• Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)• Due February 1st:

• New IRC applications• Renewals for IRCs ending in April/May/June of fiscal year 2019-20

• After February 1st, NSERC will accept: • First-to-second term renewal applications for IRCs whose current first term ends

in fiscal year 2019-20• New applications for external candidates who have been hired, or are in the process of

being hired, with the specific objective of being nominated as NSERC IRC candidatesDue February 1st: 1. NOI from the university2. 2-page summary of research program3. Form 100 or free-form CV4. Candidate’s consent5. Hiring offer & acceptance, or demonstration that the process is at advanced stages Due September 2nd or by 1 year post-hiring, whichever comes first:1. Full application (by invitation).

22

SPARC SUPPORT

23

SPARC'S PROACTIVE APPROACH

Before the new Program is in place:• Information sessions, with NSERC involvement whenever possible• Relaying of up-to-date information to researchers as it becomes available• Proactively liaising with NSERC representatives

Once the new Program is in place:• Implementation of a support process that will include:

• Workshops• Resources (e.g. Playbook, partnership resources, templates)• Strategic consultations• Full application reviews

• Initially, review requests will be accepted at any time, with a turnaround time of 2 weeks• Depending on demand, SPARC may implement multiple intakes for reviews

24

UPCOMING GRANTS – EARLY 2019

New Frontiers in Research Fund• For early-career researchers (up to 5 years since 1st academic appointment)• Up to $125,000 per year, up to 2 years – ‘high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research• LOI due January 11th, full application due February 7th

• TIPS will hold webinars in the upcoming weeks – see program updates page

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund (IF)• Large-scale (potentially multi-million $ request), team infrastructure grant• Expected to be announced in early 2019, full application potentially due Fall 2019• UBC internal deadlines: EOI January 11th, internal proposal March 1st – see IPO website

for details (CWL required)

25

UBC FEEDBACK PROVIDED TO NSERC

26

UBC FEEDBACK PROVIDED TO NSERC

Ask ResultAllow for applications without matching (i.e. Strategic grants)

90% cash provided by NSERC for industry partnerships

Show more flexibility in Engage-like grants (was 1x/lifetime)

Applications allowed 1x/yr as PI, 1x/yr as co-PI. Would prefer 2, regardless of type. Partner limit (2x/yr) may pose issues.

Academic involvement in the review process None

Allow for foreign partnerships No change

IRC query None

27

DISCUSSION FORUM

• What do you like about the new program? • What concerns you about the new program?• What would you change if you could? • What else would you like to pass on to NSERC?