2024 NSERC Alliance International - Catalyst stream

Eligibility

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. You and any Canadian co-applicants must have an active NSERC peer-reviewed grant, as primary applicant, at the time of application. There is no requirement for partner organizations or contributions from partner organizations for this funding opportunity. However, at the time of application, you must identify at least one international academic researcher with whom you will collaborate. In the case of an Alliance International Collaboration grant, your international collaborator must have secured funding from their own funding agency at the time of your application to NSERC.

International collaborator(s)

Your international collaborator(s) must be from the academic sector, and they must have secured funding from their national funding agency to cover their participation in the project. Each collaborator must actively play a role in the project. Such involvement must be achieved by doing at least one of the following:

• Actively participating in the project’s research activities
• Providing an enriched training experience for Canadian research trainees
• Utilizing the project’s research results to help achieve its desired outcomes

You must explain in your application the added value of the international collaboration for Canada and of your selected international collaborator(s).

Summary

NEW: NSERC is temporarily pausing the intake of applications to the Alliance International Catalyst grants program. This pause will take effect as of October 16, 2024 at 8:00pm EST (6:00pm Calgary time). Applications received by October 16, 2024 will be processed but applicants should expect a delay in funding decisions. Any applications currently in process must be submitted by that date, after which they must await the reopening of the program. Award decisions will be subject to the availability of funds and may include a random selection process. NSERC will communicate when the funding opportunity re-opens. Please note the RSO internal deadline below. 

Overview

Canadian researchers work with international colleagues to pursue new knowledge, technologies, and solutions to complex problems. These collaborations strengthen research excellence in Canada and abroad, and NSERC recognizes the need to support engagement with international collaborators to further develop areas of Canadian research strength and leadership. By combining the expertise of Canadian and leading international researchers, it is expected that Canadian researchers will leverage the best international knowledge to help address important research challenges in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE) disciplines and will provide trainees with an outstanding research environment.

Objectives

Alliance International will provide support for researchers in Canada to work with leading international researchers from the academic sector, and to establish and grow international research collaborations and projects that have a high potential for impact in NSE disciplines. The overall objectives are to: 1) allow Canadian researchers to initiate the development of international collaborations; and 2) provide support for Canadian researchers participating in international collaborative projects of global importance and benefit to Canada. Two grant types are offered: Catalyst grants and Collaboration grants.

Alliance International Catalyst grants

Catalyst grants will provide funding for one year to support Canadian researchers in initiating international research collaborations in the NSE disciplines. These grants will allow Canadian researchers to identify and initiate the first stage of collaboration with the intent of

• supporting exploratory research activities
• initiating exchanges for Canadian personnel where appropriate

Overhead

N/A

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Submission process:

This competition will be run through Research Management System (RMS).

1. Complete your application in the NSERC On-line system. Once the application is complete (including required attachments and your CCV), verify each section, and then press "Submit". Your application will be sent to the Research Services Office. Please ensure your application is final and complete; Research Services will not review drafts, and, once received, your application may be submitted to NSERC without further notice. 

 2. Complete the Pre-Award record in RMS (login at https://research.ucalgary.ca/rms) and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.  

• Please note, your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in the Research Portal (a paper copy is not required) and the RMS Approvals have been received. As Alliance is a rolling intake, once we have received both the completed RMS record and the NSERC application in the NSERC portal, please indicate if you would like a basic (allowable turnaround time is 3 days) review or a detailed (allowable turnaround time is 2 weeks) review.
• The detailed review includes a detailed review of the application, checking for eligibility and UofC commitments and risk, compliance with program guidelines, completeness of application, and the opportunity for feedback to improve the application.
• The basic administrative review involves a minimal check of the application for eligibility and any UofC commitment or risk.