Strategic Projects Grants Program

1
Strategic Projects GrantsProgram
Simon Fraser University March 5th, 2008
Sylvain Langlois Research Partnerships Programs
[phone] Sylvain.Langlois_at_nserc.ca
2
Outline

• Introduction
• Overview of the Research Partnerships Programs
  (RPP)
• Strategic Program
• Program requirements
• Target areas
• Evaluation process
• Statistics and typical grant

3
What We Do at NSERC
We invest more than 957 million every year in
people, discovery and innovation
4
People
NSERC supports about 12,000 science and
engineering students earning Masters and Ph.D.
degrees
5
Discovery
NSERC supports the research of more than 11,000
university college professors
6
Innovation
20 of NSERCs budget goes to funding
university-industry research partnerships
7
NSERC Budget 2007- 08(millions of dollars)
Total 957
8
Innovation Programs Budget 2006-07(millions of
dollars)
Total 193
1. Includes College and Community Innovation
Program (0.3M).
9
Making the Connection
10
Research Partnerships Programs (RPP)

• Strategic Partnerships Programs
• Strategic Project Grants (SPG)
• Strategic Networks Grants (SNG)
• Research Partnership Agreements (RPA)
• Strategic Workshops Program (SWP)
• Industry-Driven Programs
• Collaborative RD Grants (CRD)
• Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)
• Tech Transfer/ Commercialization Programs
• Idea to Innovation (I2I)
• Intellectual Property Mobilization Program (IPM)

11
Collaborative RD Grants (CRD)

• Main vehicle for Canadian firms to work with
  university researchers
• At any point in the RD spectrum
• Support well-defined, focused projects with
  specific short- to medium-term objectives, or
• Discrete phases in longer-range research programs
• Require signed research agreement between
  university and industrial partner

12
Collaborative RD Grants (CRD)

• 1 to 5 years duration, usually 2 to 3 years
• Average grant 55,000 per year
• Industry responsible for at least 1/2 costs
  must exploit results
• Flexible leverage cash and in-kind
• 80-85 success rate
• No fixed deadlines

13
Strategic Workshops Program

• Objective
• Bring together academic researchers with
  non-academic end users to create new
  partnerships.
• Priority given to targeted areas of research, but
  other areas not excluded.
• Address research and technology needs that are
  identified by the user community.
• Generate new collaborations that will lead to
  funding proposals.

14
Strategic Workshops Program

• Three-year pilot program
• 25,000 award value
• Funding available for 40 awards per year
• Awards support single or multiple events
• Intended for small, highly focused groups
  attendance not expected to exceed 20 participants
• Not for established partnerships

15
Idea to Innovation (I2I)

• I2I supports RD projects with recognized
  technology transfer potential
• Mature technology with a clear market opportunity
• The objective is to finalize the development of
  the technology to attract market support by
  early stage investors or Canadian Companies

16
Idea to Innovation (I2I) (Continued)

• Several entry points
• Phase I Researcher without a partner (Max
  125K, max. 12 months)
• Phase II Researcher with a partner
• Early stage investor (Max. 125K, 6-18
  months, NSERC pays 2/3)
• b) Company (Max. 350K over two years,
  NSERC pays 1/2)

17
Research Partnership Agreements (RPA)

• Maximizes research resources by building
  university-industry-government linkages
• Twice the amount of the industry's contribution
  from the program
• Flexible industry contribution both cash and
  in-kind
• Currently only one agreement with Department of
  National Defence (DND)
• 9 research priority areas within DND agreement
  (See NSERCs website)

18
New Media Initiative

• Joint program between CCA NSERC
• Funds collaborations between artists and
  scientists engineers
• Projects can last from 1 to 3 years (up to
  60,000 per year from CCA no limit on request
  from NSERC)
• Annual competition run in parallel with NSERCs
  Strategic Program

19
Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP)

• Supports focused collaborative research projects
  involving any field in NSE and the health
  sciences
• Four main objectives
• Interdisciplinary Research
• Translation
• Collaboration
• HQP training
• Annual competition with two stage process
• Letter of Intent due May 1
• Full application due October 1
• More info (See Website in For Professors,
  Grant Programs) http//www.nserc.gc.ca/professor
  s_e.asp?navprofnavlbia3

20
Strategic Project Grants (SPG)

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

21
Anticipated Results

• New knowledge/technology with strong potential to
  strengthen Canadas 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

22
Requirements

• 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 1 to 3 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
• In-kind contributions are required, but cash is
  not

23
Supporting Organizations

• Private sector
• Canadian-based companies with Canadian operations
  (RD 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
• NGOs
• Venture capitalists
• Hospitals, clinics
• Government research labs
• Foreign research institutions
• Implementation sites and potential customers.

24
Supporting Organizations (continued)

• A supporting organization must also
• Have a demonstrated interest in the project
  (letters of support, in-kind and/or financial
  support, etc.)
• Be involved at all stage of the research (Help to
  develop the proposal, interact with researchers
  and students, provide input to the project)
• Validate the results of the research
• Provide guidance concerning the exploitation of
  the results

25
Eligibility of Applicants

• Applicant and Co-applicants
• Must hold, or have a firm offer of, an academic
  appointment at an eligible Canadian university,
  for
• A tenured, tenure-track or life-time professor
  emeritus position or
• A term position of no less than three years
• College Faculty can be co-applicants (see NSERC
  Website for list of eligible colleges)
• Co-applicants outside NSE must meet NSERC
  eligibility requirements

New
26
Collaborators

• Members of the research team that are not
  eligible as applicants or co-applicants, e.g.
• government scientists
• company staff members
• research scientists from other countries

• Not eligible to hold NSERC grants
• Qualified to undertake research independently
• Expected to contribute to the overall
  intellectual direction of the research project
• Expected to bring their own resources

27
Collaborations
New

• 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

28
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

29
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

30
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 ST Strategy

31
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

32
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

33
Research Topics (continued)

• Healthy Environment and Ecosystems
• Ecosystem Adaptation, Interventions and Modeling
• Water Resources
• Waste Management and Site Remediation
• highlighted in national ST Strategy

34
Research Topics (continued)

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

35
Research Topics (continued)

• Safety and Security
• Risk and Vulnerability
• Resiliency of Systems
• Event Detection

36
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 ST Strategy

37
Guidelines for Applicants

• Applicants must
• Select a target area and a research topic from a
  list provided
• Explain in the Proposal module (under
  Introduction / one additional page is provided)
  
• why the proposed research is strategic and
• 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)

38
Competition Timetable

• Applications due April 15
• Pre-selection process, if necessary
• External peer review Summer
• Panel evaluation September
• Results announced October

39
Competition Statistics
40
Evaluation Process

• External referees
• Typically three per application
• Technical expertise to aid the committee
• Appendix C your suggestions
• Internal selection committee
• Proposal is assigned to three internal reviewers
• Discussion amongst the whole group

41
Evaluation Process (continued)

• Selection criteria
• Originality of the research
• Quality of the research
• Project work plan
• Quality of the applicants as researchers
• Training potential
• Interactions with the supporting organizations
• Benefits to Canada and the supporting
  organizations

Each criterion is of equal value
Projects must be strong in all 7 criteria to be
eligible for funding
42
Selection Criteria

• 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.

43
Selection Criteria (continued)

• 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.

44
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.

45
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.

46
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 scientists) are often members of the team

47
What do Teams Look Like ?
48
What do Teams Look Like ?

• Departments involved
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mechanical Engineering

49
Summary

• Target areas corresponding to the Federal ST
  strategys highlighted priorities have been
  expanded
• Advanced Communications and Management of
  Information
• Healthy Environment and Ecosystems
• Sustainable Energy Systems
• Applicants must explain why the proposed research
  is strategic and how it addresses the research
  topic
• Proposal must relate to the specific research
  topic description
• Insufficient information could result in the
  rejection of the proposal

New
50
Summary (Continued)

• Collaborations
• Collaboration with researchers outside the
  natural sciences and engineering can be included
  (up to 30)
• Incorporation of international collaborations
  into proposals is encouraged to incorporate
  international collaborations into their proposals
• 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)

New
51
Strategic Projects GrantsProgram
Comments and Tips Gathered from Committee Members
Simon Fraser University March 5th, 2008
Sylvain Langlois Research Partnerships Programs
[phone] Sylvain.Langlois_at_nserc.ca
52
Outline

• Benefits of the Strategic Program
• For Researchers
• For the Partners
• The Winning Proposal
• Evaluation Criteria and Tips

53
Why Participate in Research Partnerships
Programs?

• See the results of your research reach an
  application outside of the university
• Gain access to industry facilities, personnel,
  valuable advice
• Create student training opportunity, access to
  equipment and market knowledge
• Beneficial collaborations that result in
  industrial or economic benefits to Canada

54
Why the Strategic Projects Program?

• Significant financial support for up to three
  years for students, post-docs, consumables,
• Although there must be significant involvement
  from the partner, a cash contribution is not
  required

55
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

56
Whats in it for the Partners?

• Access to
• Team of researchers with expertise in a desired
  area to solve a problem
• Technology/idea of commercial interest
• Research facilities and infrastructure that the
  industry lacks
• Potential access to a source of highly qualified
  personnel
• Give companies a competitive edge in global
  markets

57
The Winning Proposal

• Get partners involved early on to help develop
  the project strategy
• Clear demonstration of the benefits to Canada and
  partner organization
• Multi-disciplinary research is a plus but not
  essential all participants must have a
  demonstrated role in the project!

58
The Winning Proposal (continued)

• FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!
• Make the proposal and Form 100 easy to read and
  digest use colleagues in non-related disciplines
  to proofread and evaluate
• Objective and work plan must be crystal clear
• If applying for a second or third time, pay
  careful attention to comments of reviewers.
  Address the issues and clearly state how the
  application has been changed!

59
Selection criteria

• Originality of the research
• Quality of the research
• Project work plan
• Quality of the applicants as researchers
• Training potential
• Interactions with the supporting organizations
• Benefits to Canada and the supporting
  organizations

60
Originality

• Novelty
• How the research relates to current state of
  knowledge
• Potential for developing new knowledge, products
  or processes
• Extent to which research will impact the field
• Potential for major scientific breakthrough

61
Quality of Research

• Focus and clarity of short- and long-term
  objectives
• Appropriate methodology
• Justification for approach based on existing
  knowledge
• Feasibility of research planned
• Does the research fit the Strategic Projects
  target areas?

62
Work Plan

• Clarity of project description
• Coherence of deliverables in work plan
• Probability of success within proposed time frame
• Availability of necessary equipment
• Roles and time commitment of research
  co-applicants (collaborative roles)
• Collaboration and communication plans
• Justification and need for funds
• Demonstrated management plan

63
Quality of Applicants

• Does the team (including company researchers, if
  applicable) have all the required expertise?
• Form 100 very important
• Recognition of researchers achievements and
  contributions
• Appropriateness of skill sets of individual
  researchers in the proposed areas
• Roles and time commitment of research
  co-applicants (collaborative roles)

64
Training Potential

• Who will do the work? Graduate, undergradsand
  co-op students technicians, post-docs and
  research associates
• Is the training relevant to the needs of Canadian
  organizations?
• Will the HQP have the opportunity to work in the
  non-academic partners facility?
• Workshops and training of industrial personnel at
  the applicants lab
• Track record of applicants in training HQP
• Suitability of the training environment

65
Interactions with Supporting Organization

• Is the supporting organization a good partner?
• Do the project objectives fit with the priorities
  of the non-academic partner? Remember that the
  partner organization will have to comment on the
  progress report midway through the project!
• How will the technology be transferred?
• Is the non-academic partner able to assimilate
  new technology?
• What is the degree of involvement of the
  non-academic partner in developing the proposal
  and throughout the project?
• What kind of a track record do the applicants
  have in transferring technologies?

66
Benefits to Canada and Partner(s)

• Delineate probable socio/economic/health benefits
  in a quantitative wayfar more convincing!
• Is there a potential benefit in creating
  significant public policy as a result of the
  research?
• Is there potential to increase the numbers and/or
  quality of personnel working in an area of
  strategic importance?

67
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

68
Strategic Projects GrantsProgram
The Application Process
Simon Fraser University March 5th, 2008
Sylvain Langlois Research Partnerships Programs
[phone] Sylvain.Langlois_at_nserc.ca
69
Application Process

• Application for a Grant (Form 101)Parts I and II
• Personal Data Forms (Form 100) CVs of
  collaborators
• Letter of support describing partners
  involvement in the project (see instructions for
  specific items to be addressed)
• Form 183A (partners information and
  contributions)
• Company profile

70
Signs of a good proposal

• All sections are clear and well described
• Clear summary, proposal easy to read
• Roles well defined (students, applicants )
• Benefits to Canada clearly demonstrated
• Guidelines followed requirements addressed
• Strong partner(s)
• Involvement from the start
• Clear expectations (including IP)
• Good communication
• On-going interaction

71
How to

• Get program descriptions
• Go to www.nserc.gc.ca
• Select For Professors in the left margin
• Select Partnership Programs from the list of
  programs
• Select the RPP program you are interested in

72
How to

• Get Forms and Instructions
• Go to www.nserc.gc.ca
• Select On-line Services from the top menu
• Scroll down and click on PDF Forms
  Instructions
• Select the instructions or form you need from the
  pull down menus in the appropriate section
• 101 - Strategic Project (SPG) (For professors
  section)
• 183A Orgs. Info for RPP (For Industry
  section)

73
Whats in the Instructions?

• Form 101 instruction sheet includes
• Form filling instructions and checklist
• Seven evaluation criteria and how they are
  evaluated
• Guidelines on external referee suggestions

74
On-line Applications

• Available for most Research Partnerships Programs
• F183A (Information Required from Organizations
  Participating in RPP)
• Must be linked electronically to the proposal
• Can be filled electronically by the Applicant on
  behalf of the Supporting Organization
• Helpdesk
• Telephone [phone]
• E-mail webapp_at_nserc.ca
• APPLICATION DEADLINE April 15

75
Comments /Questions??
Contacts
NSERC-RPP Sylvain Langlois, Program
Officer Telephone [phone] Email
Sylvain.Langlois_at_nserc.ca Website
www.nserc.gc.ca
NSERC-Pacific Pam Giberson, Research and
Innovation Development Officer Telephone (604)
666-8814 Email Pam.Giberson_at_nserc.ca Website
www.nserc.gc.ca/about/intro_e.asp