International Opportunities Fund

Warning This funding opportunity is no longer offered. For information on currently offered SSHRC funding opportunities, see Funding

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November 2009 Competition

Context
Objectives
Description
Value and Duration
Eligibility
Evaluation and Adjudication
Administrative Regulations
More Information


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Context

While international collaboration has always been part of the scholarly endeavour, economic globalization and communications technology are both accelerating its scope and pace and increasing its impact. Especially for a medium-sized country like Canada, international collaboration in research is becoming increasingly important—to access the global pool of knowledge, to develop comparative perspectives on key social, cultural and economic issues, and to pool knowledge and resources to address complex global issues.

SSHRC’s new international policy and strategy acknowledges the importance of international collaboration to help sustain excellence in research and position Canadian research in the world. It recognizes the need to create better opportunities for Canadian researchers to lead and participate in international collaborative research. The policy also addresses the importance of promoting the distinctive contribution that Canadian social sciences and humanities research can make to international research agendas and to better understanding of major global issues.

Accordingly, the International Opportunities Fund (IOF) program will help researchers develop, participate in, and lead diverse international collaborative research activities.


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Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

  • help Canadian researchers to initiate and develop international research collaborations;
  • facilitate Canadian participation or leadership in current or planned international research initiatives that offer outstanding opportunities to advance Canadian research.

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Description

The International Opportunities Fund program:

  • offers important opportunities to advance Canadian research and promote it internationally;
  • supports collaborative research activities that further the goals of SSHRC's international policy and strategy;
  • enables researchers to take advantage of international collaborative opportunities in a timely and flexible manner.

Two types of grant are available:

Development Grants, to support developmental activities—such as workshops, seminars, and planning meetings—that are expected to lead to significant international collaboration;

Project Grants, to help secure Canadian participation or leadership in current or planned international research initiatives or networks.

The program is not intended to support activities that can be funded through other available SSHRC programs. Further collaborative activities resulting from these grants should be supported through other SSHRC programs or other sources.

Note: In connection with this program, SSHRC may issue separate calls for proposals to participate in specific international initiatives that present unique opportunities to advance and promote Canadian research internationally. Details of such calls for proposals will be announced in advance.


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Value and Duration

Development Grants are worth up to $25,000 for one year.

Project Grants are worth up to $75,000 for one year.

For each grant type, SSHRC will consider extensions for up to one additional year on a case-by-case basis. Note that such extensions will not be eligible for any additional funding.


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Eligibility

Applicants

SSHRC invites applications from individual researchers or research teams.

The applicant (principal investigator) must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution. Research teams may include one or more co-applicants (co-investigators) and collaborators. Co-applicants may be affiliated with Canadian or foreign postsecondary institutions.

Institutions

Institutions that propose to administer any grant awarded under this program must meet the requirements for managing SSHRC funds and must hold or obtain institutional eligibility.


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Evaluation and Adjudication

A multidisciplinary committee will meet to adjudicate proposals according to the following criteria:

  • importance and timeliness of the opportunity for current or planned international research efforts in the area and demonstrated need for funding from the International Opportunities Fund;
  • potential for the advancement of excellent research and potential impact on Canadian and international research in the area;
  • strength of the applicant’s and research team’s academic and other qualifications (taking into account stage of career);
  • value-added offered by the international approach to the initiative and extent to which the international participants’ expertise and knowledge will benefit the collaboration;
  • probability that an IOF grant will secure sustainable future collaboration;
  • likelihood that an IOF grant will enable the successful applicants to leverage other forms of funding;
  • quality of plans for student training opportunities;
  • appropriateness of the budget.

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Administrative Regulations

All applicants and grant holders must comply with the Regulations Governing Grant Applications and with the regulations set out in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (TAFAG). While the TAFAG has precedence, additional information can also be found in the Grant Holder's Guide.


More Information

For further information about the International Opportunities Fund, please contact:

Mika Oehling
Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives
SSHRC

Tel: 613-992-4227
Fax: 613-947-0223
Email: mika.oehling@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca