Sub-Program 1.1.1: Canada Research Chairs
Description
This program provides support to research chairs in the form of salary and research funding, to attract and retain talent in the social sciences and humanities. National and international researchers can be chairholders. This program is necessary in order to strengthen research excellence, improve research training of highly qualified personnel, improve universities’ capacity to generate and apply new knowledge, and promote the best possible use of research resources through strategic institutional planning and collaboration among institutions and between sectors. Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs have a value of $200,000 per year, and Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs have a value of $100,000 per year. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| World-class research is enhanced in Canadian universities through the attraction, retention and support of excellent researchers |
Percentage of institutions that found the Canada Research Chairs program important or very important in their ability to support the existing research teams / research clusters / research centres |
90 |
March 2017 |
94 |
91 |
92 |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
| 2016–17 Planned spending |
2016–17 Actual spending (authorities used)* |
2016–17 Difference (actual minus planned) |
| 56,023,225 |
51,773,819 |
(4,249,406) |
*The decrease compared to planned spending was due to an internal reallocation of funding from the Canada Research Chairs Program.
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
| 2016–17 Planned |
2016–17 Actual |
2016–17 Difference (actual minus planned) |
| 14 |
14 |
0 |
Sub-Program 1.1.2: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Description
This program provides scholarships to Canadian master’s and doctoral students in the social sciences and humanities who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in their undergraduate and graduate studies. The program is necessary in order for graduate students to develop the research skills needed to become highly qualified personnel and research leaders of the future. Scholarships are tenable only at eligible Canadian universities; master’s scholarships are worth $17,500 (one payment for 12 months) and doctoral scholarships $35,000 per year (for 36 months). This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| A supply of highly qualified personnel to the academic, public, not-for-profit and private sectors |
Percentage of Canada Graduate Scholarships students supported completing their degree |
90 |
March 2017 |
98 (Master's)
98 (Doctoral)
|
97 (Master’s)
93 (Doctoral)
|
97 (Master’s)
93 (Doctoral)
|
| Years to degree completion of doctoral recipients of a Canada Graduate Scholarship |
< 6 |
March 2017 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.1 (median) |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used) |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 70,435,244 |
70,038,438 |
(396,806) |
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 15 |
18 |
3 |
Sub-Program 1.1.3: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Description
This program provides scholarships to doctoral students in the social sciences and humanities who demonstrate an exceptionally high standard of achievement and leadership potential. This program is necessary to attract outstanding doctoral students from abroad, and to retain top Canadian doctoral students, to help build world-class research capacity. The program brands Canada as a venue for excellent research, and encourages scholarship recipients to stay and lead the next generation of researchers in Canada. Canadian and international students are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier scholarship, which is valued at $50,000 per year for three years, offering a value and prestige comparable to other internationally recognized scholarship programs. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| A supply of world-class doctoral students to build research capacity in Canada |
Percentage of applicants considered worthy of award by expert reviewers for a given competition year |
40 |
March 2017 |
35.5 |
34.8 |
35 |
| Number of international students who were awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship |
20 |
March 2017 |
16* |
21 |
24 |
*The drop from 21 to 16 international students funded is explained by the fact that the number of international applicants that are ranked above the quality cut-off varies from year to year.
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used) |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 8,417,240 |
8,461,735 |
44,495 |
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 1 |
2 |
1 |
Sub-Program 1.1.4: Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Description
This program provides fellowships to top-tier postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities from Canada and around the world, enabling them to pursue research opportunities at Canadian postsecondary institutions. A limited number of fellowships are also awarded to top-ranking individuals who have completed a PhD in Canada, to pursue research opportunities at foreign institutions. These prestigious two-year fellowships, valued at $70,000 per year, aim to reinforce Canada’s standing as a global player in research, and as a destination of choice for promising researchers at an early stage in their careers. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| A supply of world-class postdoctoral researchers to build research capacity in Canada |
Percentage of applicants considered worthy of award by expert reviewers for a given competition year |
25 |
March 2017 |
19.7* |
28.3 |
23 |
| Number of international students who were awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship |
8 |
March 2017 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
*The cut-off score is not a fixed year to year, so it is not indicative of the annual trend of the proportion of applicants considered worthy of award.
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used) |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 3,383,905 |
3,186,753 |
(197,152) |
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 1 |
2 |
1 |
Sub-Program 1.1.5: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Description
This program provides fellowships to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers with a demonstrated record of achievement in their studies and research skills. This program is necessary to support the training of highly qualified personnel, develop and retain the best and most promising research talent in the social sciences and humanities, and expand the research qualifications of emerging scholars of the highest potential at an important time in their research careers. Doctoral Fellowships are valued at $20,000 per year for between 12 and 48 months, and are tenable at any recognized university in Canada or abroad. Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $38,000 per year for 12 or 24 months, and are tenable at Canadian or foreign universities and research institutions, and provide stipendiary support to nontenured PhD graduates to undertake new research, publish research findings, develop and expand personal research networks, broaden teaching experiences, and become competitive in national research competitions. Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who choose to take their fellowships abroad benefit from the opportunity to expand their knowledge and build the international linkages necessary to ensure success in the globalized 21st century. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| Awardees disseminate research findings in Canada and abroad |
Percentage of awardees who report disseminating research findings beyond dissertation |
95 |
December 2017 |
Not available* |
79 |
79 |
| Awardees enhance their research and research-related skills, including through opportunities to gain international experience |
Percentage indicating “above average” quality level of the overall research experience (≥4 on a 5-point scale) |
85 |
December 2017 |
Not available* |
95 |
85 |
| Percentage of SSHRC doctoral awardees who study or conduct research abroad |
50 |
December 2017 |
61.2 |
61.2 |
48 |
| Percentage of SSHRC postdoctoral awardees who study or conduct research abroad |
60 |
December 2017 |
62 |
62 |
62 |
*These data will only be available through the Talent Achievement Report, which will be launched in 2017-18.
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used)* |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 35,233,496 |
38,640,165 |
3,406,669 |
*The increase compared to planned spending was due to an internal reallocation of funding from the Canada Research Chairs Program.
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 14 |
15 |
1 |
Sub-Program 1.2.1: Individual, team and partnership research grants
Description
This program provides grants to support research in the social sciences and humanities conducted by scholars and researchers working as individuals, in teams, and in formal partnerships, including international initiatives. This program is necessary to build knowledge and understanding and develop new research questions from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or cross-sectoral perspectives. It supports initial-stage research, experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches and/or ideas, research on complex and important topics, including those that transcend the capacity of any one scholar or institution, and ongoing collaboration and mutual learning. Funding ranges from $7,000 to $2.5 million over one to seven years. The program leverages external funding through collaborative partnerships. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| Partners and researchers benefit from research results, linkages and mobilizing knowledge within and across their respective sectors |
Ratio of financial contributions leveraged from formal Partnership Grants ($ leveraged per $ Partnership Grant) |
1 |
December 2017 |
1.10 |
0.84 |
0.70 |
| Ratio of financial contributions leveraged from Partnership Development Grants ($ leveraged per $ Partnership Development Grant) |
1 |
December 2017 |
1.10 |
0.81 |
0.80 |
| Research knowledge benefits individuals and organizations |
Percentage of Insight Grants grantees reporting that their projects benefited the private, not-for-profit or public sectors |
50 |
June 2018 |
98.2 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| Students and postdoctoral researchers are trained |
Percentage of grant spent on students and postdoctoral researchers |
35 |
December 2017 |
38.1 |
38.1 |
37 |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used)* |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 153,837,425 |
174,020,875 |
20,183,450 |
*Variance is due to a $13 million increase in Insight Grants funding, from Budget 2016, to enable scholars to address complex issues related to individuals and societies. Budget 2015 provided a $6.5 million increase in Partnership Grants funding, to further our collective understanding and support collaborations between academic researchers, business and other partners, in order to advance research and knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities.
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 51 |
60 |
9 |
Sub-Program 1.2.2: Institutional research capacity grants
Description
This program provides grants to Canadian postsecondary institutions for the development of research capacity in the social sciences and humanities. This program is intended to increase research excellence and strengthen research capacity by covering expenses that include the start‑up costs of research centres, support for visiting scholars (travel and stipend), help for emerging scholars to become competitive in national-level grants competitions, and support for national and international dissemination and collaboration. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $30,000 per year for a maximum of three years. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| Canadian universities develop, increase and strengthen research excellence and capacity in social sciences and the humanities |
Number of research and research-related activities supported by cycle |
5,000 |
December 2017 |
5,342 |
5,342 |
Not applicable |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used) |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 5,952,378 |
6,013,490 |
61,112 |
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 2 |
3 |
1 |
Sub-Program 1.3.1: Individual, team and partnership knowledge mobilization grants
Description
This program provides grants to support the knowledge mobilization activities of scholars and researchers working as individuals, in teams, and in formal partnerships with the academic, public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors. This program is necessary to build links between the social sciences and humanities research community and potential users of research, to maximize the impact of research beyond academia and allow for fruitful exchanges and the multidirectional flow of knowledge, and to foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Funding opportunities support the dissemination of research results via publications of various types, such as scholarly journals and books; the organization of events for researchers to meet, discuss, compare and plan research activities; and the co-creation, synthesis and application of research knowledge. The program leverages external funding through collaborative knowledge partnerships. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| Partners and researchers benefit from research results, linkages and mobilizing knowledge within and across their respective sectors |
Percentage of Connection grants that leverage significantly more than required |
70 |
March 2017 |
57.9* |
67 |
Not applicable |
| Research knowledge is accessible to the Canadian public |
Percentage of SSHRC-funded Canadian scholarly journals that are open access |
60 |
Currently met; to be maintained |
63.5 |
63.5 |
Not applicable |
*In light of this variance, SSHRC is assessing its outreach materials, to better communicate expected results.
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used)* |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 10,889,236 |
17,195,525 |
6,306,289 |
*The increase in spending can be attributed to reallocation of funding from various Talent and Insight funding opportunities.
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 8 |
11 |
3 |
Sub-Program 1.3.2: Research-based knowledge culture
Description
This program provides support to social sciences and humanities researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and the organization, in the form of prizes and operations and maintenance funds. This program is necessary to develop and sustain a research-based knowledge culture in the social sciences and humanities, by honouring and bringing recognition to researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows whose originality and outstanding contribution to research have enriched Canadian society; by supporting brokering activities aimed at building capacity in other sectors to engage in social sciences and humanities research activities; and by promoting the use of research knowledge, to the benefit of Canadian society. This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants and Scholarships.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| Excellent SSHRC-funded research is promoted as beneficial to Canada, internationally and to individual researchers’ careers |
Percentage of prize / special fellowship recipients indicating that the award has contributed to career development / opportunities / recognition (≥4 on a 5-point scale) |
80 |
March 2017 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used) |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 1,577,103 |
1,133,238 |
(443,865) |
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 2 |
2 |
0 |
Sub-Program 1.3.3: Networks of Centres of Excellence
Description
This program provides support to partners in the form of grants through Canada’s three granting agencies. Centres supported through SSHRC focus on social sciences and humanities issues, and support large-scale, virtual research networks that bring together partners from academia, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations. This program comprises the Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, and the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence. This program is necessary to harness the creativity and inventiveness of the best minds in various disciplines and sectors to find solutions to critical issues of importance to Canada, using internationally competitive research, building multisectoral partnerships and accelerating the use of multidisciplinary research results by organizations that can use them for economic, social and environmental benefits to Canada. This includes creating centres to advance research and facilitate the commercialization of technologies, products and services within priority areas and helping to increase private sector investments in Canadian research and support training of skilled researchers. This program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Networks of Centres of Excellence and Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence.
Results achieved
| Expected results |
Performance indicators |
Target |
Date to achieve target |
2016–17 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2014–15 Actual results |
| The research knowledge and technology produced by the networks and centres is transferred and used |
Ratio of partner contributions (cash and in-kind) relative to Networks of Centres of Excellence funds for commercialization activities (Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program) and research activities (Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program). |
1 |
March 2017 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
3.1 |
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2016-17
Planned spending |
2016-17
Actual spending
(authorities used)* |
2016–17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| 16,124,481 |
16,148,848 |
24,367 |
*The variance is due to the increase in grant funds to support the 2016 Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program competition, received through the supplementary estimates.
Human resources (full-time equivalents)*
2016-17
Planned |
2016-17
Actual |
2016-17
Difference
(actual minus planned) |
| N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
*The program is managed by NSERC.