Applicants must adhere to submission instructions listed below and the limit of application form pages.
Additional information and material attached to the submission will be removed from the application.
FORM PAGES
Application Information
The applicant and each co-applicant must complete the form, providing the requested information.
Application Details
Provide a title for the project.
Indicate the proposed date for submission of an external grant application. Recipients of a Partnership Seed Grant are
expected to apply for a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant or SSHRC Partnership Grant within one year after
completing the Partnership Seed Grant.
Provide a summary of the budget using the categories provided and then calculate the total budget. A maximum of
$5,000 may be requested. Note that conference-related expenses are ineligible, although if research collaboration
meetings are planned pre- or post-conference for convenience these travel costs are acceptable with justification; see
Appendix: Use of Funds for details on eligible expenses. A Budget Justification attachment as described below is also
required.
Indicate whether human subjects, animal subjects, or biohazardous materials will be used in the project, and whether
the required certifications or permits are available or will follow if the project is awarded. If relevant certifications or
permits are available, attach them to the application.
Project Summary (maximum 1/2 page)
Provide a summary of your proposal written in clear, plain language. It should be written in non-technical terms and be
clearly understood by a range of audiences with varied areas of expertise. Clearly indicate the following:
 the challenges or issues to be addressed through the proposed partnership;
 the overall goal of the proposed partnership and specific objectives for realizing that partnership; and
 the breadth of the partnership, and the meaningful engagement of the partner organizations involved.
If funded, this summary may be published by the University or otherwise made publicly available.
Expected Outcomes (maximum 1/2 page)
Explain the specific expected outcomes with respect to the development of a partnership suitable for either a SSHRC
Partnership Grant or a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant. The objectives of these programs are to:
 develop research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities, including knowledge
mobilization and the meaningful involvement of students and new scholars, by fostering new partnerships for
research and related activities involving existing and/or potential partners; or

design and test new partnership approaches for research and/or related activities that may result in best
practices or models that either can be adapted by others or have the potential to be scaled up to a regional,
national or international level.
Expected outcomes could include, but are not limited to, an agreed-upon governance structure for the partnership or
plans for formalizing the partnership.
Also describe how this Partnership Seed Grant will lead towards an application for external SSHRC funding. Explain
how this Partnership Seed Grant will improve the likelihood of a successful application.
Student Training Plan (maximum 1/2 page)
Students and/or other highly qualified personnel are expected to meaningfully participate in the proposed initiatives.
Clearly describe the specific roles and responsibilities of students and/or other highly qualified personnel, indicating
the work they will be undertaking. Include the nature and extent of training, the capacity of the applicant and/or team
members to provide the proposed training, the anticipated number of students and/or other highly qualified personnel
and their level of study or qualifications, the nature and level of specialized skills that they will develop as a result of
their participation, and the career development opportunities that will arise from their participation.
See SSHRC Guidelines for Effective Research Training.
Relationship to Other Research Support (maximum 1 page)
Describe your current funding situation (including pending grant applications). Describe any conceptual or financial
overlap with the proposed Partnership Seed Grant. The application may receive lower priority if current funding would
provide support for the same opportunity; however, it is noted that a record of successful funding that leads up to a
larger initiative involving additional partners would be considered an asset.
Alignment with University of Calgary Strategic Research Themes (maximum 1/2 page)
If applicable, describe the alignment of your project with one of the University of Calgary’s six strategic research priority
themes:
 Energy Innovations for Today and Tomorrow;
 Brian and Mental Health;
 New Earth Space Technologies;
 Engineering Solutions for Health: Biomedical Engineering;
 Infections, Inflammation and Chronic Diseases;
 Human Dynamics in a Changing World.
Funding priority may be given to projects that align with one of these themes.
Note that the subject matter of the project must fall within SSHRC subject matter eligibility guidelines.
Research Contributions (maximum 1 page)
Provide a list of your last six (6) years of publications and other research contributions relevant to the proposed
project. Use the standard bibliographic form of your discipline. Also list any research funding related to the proposed
project that you have held in the last six (6) years.
Required Signatures
The applicant and any co-applicants must provide their names, sign, and date the application in the appropriate boxes.
The applicant’s Department Head and Dean or Associate Dean (Research) must also sign and date the application.
For more information on the collection of these signatures, see the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy.
Applications that are missing any required signature will be considered incomplete and returned to the
applicants.
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
For all attachments, please use Times New Roman font of no less than 12 pt with three-quarter inch margins.
Project Goal and Description (maximum 2 pages, including figures)
The Committee must make its judgment on what is presented. Excellent projects may not receive funding because
of careless presentation.
Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Not all Committee members will have knowledge of the subject
matter from all proposals, so avoid jargon or highly technical writing when possible. Try to anticipate (and
answer) any questions the Committee members could raise.
Clearly justify your proposal within the stated objectives of the Partnership Seed Grant, and use the following section
headings to structure your proposal:

Goals and Objectives: State the overall goal of the planned partnership, as well as specific objectives for
the development of the partnership over the twelve month period of the grant.

Need for Partnership: Explain why a partnership approach is needed to accomplish the overall goal, and
demonstrate how such a partnership adds value beyond what could be achieved through other approaches.
Provide any background information essential to understanding the importance of the partnership.

Significance of Partnership: Describe the originality, significance (social, economic, cultural, intellectual)
and expected contribution to knowledge in the social sciences and/or humanities of the proposed partnership.
Demonstrate the relevance and significance of these objectives for the partner(s) that will be involved.

Proposed Activities and Timeline: Describe the activities proposed to meet the specific objectives for the
development of the partnership. Indicate the role of the partner(s) and any students or other highly qualified
personnel in these activities. Provide a timeline for the activities in relation to the specific objectives.
References (1 page maximum)
Provide a list of references for any citations in the Project Goal and Description attached.
Description of Team and Potential Partner Organizations (1 page maximum)
Describe all personnel involved in the project, including the principal applicant, co-applicant(s), and collaborators.
Explain the role of each in the project.
Describe each partner organization. Partnerships may be between academic institutions, or between one or more
academic institutions and one or more non-academic partner organizations. Describe the nature of the organization
(e.g., public or private, academic or non-academic, for-profit or not-for-profit, etc.), size, location, mission or objectives,
products or services it provides, if applicable, and activities in which the organization engages in order to accomplish
its mission or objectives.
Budget Justification (maximum 1 page)
A detailed budget justification must be attached as a separate document. Justify each budget item that has been
requested in the budget in relation to the proposed activities and the objectives of the Partnership Seed Grant program.
Eligibility of expenses are determined by the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (as it applies to SSHRC-funded
projects) and any stipulations listed in this document (see Appendix: Use of Funds).
If travel has been requested, please provide the rationale for why this travel is essential for performing the activities
proposed. Note that travel expenses for conference attendance are ineligible unless also used for the purpose of
partnership development activities pre- or post-conference. Justify the need for travel to a conference to conduct such
activities. Other conference-related expenses are ineligible.
Relevant Experience (maximum 1 page)
Describe your experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships, and any previous experience related to
the objectives of the URGC Partnership Seed Grant program. Justify how this experience will aid you in developing
the proposed partnership. Examples of relevant experience include: working within or with communities and/or
organizations (e.g., not-for-profit organizations, philanthropic foundations, think tanks, private sector organizations),
non-academic career information, or voluntary work. Include:
 your experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships;
 a brief description of the nature of the work you performed;
 an explanation of how this work has prepared you for your role in the project; and
 a description of the skills you developed (e.g., training, mentoring, analysis, networking).
Certifications
University certifications or permits for research using human subjects, animal subjects, or biohazards are required if
applicable to the research. Certifications or permits need not be appended at the time of application submission, but
their inclusion will expedite the set-up of the project account, if awarded.
SUBMISSION
Submit the completed Partnership Seed Grant application form and all required attachments as a single PDF document
to Denise Ward, Research Grants Officer, at rsogrants@ucalgary.ca.
APPENDIX: USE OF FUNDS
General Principles
Expenditures may be made only for those expenses identified in the application and approved by the Committee or
stated in the URGC Notice of Award. Please quote all expenses in Canadian dollars. It should be noted that currency
exchange rates may fluctuate and this may cause small budget variances.
Transfer of funds from one budget category to another is permitted according to the needs of the research as it
progresses, provided it is not more than a 25% variance. The use of funds for previously unspecified expenses or new
budget items requires Committee approval.
The University expects researchers to adhere to the use of grant funds as outlined by the Tri-Council agencies. These
policies are available here:
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/FinancialAdminGuide-GuideAdminFinancier/FundsUseUtilisationSubventions_eng.asp
ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE EXPENSES
It is advisable to refer to the University’s Travel and Expense Reimbursement Handbook. The general principles
outlined in this guidebook serve as the basis for eligible and ineligible expenses.
Eligible Expenses
Personnel:
Stipends or hourly wages for students and postdoctoral fellows are eligible.
Stipends must be justified in terms of the research project objectives. The work performed by stipend recipients should
be an integral part of the applicant's proposed research. When personnel are paid by stipend, quote the annual stipend,
as well as the amount pro-rated for their level of participation on the project.
Salaries: when students are paid by wage, the amounts should be determined in accordance with the university's
collective agreement or policy. Please consult your Department/Faculty or HR advisor for appropriate salary rates.
Graduate students who are hired as Research Assistants must be paid a minimum hourly rate of $17.50/hour,
according to U of C Graduate Student Association collective agreement. You may pay higher rates as justified by skill
requirements or department/faculty or discipline standards. Budget for 7.5% on top of wage for employer-paid benefits.
Postdoctoral fellows: the UofC recommends a minimum rate of $45,000 per year minimum for postdoctoral fellows,
plus $2K for Plan C benefits.
Support staff: ensure that you have calculated 22% for mandatory AUPE benefit costs, which include Employment
Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, and Canada Pension Plan. Quote the annual salary and relevant benefits, as well
as the amount pro-rated for their level of participation on the project.
Please describe the responsibilities and tasks to be carried out by the employee and their relationship to the applicant’s
activities on the project.
Travel:
These costs may include travel and accommodation costs to conduct field research work or travel costs to collaborate
with partners and team members at other institutions. Travel to a conference is eligible if partnership development
activities will occur pre- or post- conference. The purpose of the trip, destination, method of travel, persons or
organizations visited, and cost must be specified in your Budget Justification.
Travel is eligible for Partnership Seed Grants, provided it is to support travel for research
planning and collaboration purposes among the partners and team members.
Air travel may be ticketed by a travel agency, air carrier, or travel website.
Vehicle use is an eligible expense. Please detail kilometers and destination. Standard university rates apply. Please
consult the University’s Travel & Expense Reimbursement Handbook for additional information on vehicle use:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/finance/operations/ap/handbooks
Other travel expenses such as shared vehicle use (i.e. a van rented between multiple individuals), taxis, bus, or other
similar expenses are eligible. In your budget preparation please estimate these expenses to the best of your ability.
Accommodations require an invoice to be submitted when expenses are claimed. Accommodation for the purpose of
attending a conference is ineligible, except for the day(s) when partnership development activities occur. Provide
justification in the Budget Justification.
Equipment purchases, materials, or supplies:
An original invoice will need to be included with the expense reimbursement.
Items acquired with grant funds are the property of the University. Upon completion of the project, items are to be
transferred to the control of the applicant’s department, the University library, or at the Committee’s request to some
other department or unit within the University.
Supplies must be directly used in the research project.
Books must be directly used in the research project. These must be itemized and the basis for the costs described.
Ineligible Expenses
Conference travel expenses are ineligible if the travel is not also used for partnership development activities.
Other conference-related expenses are ineligible expenses for Partnership Seed Grants.
Retroactive expenses are ineligible.
Office furnishings are ineligible.
Tuition and course fees, entertainment, page charges, publication subventions, report writing and copying expenses,
and subscriptions are ineligible.
Electronic communications, such as telephone lines, equipment, voice mail, and internet charges are ineligible.
CLAIMING EXPENSES
The process for claiming or reimbursement of expenses is contained in the URGC Notice of Award. Only those
expenses that have been presented in your approved budget are eligible. When submitting claims for expenses,
original receipts and/or invoices will be required. It is advisable to reference the University’s Travel and Expense
Reimbursement Handbook when submitting expenses:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/finance/operations/ap/handbooks