Strategic Projects Grants
Program
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
January 28, 2008
Tom Porter
Research Facilitator
966-1317
tom.porter@usask.ca
Prosperity and high quality of life for Canadians
Vision and
Mission
We invest in:
Science and Engineering
Research Canada
Competitive
research in science
and engineering,
providing access to
new knowledge from
around the world
Our goal is Canadian
excellence in:
We do this through
peer-reviewed
competitions
in three programs
innovation
discovery
CREATING
KNOWLEDGE
Research Grants
for basic research
in the universities
EXCELLENCE
people
Highly skilled, well
educated and capable of
lifelong learning
Productive use
of new
knowledge in all
sectors of the
economy and
society
WORKING IN ALL AREAS OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
USING NEW
KNOWLEDGE
Scholarships and fellowships for
undergraduate and postgraduate
students, postdoctoral fellows and
some university faculty
Partnerships of
universities with industry
and other sectors for
project research
Research Partnerships Programs (RPP)
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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)
Strategic Project Grants (SPG)
Objective
• Increase research and training in targeted
areas that could strongly influence Canada’s
economy, society and/or environment within
the next 10 years.
Anticipated Results
• 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
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 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
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
Supporting Organizations
• 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
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*
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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
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Detection Methods for Use in Whole Organisms
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Computational Tools for Real-Time Signal Processing and
Analysis
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Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
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Technologies for Independent Living and in-Home Care
Research Topics (continued)
Competitive Manufacturing and
Value-Added Products and Processes
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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
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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*
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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
Competition Timetable
• Applications due April 15
• Pre-selection process, if necessary
• External peer review – Summer
• Panel evaluation – September
• Results announced – October
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)
Selection Criteria
Originality of the Research
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The project must promise to generate new knowledge or
to apply existing knowledge in an innovative manner.
Quality of the Research
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The project must be scientifically sound and technically
feasible. It must fall within a specific target area.
Selection Criteria (continued)
Project Work Plan
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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 nonacademic partners to access scientific expertise and
specialized research equipment
Additional Resources
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 webpage
http://www.nserc.gc.ca/professors_e.asp?nav=profnav&lbi=b1
NSERC Instructions
http://www.nserc.gc.ca/forms/formtable2_e.htm
Research Services: 5 Parts of a Discovery Grant
http://www.usask.ca/research/files/index_alt.php?id=38