NSERC-National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centres - Bioeconomy 2024

Eligibility

• A team of Canadian researchers with at least one academic applicant in Canada who is eligible to receive funding from NSERC or SSHRC. Specifically, Canadian university researchers—whether they come from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or engineering fields—wishing to participate as collaborators in an NSF Global Centre proposal may apply for funding from NSERC to support their participation. As an applicant to this initiative, you must collaborate with at least one US-based researcher who meets the NSF eligibility requirements; the US researcher will be the PI on the NSF Global Centre proposal.
• To be an applicant or co-applicant on a Global Centre proposal, you must be working in a research area supported by NSERC and/or SSHRC, and you must meet the NSERC eligibility requirements at the time of your application.
• Each Canadian team should submit only one application to NSERC for their participation in a Global Centre proposal. You may participate as an applicant on only one Global Centre proposal, but you may be a co-applicant or collaborator on multiple proposals. Researchers from colleges who meet NSERC’s eligibility requirements may participate as co-applicants.
• Other researchers and organizations (e.g., from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors) can participate as collaborators. Refer to the Tri-agency guide on financial administration for more information on the eligibility of expenses you may incur in support of such collaborations.

Summary

Global Centres aim to encourage and support international, interdisciplinary collaborative research centres that will develop use-inspired research to address global challenges. The topic for the 2024 competition is addressing global challenges through the bioeconomy.

This is a joint initiative between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the National Science Foundation of the United States of America (NSF), the National Endowment for the Humanities of the United States of America (NEH), the Research Council Finland (RCF), the Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland (BF), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology of the Republic of Korea (MSIT), and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Through a lead agency model, the US Principal Investigator (PI) will submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the research team, which will undergo a review process by NSF, the lead agency. In parallel, Canadian researchers on the team must submit a simplified application to NSERC. Eligible Canadian researchers may receive funding from NSERC and SSHRC, while international researchers from the US, Finland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and/or the UK may receive funding from their respective funding agencies.

Information sessions

NSERC and SSHRC will offer joint information sessions on the NSF Global Centres initiative. Please find below the information for the upcoming sessions:

English session

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EST)

French sessions

Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EST)

Application Process

Please note, your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until the application is submitted on both RMS and the NSERC online system. 

1 - UCalgary submission

1a. If you are working with a private sector partner organization then you will need to complete a risk assessment form which can be found here. Please reach out directly to researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca for additional information and help. 

1b. 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.  

• 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.

2 - NSERC submission

2a. Every Canadian research team member participating in the Global Centres grant application (the applicant and all co-applicants) must create an account in the NSERC online system if they do not already have one. The applicant and all co-applicants must create and submit a personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) with the application. Researchers working in the social sciences or humanities fields should use research subject code 8000 when indicating their expertise. For more information, please refer to the instructions for completing a personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) or the NSERC Frequently asked questions page.

2b. As the applicant, you are responsible for providing the following documents and information to NSERC via the online system by the application deadline:

• A completed form 101 (application for a grant), containing a summary of your proposed research and keywords.
• List your NSF PI as a collaborator on form 101.
• Using the provided template, the Canadian simplified proposal includes:
  • the title of the proposal submitted to NSF
  • the name of the US PI
  • if applicable, the names and affiliations of collaborators and/or partners on the Canadian team from the private sector
  • a discussion on the relevance and expected outcomes; the benefit to Canada and the roles and responsibilities of the Canadian team in the Global Centre; the Canadian training plan; and on the concrete innovative measures supporting equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan
• If applicable, the Impact assessment form (appendix A) must be completed and uploaded to the Impact assessment section of your application.
• A Risk Assessment Form must be completed as part of the Partnerships module in the application, if applicable. A budget (in Canadian dollars) and accompanying justification for the funds you are requesting from NSERC or SSHRC. Budgets must identify expenses as NSERC or SSHRC.
• A budget (in Canadian dollars) and accompanying justification for the funds you are requesting from NSERC or SSHRC. Budgets must identify expenses as NSERC or SSHRC
• A completed and up-to-date personal data form with CCV attachment (form 100A) for yourself and all Canadian co-applicants. Applicants and co-applicants from SSH fields may submit the SSHRC format CCV if desired.

Overhead

None

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

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.

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.

• Business Finland Program Solicitation
• Research Council of Finland Program Solicitation
• Japan Science and Technology Agency Program Solicitation
• Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology of the Republic of Korea Program Solicitation
• National Research Fund of Korea Program Solicitation
• UK Research and Innovation – Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council call
• National Science Foundation Program Solicitation