Strategic Projects GrantsProgram

Tom PorterResearch Facilitator

966-1317tom.porter@usask.ca

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWANJanuary 28, 2008

We invest in:We invest in:

USING NEW KNOWLEDGE

Partnerships of universities with industry and other sectors for project research

WORKING IN ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and some university faculty

Our goal is Canadianexcellence in:

Our goal is Canadianexcellence in: CREATING

KNOWLEDGE

Research Grants for basic research in the universities

We do this throughpeer-reviewedcompetitions

in three programs

Vision andMission

Productive use of new knowledge in all sectors of the economy and society

Competitive research in science and engineering, providing access to new knowledge from around the world Highly skilled, well

educated and capable of lifelong learning

innovationdiscovery

people

EXCELLENCE

Prosperity and high quality of life for Canadians

Science and EngineeringResearch Canada

Research Partnerships Programs (RPP)

• Strategic Project Grants (SPG)

• Collaborative R&D Grants (CRD)

• Idea to Innovation (I2I)

• Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)

• Research Partnership Agreements (RPA)

• Strategic Networks Grants (SNG)

• Intellectual Property Mobilization Program (IPM)

• Strategic Workshops Program (SWP)

Objective

• Increase research and training in targeted areas that could strongly influence Canada’s economy, society and/or environment within the next 10 years.

Strategic Project Grants (SPG)

• New knowledge/technology with strong potential to strengthen Canada’s industrial base, generate wealth, create employment and/or influence Canadian public policy

• Highly qualified personnel trained in the identified target areas

• Increased participation of companies and/or government organizations in academic research

• Knowledge/technology and expertise transferred to Canadian-based organizations that are well positioned to apply the results for economic gain or to government organizations to strengthen public policy

Anticipated Results

• The research must fall within one of the target areas identified for support

• The project must be well defined in duration, objectives and scope; duration may be from one to three years

• One or more supporting organizations that can apply the results must collaborate in the project

• Supporting organization must be actively involved in all stages of the project. Therefore, in-kind contributions are required, but cash is not

Requirements

Collaborations

Outside NSE – applicants are encouraged to collaborate with experts outside the natural sciences and engineering, where appropriate, up to 30% of the project costs

International – applicants are encouraged to incorporate international collaborations into their proposals

• Canadian-based companies that can apply the research results in a way that generate wealth or employment (organizations without Canadian R&D or manufacturing operations will not be considered), or government organizations that can apply the results in a way that strengthens public policy

• Interact regularly with the academic researchers, students and other research personnel and provide input on the project

• Validate the results of the research and/or provide guidance concerning the exploitation of the results

Supporting Organizations

Seven Target Areas

•Advanced Communications and Management of Information

•Biomedical Technologies

•Competitive Manufacturing and Value-Added Products and Processes

•Healthy Environment and Ecosystems

•Quality Foods and Novel Bioproducts

•Safety and Security

•Sustainable Energy Systems

Focused Research

• 3-8 priority research topics identified within each target area (80%)

• Exceptional opportunities outside the research topics but within the target area (up to 20%)

• Research outside the 7 priority target areas will not be considered for funding

Research Topics

Advanced Communications and Management of Information*

• Network-Intensive Applications

• Ubiquitous Networks• Management of Information in a Networked Environment• Adaptive/Cognitive Networks• Advanced Materials, Devices and Supporting Tools• Software and Computing Systems

*highlighted in national S&T Strategy

Research Topics (continued)

Biomedical Technologies

• Detection Methods for Use in Whole Organisms

• Computational Tools for Real-Time Signal Processing and Analysis

• Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

• Technologies for Independent Living and in-Home Care

Research Topics (continued)

Competitive Manufacturing and Value-Added Products and Processes

• Value-Added Wood Products

• Near-Net-Shape Processes

• Process Models and Integrated Production Models

• Functional Materials

• Lightweight Materials for Transportation

Research Topics (continued)

Healthy Environment and Ecosystems*

• Ecosystem Adaptation, Interventions and Modeling• Water Resources• Waste Management and Site Remediation

*highlighted in national S&T Strategy

Research Topics (continued)

Quality Foods and Novel Bioproducts

• Food Quality and Safety• Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals• Novel Bioproducts• Aquaculture

Research Topics (continued)

Safety and Security

• Risk and Vulnerability• Resiliency of Systems• Event Detection

Research Topics (continued)

Sustainable Energy Systems*• Integrated Systems Approach to Electrical Power Grids

• Energy Storage

• Fuel Cells and Clean Transportation Systems

• Biomass Conversion and Co-product Optimization

• Systems Engineering Approach to the Extraction, Conversion and Utilization of Fossil Fuels

• Clean Coal and Carbon Capture and Storage

• Low Emission Industrial Systems

• Other Renewable Energy Sources*highlighted in national S&T Strategy

Guidelines for Applicants

Applicants must:• Select a target area and a research topic from

a list provided

• Explain in Proposal module (under ‘Introduction’ / one additional page is provided) : (1) why the proposed research is strategic; and (2) how it addresses the research topic selected

• Provide a compelling case for consideration if the research falls outside the research topics but within the target areas listed (“Exceptional Opportunity outside the Research Topics”)

Typical Strategic Project Grant

• Average grant: $130,000/year for three years

• Often involves several team members, from the same or different institutions Some grants with single applicant Collaborators (researchers from the supporting

organization, government scientist, foreign research scientist) may be members of the team

Characteristics of Strategic Projects

• Specific objectives within a specific timeline (deliverables)

• Criteria are similar to Discovery Grants but projects must also be considered to be STRATEGIC (benefits to Canada and non-academic partners) in nature, e.g. HQP, scientific excellence, originality, quality of applicant(s), well-written and logical work plan

• Applicants must have a planned strategy for interaction with non-academic partners

• Applications due April 15

• Pre-selection process, if necessary

• External peer review – Summer

• Panel evaluation – September

• Results announced – October

Competition Timetable

Application Process

• Application for a Grant (Form 101)Parts I and II

• Personal Data Forms (Form 100) + CVs of collaborators

• Company profile

• Form 183A (partner’s information and contributions)

• Letter of support describing partner’s involvement in the project (see instructions for specific items to be addressed)

Originality of the Research

• The project must promise to generate new knowledge or to apply existing knowledge in an innovative manner.

Quality of the Research

• The project must be scientifically sound and technically feasible. It must fall within a specific target area.

Selection Criteria

Project Work Plan

• The project must have a clear and coherent work plan that demonstrates a high probability of achieving the objectives in the proposed time frame.

Quality of the Applicants as Researchers

• The research team must have all the expertise to address the defined objectives competently and to complete the project successfully.

Selection Criteria (continued)

Training Potential

• The project must provide opportunities to train students and other highly qualified personnel with skills relevant to the needs of Canadian organizations.

Interactions with Supporting Organizations

• The supporting organizations must have the capacity to apply the results of the research and must be actively involved in all stages of the project.

Selection Criteria (continued)

Benefits to Canada and Supporting Organizations

• The proposal must identify how the work will benefit the supporting organization and must demonstrate that exploitation of the research results will benefit Canada within a 10-year time frame.

Selection Criteria (continued)

Supporting Organizations

Private sector• Canadian-based companies with Canadian operations

(R&D or manufacturing) that can apply the research results for economic gain

Non-academic public sector• Canadian government organizations that can apply the

research results to strengthen policies

Do not qualify as supporting organizations:• NGO’s, venture capitalists, government research labs,

foreign research institutions, implementation sites, potential customers.

Summary

• New target areas with specific research topics Funding for proposals in the research area, but outside

the research topics is limited to 20% of the budget allocated to the area

Applicants must explain why the proposed research is strategic and how it addresses the research topic

• Supporting Organizations Active involvement is essential Government fulfilling the Supporting Organization

requirement: Proposal must clearly show how the project relates to their public policy responsibility (i.e. applying the results to strengthen public policy)

Conclusion

• Strategic grants fund projects, not programs

• They provide an opportunity for university researchers to carry out innovative science and engineering work with potential for commercialization

• They provide a unique opportunity to introduce students to potential employers and an opportunity for non-academic partners to access scientific expertise and specialized research equipment

Contact: Tom Porter, Research Facilitator 966-1317, tom.porter@usask.ca Cristina Holguin-Pando, Grants Officer 966-2207, cristina.hoguin-pando@usask.ca

NSERC SGP webpagehttp://www.nserc.gc.ca/professors_e.asp?nav=profnav&lbi=b1

NSERC Instructionshttp://www.nserc.gc.ca/forms/formtable2_e.htm

Research Services: 5 Parts of a Discovery Granthttp://www.usask.ca/research/files/index_alt.php?id=38

Additional Resources