Sponsor
NSERC and Mitacs
Program
Joint NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate
For More Information
General Grant Information:
- Mitacs Accelerate Program
- NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate Joint Application Website
- Revised Guidelines on assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring
- NSERC Alliance Advantage - Frequently Asked Questions
- NSERC Alliance Grant Application Checklist
- Research Innovation Office NSERC Alliance Resources
Competitive Review Funding Process
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources:
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resource Document for Researchers
- Alliance Grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in training plans
- NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research
- New IEDI in Research Self-Directed Learning Course Now Available on CourseLink
National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships Resources:
- U of G Guide for Completing the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form - NSERC Alliance
- U of G Guide to Mitacs Research Security Requirements
- NSERC Alliance Grants - National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships
- Safeguarding your Research Portal
Description
Through NSERC’s Alliance grants and Mitacs’ Accelerate program, the current cost-sharing model is available to Canadian researchers through a single application submission and review process. Applicants are invited to include in their Alliance application a request for additional support through Mitacs Accelerate internships as a component of the training of highly qualified personnel. Industry funds are recognized towards the global budget of joint applications.
Alliance grants support university researchers in collaborating with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors, on their R&D efforts that will create economic, social and/or environmental benefits to Canada. The joint application is available for use with NSERC Alliance Advantage only.
Accelerate puts the talent of students and postdocs to work with a paid internship at an organization that needs their expertise. Currently, Mitacs internship units can be added at no additional cost to the partner organization.
Alliance-Accelerate applications require the following information when outlining the training of highly qualified personnel:
- A description of the role of the Mitacs interns in the research project and an explanation of the quality of the research-based training experiences provided to the interns.
- A description of how the internship partnership organization is committed to providing supervision and mentorship to the interns.
- An explanation of how the number of Mitacs interns and the number of internship units are appropriate to the scope of the project.
Eligibility
- Applicants must meet both NSERC’s and Mitacs’ eligibility criteria both when the application is submitted and when funding is released.
- Canadian university researchers eligible to receive NSERC funds can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers.
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Applicants must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) whose cash contributions will be recognized for cost-sharing (see Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations) but other partner organizations who play an important role in the research project may be included in the application, whether or not their cash contributions are recognized for cost-sharing. Partner Organizations must meet both Mitacs' eligibility requirements as well as NSERC's eligibility requirements, in order to qualify for this cost-sharing model.
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Eligible Partner Organizations under the Mitacs Accelerate Program include:
- Eligible for-profit corporations in Canada and not-for-profit corporations in Canada
- For-profit businesses operating outside Canada
- Under the Accelerate Entrepreneur initiative, eligible intern-owned start-ups at approved incubators. Contact accelerate@mitacs.ca to confirm your start-up’s eligibility
- Not-for-profit corporation eligibility and project economic orientation must be assessed prior to proposal submission
- All sectors
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Eligible Partner Organizations under the Mitacs Accelerate Program include:
Indirect Costs
0% on eligible partner funds invoiced directly by Mitacs. Please note, these partner funds will be subject to applicable provincial taxes (13% HST for partners based in Ontario).
Eligible partner organization's funding solely matched to NSERC and invoiced by the University of Guelph is subject to 25% indirect costs, upon successful award outcome, in line with the Full Cost of Research Policy.
Project Duration
Up to 5 years (minimum 1 year)
Special Notes
Mitacs-NSERC Streamlined Joint Application Model
The joint Mitacs–NSERC Alliance-Mitacs Accelerate applications are developed and administered under the following model, wherein the Mitacs application is separated into two distinct phases:
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Mitacs Part 1 – Project Approval (with NSERC Application):
- Submitted alongside the NSERC application.
- Describes alignment of Mitacs internships with the NSERC-funded research.
- Requires a recruitment plan.
- Enables Mitacs to verify and sign off for eligibility.
- *Please note - the Mitacs Part 1 Application is completed in advance of the NSERC Alliance submission. Please allow 2-3 weeks after submission of the Mitacs Part 1 Application and invitation to Mitacs in the NSERC system for Mitacs to review/sign-off on their contributions in the NSERC portal.
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Part 2 – Intern Activation:
- Submitted only after Part 1 is approved.
- Must include named interns (no TBD's permitted) and specific project/methodology details.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
Internal Deadline | A completed OR-5 and full Mitacs Part 1 Application must be submitted to the Research Services Office (research.services@uoguelph.ca) a minimum of one (1) week before inviting Mitacs in the NSERC portal. The submission to the Research Services Office should include an OR-5 that outlines NSERC, Mitacs and Partner Organization funding. Subsequently, once Mitacs approves their components in the NSERC portal, allowing the lead researcher to 'verify and submit', please allow for two (2) weeks for final review/submission of the main NSERC application. The submitted NSERC application will include a complete copy of the supplemental Mitacs Part 1 application, previously reviewed internally by Mitacs and signed by Research Services. |
External Deadline | The Research Services Office will submit the full application on behalf of the applicant to NSERC through their online system. The lead applicant is responsible for coordinating with their Mitacs and Research Services' contact on review, approval and submission of the Mitacs Part 2 application documents, upon successful award outcome from NSERC. |
How to Apply
Initiating a Joint NSERC/Mitacs Application & Adding Mitacs to the NSERC Application:
- Mitacs is treated as a partner on the NSERC application and therefore faculty need to add Mitacs as a Partner Contributor. In order to do this, please select ‘Alliance Grants - Mitacs Accelerate’ under the ‘Type of Call’ in the drop down. This will only populate at the beginning of a new application/Form 101.
- Please contact Guelph's Mitacs Advisor, Emily Gordon (egordon@mitacs.ca), with the intent to apply in order to obtain instructions on adding Mitacs to your NSERC Alliance application.