Sponsor

NSERC

Program

Alliance International Quantum Grants

For More Information

NSERC Alliance International Quantum Grants [1]

Revised Guidelines on assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring [2]

Alliance Grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in training plans [3]

NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research [4]

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resource Document for Researchers [5]

U of G Guide for Completing the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form - NSERC Alliance [6]

NSERC Alliance Grants - National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships [7]

Safeguarding your Research Portal [8]

Description

Alliance International Quantum grants will provide support for researchers in Canada to establish and grow international research collaborations that will strengthen research excellence in Canada and abroad, and further develop Canadian research strengths and leadership in quantum science and technology. Using NSERC’s newly launched Alliance International Catalyst grants [9], Alliance International Catalyst Quantum grants will provide up to $25,000 for one year to support Canadian academic researchers in initiating and developing research collaborations with international researchers from the academic sector in the areas of quantum science and quantum technologies. 

Proposals must focus on any of the following areas of quantum technologies:

• quantum algorithms/encryption
• quantum communications
• quantum computing
• quantum materials
• quantum sensing

Collaborations that synergistically couple any of these quantum technology thrusts to other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering would be accepted.

Eligibility

Potential applicants are encourage to review NSERC's eligibility criteria [10] for applicants.

Funding Availability

It is expected that approximately 100 Catalyst Quantum grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2022–23. These grants will serve as the foundation for larger partnerships in later years.

Maximum Project Value

Up to $25,000 for one year.

Indirect Costs

0%

Project Duration

One year.

Special Notes

Application Review/Communication of Funding Decisions

Applications will be accepted anytime up until January 31, 2023.

Applications will be batched according to when they are received:
April 1, 2022 to June 15, 2022
June 16, 2022 to August 31, 2022
September 1, 2022 to November 14, 2022
November 15, 2022 to January 31, 2023

Funding decisions will be communicated on a quarterly basis.

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 [11].

Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering

Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants for Alliance International if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty [12]. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the project costs and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification.

Safeguarding Your Research

At all times, Canadian researchers are encouraged to exercise appropriate levels of due diligence when managing their research and establishing and/or continuing partnerships with national, international, and multinational partners. Resources to do so are provided by the Government of Canada on the Safeguarding Your Research [13] portal, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships [14].

How to Apply

Applications are accepted up until January 31, 2023.  The lead applicant and any Canadian co-applicants must hold, as a primary applicant, an active NSERC peer-reviewed grant at the time of application.

To start an application:

• log in to the online system [16] and choose 'Create a new Form 101'
• Select 'Research partnerships programs', then 'Alliance grants'
• for the 'Proposal type' field, select 'Full proposal'
• for the 'Type of call field', select 'International – Catalyst - Quantum' from the drop-down menu

Following the instructions for completing an Alliance International application [17], fill out the proposal template [18] and complete the other sections of your application.

*Important note:

Under Relevance and expected outcomes in the proposal template, the lead applicant should:

• outline the objectives of the proposed international collaboration, and explain the potential outcomes and impacts
• explain how the international collaboration will address important research challenges in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE) disciplines as well as in quantum science and/or technologies, and further develop areas of Canadian strength and leadership
• describe the global importance of the topic and how the expected outcomes could benefit Canada

Complete the other sections of the proposal as per the instructions and bullets provided in the proposal template.

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
NSERC Alliance Quantum Funding Presentation June 2022 [19]	250.26 KB