NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) 2022

Sponsor

NSERC

Program

Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program

Description

The NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:

• Encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and
• Facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

These innovative programs must include the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills.

In addition, these programs should encourage the following as appropriate:

• Student mobility, nationally or internationally, between individual universities and between universities and other sectors;
• Interdisciplinary research within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), or at the interface between the NSE and health, or the social sciences and humanities. However, the main focus of the training must still lie within the NSE;
• Increased collaboration between industry and academia; and
• For the industrial stream, an additional objective is to support improved job-readiness within the industrial sector by exposing participants to the specific challenges of this sector and training people with the skills identified by industry.

To build on Canada’s research strengths and priorities and to enhance our success, at least 60 percent of the CREATE funding will be directed to the following priority areas:

• Environmental science and technologies;
• Natural resources and energy;
• Manufacturing; and
• Information and communication technologies.

Successful applicants will consist of a group of accomplished researchers who will work collaboratively to offer a defined research training program to a group of trainees. This environment will provide trainees with experience relevant to both academic and non-academic careers. The research training experience should focus on providing an enriched training experience for graduate (master’s and doctoral) students.

Eligibility

CREATE grants are tenable only at NSERC eligible Canadian universities, and the applicant must hold an eligible position at that university. Researchers at non-eligible organizations may participate as collaborators. Ensure that you consider the eligibility requirements for applicants, co-applicants and collaborators described on NSERC’s Web site under Eligibility Criteria.

Note to multi-university applicants: All universities who will be involved in the application must have at least one co-applicant listed in the proposal. This ensures access to CREATE funds for all students/fellows involved at that university. The funds will be administered by the co-applicant on behalf of all the students/fellows whether they are under the co-applicant’s direct supervision or not.

The following conditions apply to all applications:

• In the case of multi-organization collaborations (academic, industrial, government or not-for-profit sectors), the applicant must be from an NSERC-supported field at an NSERC-eligible university. One person must be designated to administer the grant. This person is the “applicant” and is responsible for completing and submitting the Letter of Intent (LOI) and the application (if invited) on behalf of the group. The applicant’s university will be the lead university.
• At least 70% of the group must be from NSE fields, but co-applicants at the interdisciplinary frontier between NSE and the areas covered under the umbrella of SSHRC and CIHR may be incorporated into proposals. Applicants submitting proposals at the interdisciplinary frontiers of the granting agencies may be required to justify why NSERC is in fact the most appropriate funding agency for their training proposals.
• The focus should be on new training initiatives. Existing initiatives must justify the incremental value that will accrue from the CREATE Program.
• A yearly quota has been established for each university, and only those researchers selected at their university can submit LOIs. In addition, a researcher may only be the applicant on one CREATE initiative annually. There is a limit on participation in multiple active CREATE projects. NSERC limits the participation of an individual researcher in a maximum of two CREATE initiatives—as either an applicant or co-applicant. 
• Each training program will have a Program Committee responsible for overseeing the progress of the program and its future directions. The applicant may not be the Chair of the Program Committee.
• The Program Committee Chair must approve each progress report.
• Additional requirements:
  • Researchers who currently hold or participate in an active CREATE Grant must clearly describe their distinct contribution to and justification for their participation in the proposed training program;
  • Researchers who are applying in a research area already supported by other active CREATE Grants, must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded;
  • Previous CREATE grantees and co-grantees must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded.

Descriptions required above should appear in either the “Excellence of proposed team of researchers” or the “Merit of the Proposed Training Program”, as applicable. Please refer to Form 187 instructions for details. The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient information to enable the selection committee to evaluate the relationship with other CREATE initiatives.

Maximum Project Value

Funding of up to $150,000 in the first year and up to $300,000 annually for up to five subsequent years will be provided by NSERC for up to $1.65 million dollars over six years. It is expected that funds will be spent on an annual basis. Also, CREATE initiatives are expected to be self-sustaining by the end of six years. Note that there is no automatic extension for the use of funds and renewal of funding beyond six years is not possible.

Collaborators may contribute additional funds. The application must provide a detailed justification of all expenses.

Eligible Expenses:

• At least 80% of the CREATE grant must be used for trainees’ stipends.
  • Up to 30 % of this portion can be distributed to trainees who are not enrolled in the NSE.
• Up to 20 % of the CREATE funds may be used for the following expenses:
  • Training program structure
  • Travel
  • Dissemination of training materials and research results
  • Services and miscellaneous expenses

Indirect Costs

0%

Project Duration

Up to six (6) years

Special Notes

Industrial and International Collaborations

• NSERC and Mitacs have formalized their existing relationship. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of Mitacs programs that support internships in industry as well as other opportunities to increase the number of trainees.
• Special Opportunities exist for (1) Industrial Stream and (2) International Collaborations (German Research Foundation) - please see website for more information.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering communities and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Increasing diversity and gender equity in the research enterprise are key priorities in the NSERC 2020 Strategic Plan. As a result, CREATE initiatives are expected to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. Where applicable, consideration of sex, gender and diversity in the research design should be addressed in the proposal. Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations should be developed into the rationale of the composition of the group of trainees and in their supervisors, role models and mentors. See the Instructions for Completing an Application – Form 102 for specific requirements. For more information on equitable, diverse and inclusive research and training environments, refer to NSERC’s  Guide for Applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application as well as the University of Guelph's Office of Research Services EDI Quick Resource.

COVID-19

Please note that research activities carried out in the context of COVID-19 need to adhere to the University of Guelph COVID-19 research principles, policies, guidelines and processes as they may be updated from time to time and communicated on the Office of Research web-page.

How to Apply

Applying to the CREATE Program involves a three phase application process: 

Phase 1: Confirm College support and submit internal EOI form (Attachment section below) signed by ADR. AVPR will confirm university quota and approval to move to next phase.

Phase 2: Letter of Intent; and 

Phase 3: Application. The CREATE Program is highly selective, with pre-screening based on the LOI. Only applicants successful at the Letter of Intent stage will be invited to submit an application.

Phase 1: College/Institutional approval: University quota

Please review the "Deadlines" section above for instructions on U of G's internal requirements to obtain approval for use of the university's CREATE quota.

Phase 2: Letter of Intent

To apply for a CREATE Program grant, researchers must first submit Form 187 to their university for consideration. Refer to Form 187 instructions for complete information or contact your university research grants office.

The entire LOI application process is performed using NSERC’s On-line System. Applicants must wait to "Submit" their LOI until the research grants office has reviewed and approved the submission. Applicants will be responsible for submitting the approved LOI to NSERC directly online.

A complete LOI includes the following:

• Form 187;
• Form 100 for the applicant;
• a letter from the applicant’s university Vice-President Research (phase 1 note); and
• for the industrial stream only, one letter or e-mail from the collaborating industry(ies) to the applicant, confirming its (their) willingness to participate in the program committee and to host internships for trainees.

The letter from the Vice-President Research or equivalent, must clearly confirm that the applicant’s proposal is one of the proposals endorsed by the university as part of their quota of submissions, and should describe the university’s support and commitment for this new initiative.

Phase 3: Application

If invited to apply, you must then submit the following documents to NSERC through the research grant office by the deadlines indicated above. The research grant office will submit the full application to NSERC directly, on behalf of the applicant. 

• Form 102;
• Form 100 for the applicant
• Form 100 or CCV for up to 10 co-applicants;
• one letter of support from the lead university; and
• for both the regular and industrial stream, a maximum of three letters from collaborators will be accepted. For the industrial stream only, at least one of these letters must be from an industrial collaborator confirming its willingness to participate in the program committee and to host internships for trainees.
• In addition, indicate in the first sentence of the description of the training program that you are applying to the industrial stream of the CREATE Program.
• *NEW* - list of deliverables

Refer to Forms 100, CCV and 102 instructions for complete information or contact your university research grants office. 

The entire application process is performed using NSERC’s On-line System.

Applicants who receive approval at the EOI stage are encouraged to explore the internal Major Proposal Development Fund to offset development costs for LOI development. Please consult with your Department and/or College regarding the matching support required.

Information For Co-applicants

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Office of Research with at least five days in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Office of Research (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
Expression of Interest Requirements_NSERC-CREATE2022.docx	16.33 KB
Slides from February 10, 2022 information session	926.82 KB