CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
File number: (leave blank)
APPLICATION FORM PART A:
INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY AND PROPOSAL SUMMARY
The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (the Fund) application form for Competition 1 of the Fund consists of two
parts:
 Application Form Part A— Institutional Strategy and Proposal Summary
 Application Form Part B—Scientific Strategy
Completed applications must include one Part A and one or more parts B (one Part B for each scientific area of
focus). Each eligible institution can only submit one application.
The completed application form (parts A and B) must be uploaded in the Fund’s application portal by 9 p.m. (eastern),
March 2, 2015.
Institution:
Contact Person
Surname or Family Name:
Given Name or Initials:
Title/Position:
Telephone:
Email Address:
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Institutional Strategy
Title of institutional strategy
Proposal summary
Provide a 50-word summary describing the institution’s overall strategy, relative to the Fund, to achieve global
excellence and leadership in research, in areas of strategic relevance for Canada. This summary will be used in the
peer review process, as well as for publicity and program communications purposes.
Proposed Use of Funds—Institutional Strategy
Budget for implementation of the institutional strategy
Indicate the sources of funding, and how funds will be used, among the two categories of eligible expenses (direct and
indirect costs) for the implementation of the institutional strategy. (Funding requested for and allocated to each
scientific strategy must be outlined in Part B.) The amounts indicated in the table below should be rounded to the
nearest 10,000, and should correspond to the total planned expenditures over the duration of the grant. Please refer to
the Fund website for details on the eligible costs under each category of expense.
Include planned expenses to be incurred as of September 1, 2015. Include funding and contributions (one-time and
ongoing) committed and available as of September 1, 2015 (not retro-active). Other relevant contributions (one-time
and ongoing) committed and available prior to September 1, 2015 can be reflected in the attachments. Do not include
funds from NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, any tri-agency program or Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Institutional Strategy Budget Table (Part A): Direct Costs of Research
Funding
requested
from the
Fund
Category of
expense
Funding
from the
lead
institution
Funding
from eligible
partner
institutions
Secured contributions from
other sources
Cash
In-kind
Direct costs of research (if applicable)
Compensationrelated expenses
$
$
$
$
$
Recruitment and
relocation
$
$
$
$
$
Travel and
subsistence
$
$
$
$
$
Sabbatical/research
leave
$
$
$
$
$
Equipment and
supplies
$
$
$
$
$
Computers and
electronic
communications
$
$
$
$
$
Dissemination of
research results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Other direct cost
expense categories,
not eligible under
the Fund
$0
$
$
$
$
Subtotal (1)
$
$
$
$
$
Services and
miscellaneous
expenses
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Institutional Strategy Budget Table (Part A): Indirect Costs of Research
Funding
requested
from the
Fund
Category of
expense
Funding
from the
lead
institution
Funding
from eligible
partner
institutions
Secured contributions from
other sources
Cash
In-kind
Indirect costs of research (if applicable)
Research facilities
$
$
$
$
$
Research resources
$
$
$
$
$
Management and
administration of
research enterprise
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Intellectual property
$
$
$
$
$
Other indirect cost
expense categories,
not eligible under
the Fund
$0
$
$
$
$
Subtotal (2)
$
$
$
$
$
Regulatory
requirements and
accreditation
Total Part A: Direct and Indirect Costs of Research
Funding
requested
from the
Fund
Category of
expense
Total Part A
(Subtotals 1 + 2)
$
Funding
from the
lead
institution
$
Funding
from eligible
partner
institutions
$
Secured contributions from
other sources
Cash
$
In-kind
$
The total funding requested to cover the indirect costs of research cannot exceed 25 per cent of the total grant amount.
However, the funding requested to cover the indirect costs of research in any of Part A and Part/parts B can exceed 25
per cent of the total requested for that Part.
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Proposed Use of Funds—Scientific Strategy
Summary of proposed funding for scientific strategy/strategies
Indicate the sources of funding, and how funds will be used, for the duration of the grant, for each scientific strategy
included in the application (Part/parts B of application). The amounts indicated in the tables below should be rounded
to the nearest 10,000. Note that a separate Application Form Part B must be submitted for each of the titles listed
below.
Scientific strategy/strategies budget table
Funding requested
from the Fund
Part B
Title(s)
Total
Part/Parts B
Direct
costs of
research
Indirect
costs of
research
Funding
from the
lead
institution
Funding
from
eligible
partner
institutions
Funding from other
sources
Total
Cash
In-kind
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
The total funding requested to cover the indirect costs of research cannot exceed 25 per cent of the total grant amount.
However, the funding requested to cover the indirect costs of research in any of Part A and Part/parts B can exceed 25
per cent of the total requested for that Part.
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Budget Table—Total Grant Request
Total Funding Requested from Fund
Direct Costs of
Research
Indirect Costs of
Research **
Total Part A
$
$
$
Total Part/Parts B
$
$
$
(A) $
(B) $
(C=A+B) $
Total Grant Request *
Total
* If a Fund grant is awarded, the total budget will be disbursed to the institution in equal installments over the duration
of the grant (maximum seven years).
** The total funding requested to cover the indirect costs of research cannot exceed 25 per cent of the total grant
amount (i.e., in the table above, B can be up to 25 per cent of C.) However, the funding requested to cover the indirect
costs of research in any of Part A and Part/parts B can exceed 25 per cent of the total requested for that Part.
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Signature and Submission
If the lead institution proposes to transfer a portion of the grant amount to other Canadian postsecondary institutions
eligible under the Fund, either for implementation of the institutional strategy (Part A) or the scientific
strategy/strategies (Part B), the representative (president, rector or principal of the institution, or authorized
representative) for each institution must sign a separate signature page. All pages must be included in the application
package submitted by the lead institution.
On behalf of our institution,
, I confirm that the general conditions governing the Canada First Research
Excellence Fund, as outlined on the program’s website, are understood and hereby accepted by the institution involved
in this application.
It is agreed that the use and disclosure of information by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, as outlined on
the program website, are understood and hereby accepted by the institution.
I understand that maintaining public trust in the integrity of researchers and research administrators is fundamental to
building a knowledge-based society. By submitting an application to the Fund, or by accepting funding from the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, or Canadian
Institutes of Health Research, I affirm that I and all parties involved in this application have read and agree to respect
all the policies of these agencies that are relevant to the research activities proposed herein, including the Tri-Council
Policy Statement: Integrity in Research and Scholarship. In cases of serious breach of agency policy, the agency may
publicly disclose the names of the parties involved, the name of the institution(s) where they were or are currently
employed, and the nature of the breach. I accept this as a condition to applying for and receiving agency funding and I
consent to such disclosure.
_______________________________
Signature of institutional representative
Title (President, Rector or Principal of the institution,
or authorized representative)
Date:
dd/mm/yyyy
Please print, sign and mail the original of this signature page to the Chairs Secretariat at:
Chairs Secretariat
350 Albert Street, 16th Floor
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6G4
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Instructions for Completing Part A
1. Context
In Part A, institutions must present a formal overall institutional strategy, relative to the Fund. This strategy should
indicate how the institution plans to achieve the Fund`s ambitious objectives, in areas of strategic relevance for
Canada and in line with approved corporate strategic plans. Part A must describe in detail how the grant would be
used to achieve the institutional strategy’s stated objectives. It should also provide broad context and justification for
the strategic choice of area(s) of focus and the overall institutional direction toward a position of global excellence and
leadership in research.
Part A will be used in the adjudication process to assess the strategic and managerial aspects of the proposal.
Specifically, it will be used to assess elements related to selection criterion 3: Quality of implementation plan:
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the institution’s vision and willingness to commit internal resources towards supporting the proposed initiative;
demonstrated strength of the institution’s research culture and standards;
quality of the implementation and risk management plans; and
suitability of the institution’s performance measurement plan as a basis for monitoring progress and assessing
results.
The intended audience for Part A is generalists.
2. General content instructions
Part A must include:
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the form above, duly signed;
a maximum 12-page document that provides the details of the institutional strategy and proposal summary
(see instructions in section 3 below);
a budget justification (see section 4 below); and
letters of support from any partner who will play a role in the implementation of the overall institutional strategy,
if applicable.
All of the above must be uploaded in the Fund application portal by the application deadline (see section 5 below).
3. Institutional strategy and proposal summary
Page limit
This attachment must not exceed 12 pages. Any extra pages or materials other than those requested will be removed.
Graphs and illustrations may be included, but will count as part of the page total. Either single- or double-column
presentation of text, graphs and illustrations is acceptable.
Format
Information must be provided under the six headings provided under Headings below.
Presentation
The institution’s name must appear at the top of each page. Number all pages. Use 12-point or larger Times New
Roman font. Paper must be 8 ½” x 11” (21.5 cm x 28 cm). All page margins must be set at a minimum of ¾” (1.87 cm).
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Headings
 Vision and Commitment: A description of the institution’s vision, including the process by which this vision
was arrived at and adopted by the institution; and a statement indicating the institution’s willingness to commit
dedicated internal resources towards achieving the Fund’s objectives, as well as its willingness to support the
initiative(s);
 Research Culture and Research Standards: A description of the institution’s demonstrated strength in
research culture and research standards, and how it demonstrates best practices and global leadership as a
custodian of a research enterprise.
 Implementation Plan: A plan that:
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o outlines how the institution plans to use and allocate the grant funding and why;
o indicates the proposed governance, including accountabilities and the decision-making process
regarding the allocation of the grant, and the respective roles to be played by governing bodies, senior
management, management committees, partners, etc.; and
o includes a high-level outline of the scope of work and key activities, including a schedule with
milestones and dependencies, a definition of roles and responsibilities, a plan for tracking progress,
and expected outcomes and impacts.
Risks: A risk assessment and management plan outlining the major risks that could impact progress or the
achievement of the stated objectives of the initiative, as well as mitigation measures that will be put in place.
Equity: An equity plan outlining how career and training benefits derived from the opportunities associated
with the initiative will be made available to designated groups (women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people
and persons with disabilities). The equity plan should include performance measures, including indicators,
targets, and a monitoring and course-correction process.
Performance: A performance measurement plan, to be used as a basis for ongoing reporting, progressmonitoring and the evaluation of results during the midterm review. Performance plans should include
baseline data for each indicator tied to an expected outcome or impact, as well as targets to be achieved at
the various milestones of the strategy (at a minimum, targets should be identified for the midpoint and the end
of the grant). For each indicator, the source of the data should be provided. Performance plans should also
describe the processes used to monitor performance over the course of the grant and to make course
corrections as necessary. Performance measurement plans are expected to include performance indicators
and metrics in relation to factors such as:
o
o
o
o
o
evidence of global research excellence;
ability to attract and retain the best and brightest talent;
ability to mobilize knowledge for the benefit of society and the economy;
contributions to national strategic priorities; and
any other aspect that is relevant to the institutional strategy.
4. Budget justification
Page limit
This attachment should not exceed four pages. Graphs and tables are encouraged. In some exceptional cases (e.g., if
a large number of partners are involved), the Chairs Secretariat may accept longer budget justifications. Please contact
the Secretariat to verify appropriateness before submitting a longer justification section.
Format
Information should be presented in the same order as in the budget table.
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CANADA FIRST RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FUND (the Fund)
Presentation
The institution’s name must appear at the top of each page. Number all pages. Use 12-point or larger Times New
Roman font. Paper must be 8 ½” x 11” (21.5 cm x 28 cm). All page margins must be set at a minimum of ¾” (1.87 cm).
Content
Grant funding can be requested to support the implementation of the institutional strategy as a whole, separate from
and complementary to funding requested for implementation of the scientific strategy/strategies. Examples of
institutional strategy implementation activities include (but are not limited to) support for: co-ordination of the various
scientific strategies (if applicable); governance of the initiative; communications activities; and contributions towards an
international initiative that extends beyond the scope of one particular scientific strategy. It is not mandatory to
request grant funding for the implementation of the institutional strategy.
The budget justification should include the following (within page limit):
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Clarification concerning the timing of specific planned expenditures (e.g., if certain costs are expected to be
defrayed at the beginning of the grant only). The Secretariat recommends including a table summarizing the
planned expenditures on an annual basis.
Detailed descriptions of partners’ contributions (cash or in-kind), including the timing and duration of such
contributions. The Secretariat recommends including a table summarizing the annual planned contributions of
partners and other sources.
Clarification concerning whether internal resources to be committed are incremental to the current state.
If the lead institution plans to transfer a portion of the grant to other Canadian postsecondary institutions that
are eligible under the Fund, a clear outline of the timelines and the amounts to be transferred.
5. Submitting the application
The form and all attachments must be uploaded in the Canada First Research Excellence Fund application portal by 9
p.m. eastern, March 2, 2015. The Part A form (without instructions pages 8, 9 and10) and attachments (see section 2
above) must consist of a single integrated true PDF (i.e. searchable, not a scanned image) document entitled: Part AInstitution Name.
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