Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more

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Update: SSHRC Online System

We are pleased to announce the application system is now back online for all active funding opportunities except for the SSHRC Doctoral Awards. In accordance with the Service Standards for SSHRC Online Systems, the deadline for the Insight Grants competition has been extended to Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 8:00 p.m. (eastern).

The SSHRC Doctoral Awards competition portal continues to be offline until system updates can be made. We anticipate the Doctoral Awards competition portal will be live on October 5. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.

[ Updated: 2023-09-28 ]

**General information**
Name of transfer payment program	Canada First Research Excellence Fund (voted)
Start date	2014
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2014-15
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Insight Research
Description	The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) supports Canada’s postsecondary institutions in their efforts to become global research leaders. CFREF helps institutions: (i) compete with the best in the world for talent, for partnership opportunities and to make breakthrough discoveries; (ii) seize emerging opportunities and strategically advance their greatest strengths on the global stage; and (iii) implement large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies. SSHRC administers this program on behalf of tri-agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	All 18 CFREF recipients at 17 Canadian institutions were supported in 2019-20, for a total investment for the tri-agencies of $199 million. The midterm reviews of five CFREFs awarded in the first competition were undertaken during 2019-20. The midterm reviews demonstrate that CFREF recipients have established strong partnerships and collaborations at the national and international level; recruited highly qualified personnel and students; hired new faculty; built world-class infrastructures; already achieved significant advancements in their respective fields of research; and leveraged funding that will contribute to the sustainability of these initiatives in the long term. Funding supports several priority areas, including environment and agriculture; health and related life sciences; advanced manufacturing; information and communications technology; and natural resources and energy.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	An audit is underway, with an expected completion of October 2020.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Evaluation of Canada First Research Excellence Fund is planned to be completed in October 2020. Some delays have been incurred due to COVID-19.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	12,927,180	18,455,543	18,455,544	18,455,544	18,455,544	0
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	12,927,180	18,455,543	18,455,544	18,455,544	18,455,544	0
Explanation of variances	N/A

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start date	2003-04
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2009-10
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Research Training and Talent Development
Description	SSHRC’s portion of the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master’s or doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities. This is a tri-agency program and is administered by each respective agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC). This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	The CGS program strives to make Canada one of the world’s top countries for research training and development in order to build an innovative and competitive economy, increase future job opportunities, and, ultimately, generate social, economic and cultural benefits for Canadians. As a result of investments made to the CGS program in Budget 2019, additional awards (500 master’s and 167 doctoral) were offered to applicants starting in the 2018-19 CGS competitions. In 2019-20, SSHRC invested $75 million to support research training in areas related to health.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	No audits are planned at this time.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Planning for the evaluation of the CGS program was begun, but experienced delays due to COVID-19; the evaluation is planned to be completed by November 2021.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	68,820,804	68,471,205	68,983,500	75,073,500	75,071,330	6,087,830
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	68,820,804	68,471,205	68,983,500	75,073,500	75,071,330	6,087,830
Explanation of variances	Additional funding received from Budget 2019.

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	Grants and Scholarships (voted)
Start date	1978
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2011-12
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Insight Research Research Training and Talent Development Research Partnerships
Description	This transfer payment program consists of grants and scholarships awarded for research, talent development and research dissemination activities in the social sciences and humanities. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	This transfer payment program contributes to three of SSHRC’s Departmental Results: Canada’s social sciences and humanities research is internationally competitive; Canada has a pool of highly skilled people in the social sciences and humanities; and Canada’s social sciences and humanities research knowledge is used. SSHRC’s Grants and Scholarships program supported over 26,000 students and researchers for a total investment of $495 million. An important goal of SSHRC’s Grants and Scholarships program is to support students and postdoctoral researchers (collectively referred to as “research trainees”) in order to develop society’s next generation of researchers and leaders, both within academia and across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. In 2019-20, SSHRC supported 4,670 students and postdoctoral fellows through scholarships and fellowships, and, collectively, researchers that submitted an end of grant report in 2019-20 indicated that 9,778 research trainees had been supported through their grants. SSHRC funded over 5,200 new grants and awards through its Grants and Scholarships program in 2019-20. In 2019-20, the amount of funding leveraged from partners on SSHRC-funded research projects exceeded $41 million.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	N/A
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Planning for the evaluation of the Canada Research Chairs was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will have an impact on the planned completion date of July 2021. Planning for the evaluation of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will have an impact on the planned completion date of October 2020. Planning for the evaluation of the Research Training and Talent Development program was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will likely have an impact on the planned completion date of March 2022. The joint evaluation of the Aid to Scholarly Journals and Aid to Scholarly Publications programs is planned to be completed by October 2020.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	276,498,522	305,904,917	310,534,970	317,780,497	317,761,208	7,226,238
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	276,498,522	305,904,917	310,534,970	317,780,497	317,761,208	7,226,238
Explanation of variances	Increase in funding for paid parental leave and interdepartmental transfers.

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)
Start date	1997
End date	2023-24
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2014-15
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Research Partnerships
Description	The program supports large-scale academically led research networks that harness the creativity and inventiveness of Canadian health, natural and social scientists, and engineers. Partners from industry, government and not-for-profit organizations contribute additional expertise and bring cash and in-kind support. This program is a tri-agency program administered by NSERC on behalf of CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	Strong linkages and partnerships between university, government and industry, and other users (non-governmental organizations) resulting in the exploitation of leading-edge research results with economical and/or societal benefits to Canada.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	No audits are underway or were completed in 2019-20.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	There are no plans to evaluate this program, as the Networks of Centres of Excellence program is no longer ongoing and its funds will be gradually transferred to the New Frontiers in Research Fund. This program has been evaluated regularly (i.e., every five years) since its inception in 1985. Given the solid evaluation history, there are few lessons to be learned from an evaluation at this time.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	No further competitions are planned under this program. Existing recipients are supported by direct contact and engagement through their assigned NCE staff liaison, who sits as an observer on the board of directors.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	8,770,000	9,753,000	8,770,000	8,770,000	8,770,000	0
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	8,770,000	9,753,000	8,770,000	8,770,000	8,770,000	0
Explanation of variances	N/A

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	New Frontiers in Research Fund (voted)
Start date	2018
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2018-19
Link to department’s Program Inventory	New Frontiers in Research Fund
Description	This transfer payment program for the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) supports research that is international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and high-risk / high-reward. The NFRF supports projects not easily supported through existing tri-agency and agency-specific mechanisms, and it contributes to enhancing Canada’s competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy. This program is administered by SSHRC on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	Grants to researchers from the NFRF Exploration stream equaled $46 million in 2019-20 to support high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research. The inaugural Transformation competition was launched December 5, 2019. This competition received 461 notices of intent to apply. The International stream had its inaugural launch in January 2020 to support Canadian researchers partnering on large international projects supported through Horizon 2020. The 2019 Exploration competition received 917 letters of intent. Of the 325 full applications submitted, 186 applications were recommended and approved for awards. Projects led by early career researchers received 71 of the awards (38%). Based on letters of intent, the success rate for early career researchers (22%) was higher than the overall success rate (20%). More than 50% of team members self-identified as belonging to one or more of the four designated groups, namely women (37%), members of visible minorities (21%), Indigenous peoples (7%), and persons with disabilities (3%). The program’s Performance Information Profile was updated in spring 2019. As this is an evergreen document, it was further refined with input from all the agencies and approved by the Management Committee Chair.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	N/A
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Evaluation of the New Frontiers in Research Fund is planned to be completed by March 2024.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients in 2019-20	A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	–	18,992,234	53,048,880	53,048,880	53,048,880	0
Total contributions	–	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	–	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	–	18,992,234	53,048,880	53,048,880	53,048,880	0
Explanation of variances	Funding received from Budget 2018 created this new tri-agency program.

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	Research Support Fund (voted)
Start date	2003
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2018-19
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Research Support Fund
Description	This transfer payment program supports a portion of the indirect costs associated with the conduct of academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal research granting agencies. Grants are awarded to eligible institutions using a progressive funding formula based on the average revenues from research grants received from CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	The total investment of the RSF, including the Incremental Project Grant (IPG) stream for 2019-20, was about $408 million. Grants to postsecondary institutions from the RSF equaled $369 million in 2019-20. This funding provided support to 149 institutions to offset part of the indirect costs that institutions incur when managing the research funded by the three federal research funding agencies. Grants to postsecondary institutions from the RSF’s IPG stream equaled $38 million in 2019-20. This funding provided additional support to 116 projects at 31 institutions. Applications to the 2019-20 RSF grant cycle, including the IPG stream, showed the intended use of funds across all five eligible expenditure categories as follows: intellectual property and knowledge mobilization, 7%; research facilities, 31%; research resources, 22%; management and administration of the institution’s research enterprise, 32%;and regulatory requirements and accreditation, 8%. Applications to the 2019-20 IPG stream reflected a distribution across the four eligible priority areas as follows: innovation and commercialization activities, 21%; facilities renewal, 41%; information resources, 27%; and equity, diversity and faculty renewal (in the context of equity, diversity and inclusion), 10%. Delivery of the IPG stream was revised for the 2019-20 grant cycle, including aligning the IPG deadline with the RSF’s yearly timelines and updating the application form to include more detailed project information, performance indicators and expected results of the proposed projects. SSHRC also began to develop an annual outcomes report. The 15th-year program evaluation of the RSF was finalized in 2019-20. To implement the report’s recommendations, development of the management response and action plan began in late 2019-20.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	N/A
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Evaluation of the Research Support Fund is planned to be completed by June 2020.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	368,456,473	397,336,479	407,514,840	406,767,519	406,767,519	-747,321
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	368,456,473	397,336,479	407,514,840	406,767,519	406,767,519	-747,321
Explanation of variances	Transfer to Department of National Defence to cover indirect costs at the Royal Military College.

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

General information
Name of transfer payment program	Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start date	2008-09
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2014-15
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Research Training and Talent Development
Description	The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is a tri-agency program designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by offering them a significant financial award. This financial award assists students during their studies at Canadian universities. Vanier scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields. This program is administered by CIHR on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Results achieved	Through the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program, the Government of Canada invests up to $25 million annually, divided among the budgets of CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Up to 166 scholarships are awarded annually to Canadian and international doctoral students studying at Canadian universities who demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering, and health. In 2019-20, SSHRC invested $8 million to support research training in areas related to the social sciences and humanities.
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20	No audits are planned at this time.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20	Evaluation of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program was underway and delays were incurred at the approval stage due to COVID-19. The evaluation is planned to be completed in the fall of 2020.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20	Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and directed tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication, as well as through the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships website.

Financial information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment	2017-18 Actual spending	2018-19 Actual spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2019-20 Total authorities available for use	2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned)
Total grants	8,234,722	8,291,668	8,300,000	8,300,000	8,247,223	- 52,777
Total contributions	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	8,234,722	8,291,668	8,300,000	8,300,000	8,247,223	- 52,777
Explanation of variances	There were post adjustments following the implementation of the acceleration exercise.

Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.

Date modified:: 2020-12-07