How to submit a full application: 2020 Transformation Competition
Table of contents
Note
This guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the 2020 Transformation Competition overview. For descriptions of the criteria that will be assessed by reviewers, please consult Merit Indicators for the Review of Applications: 2020 Transformation Competition.
Your application must be received by 8:00 p.m. (eastern) on the deadline date.
The research administrator at your institution is responsible for submitting your application. As your institution may have earlier internal deadlines, check with your research administrator regarding deadlines. All team members, including nominated principal investigators (NPIs), co-principal investigators and co-applicants should inform their institution’s research administrator (if applicable) of their involvement in an application.
Using the Convergence Portal to prepare your application
To be eligible to create and submit an application, you must have been successful in the letter of intent to apply (LOI) process and invited to submit.
You must complete the application using the Convergence Portal. The Convergence Portal is only supported on the latest versions of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox. The portal may appear to function in other browsers, but can malfunction: for example, the information entered may not be properly captured in the system without your being aware. Use of an unsupported browser is strongly discouraged.
Follow the instructions provided in the Convergence Portal to complete the application. The information required is outlined below.
The NPI is responsible for completing all sections of the application and submitting it. Other team members (co-principal investigators and co-applicants) must complete their profile, as applicable. While they are able to see the other sections of the application, they do not have editing access.
The NPI is responsible for verifying the page lengths and formatting of any uploaded attachments. If an application contains one or more attachments that do not comply with the page limits or formatting standard, it may be withdrawn from the competition.
Required information
All relevant information from the letter of intent (LOI) will be prepopulated into the full application. Additional team members may be added at this stage and information updated for existing members, if needed.
- Completed profiles for any additional members of the research team
Complete profiles include:
- eligibility profile
- information about participation in another Transformation application, affiliation, early career researcher status;
- fields of research and keywords
- fields of research and keywords that relate to your area(s) of expertise/research;
- equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) self-identification.
After co-principal investigators and co-applicants have completed their profile, they will be listed as “Eligible” in the Participants screen. While a participant’s status may show as “Accepted” in the List of Invitations, a status of “Pending eligibility” indicates that they have not completed their profile.
While additional members may be added, those identified at the Notice of Intent (NOI) and LOI stages are expected to remain part of the project team.
- eligibility profile
- Certifications, licences and permits
Complete this section by answering the questions as they relate to the proposed research project. Consult the Requirements for Certain Types of Research for more information or clarification. Please note that the 2012 Environmental Assessment Act has been replaced with the Impact Assessment Act 2019 (IAA 2019). For research taking place outdoors, this may require submission of an Environmental Information Form at the time of application (follow the instructions provided in Convergence Portal). If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions and the new IAA 2019. If your research project could have environmental impacts, your proposal may need to be posted for public consultation before funds are released. No other forms or certifications are required at the time of application.
- Proposal (maximum 18 pages)
The following sections must be addressed in one document and uploaded following the instructions for attachments. The page limits indicated for each section are suggestions, but the maximum limit of 18 pages is firm. The order of the sections must be followed, and the use of headings is highly encouraged. Use language that can be understood by a multidisciplinary review panel.
- Introduction/overview (2 pages)
- describe the problem or challenge and why it needs to be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective;
- explain who or what the problem affects and how;
- explain the approach to addressing the challenge and its potential to have real and lasting change; and
- describe how the approach is different from other approaches (novelty) and incorporates different disciplinary perspectives to addressing the challenge.
- Biographical information about team members (4 pages)
Applicants must protect the privacy and confidentiality of all team members. Do not provide information about the composition of the research team in a way that can reveal any member’s personal information (i.e., race, colour, place of origin, religion, immigrant and newcomer status, ethnic origin, ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and age). Refer to Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Guide for guidelines on privacy and confidentiality.
- provide an overview of the research team, demonstrating that it has the required knowledge, background and expertise to execute an interdisciplinary approach; and
- identify the anticipated contributions of each team member (NPI, co-principal investigator, co-applicants and collaborators, as applicable) and explain how their contributions will be coordinated and integrated.
- Research proposal (5 pages, including diagrams and illustrations)
- describe the proposed research project, including short-, medium- and longer-term objectives;
- describe the research methodology and design, including
- how interdisciplinary perspectives will be applied and integrated; and
- how it relates to current and relevant research, prior art or knowledge;
- provide a workplan with a timeline;
- discuss approaches to Indigenous research (if appropriate) and how First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities will be engaged in the project (see SSHRC’s Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research); and
- explain how the methodological design was informed by GBA+/SGBA (if appropriate).
- Anticipated transformation/change, with concrete objectives and other potential benefits (2 pages)
- describe the anticipated impact of the project;
- explain the anticipated benefit and significance for Canada, Canadians and beyond;
- explain how likely it is that the objectives will be achieved; and
- describe what other benefits will result from the project if anticipated changes or outcomes are not achieved.
- Management plans (3 pages)
- Describe how various aspects of the project will be managed, including:
- governance/management approach (how the project will be managed and the grant administered);
- performance measurement plan, including risk assessment and management and results frameworks (how achievement of short-, medium- and long-term anticipated outcomes will be monitored and assessed according to established indicators and timelines; mitigation plans);
- data management (how research data from the project will be managed and safeguarded). For guidance on research data management (RDM) considerations to include in the research proposal, refer to the NFRF Research Data Management page;
- training (the training, development and mentoring plan for students and other highly qualified personnel).
Plans for data management should align with the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management and not conflict with any terms and conditions, policies or other requirements of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.
- Describe how various aspects of the project will be managed, including:
- Budget justification (2 pages)
- Provide a breakdown and explanation of the direct costs of the project. Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess the appropriateness of the requested resources. If needed, this section can also describe other resources, including funding, materials or equipment that will also contribute to the project.
- Introduction/overview (2 pages)
- Literature references (unlimited)
- Provide a list of literature cited in the application. This document will be uploaded separately from the Proposal.
- Budget table
- Use the budget table template provided in the Supporting Documents section. You must upload your completed table separately from the Proposal. Enter all planned expenditures of NFRF funding for each category (direct costs only) for each year of the project, including those for:
- research team compensation;
- student salaries and benefits;
- non-student salaries and benefits;
- equipment;
- travel; and
- all other costs.
- Use the budget table template provided in the Supporting Documents section. You must upload your completed table separately from the Proposal. Enter all planned expenditures of NFRF funding for each category (direct costs only) for each year of the project, including those for:
To view PDF documents, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable free of charge). If you already have the latest version of Adobe Reader and still cannot view the contents, download a copy of the PDF and open it in your Adobe software.
Submitting the application
Review your application to ensure that it is complete. Follow the prompts from the Finalize Application section to submit it. After you accept the Terms and Conditions, the status of your submission will change to Received by Administrator.
If you want to make any changes at this point, you may request that your research grants office (research administrator) return it to you.
Once your research administrator has approved and submitted your application, the application status will be changed to Received by Agency. No further changes can be made.
Submitting an application as the research administrator
When you receive an application submitted by a NPI at your institution, you will be asked to approve the application and submit it. Before being able to forward the application, the administrator, on behalf of the institution, will be required to confirm that:
- the participants meet the eligibility requirements; and
- the proposed research project meets eligibility requirements.
If the NPI’s primary affiliation is not on SSHRC’s list of eligible institutions, the institution may be required to sign the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions with SSHRC, for this program only, before receiving agency funds. Agency staff will contact the institutions of successful applicants after the notices of decision have been released to initiate this process, as appropriate.
By forwarding the application, the research administrator, on behalf of the institution, will also be certifying that the NPI:
- is affiliated with the institution or organization;
- has the necessary time and resources to carry out the activity; and
will email NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca of any changes during the tenure of the grant, including changes in the composition of the partnership, such as the addition of new co-principal investigators, co-applicants, collaborators, etc.
Whom should I contact for help?
If you have questions:
- regarding the NFRF program, contact NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca; or
- on matters related to the Convergence Portal, contact the Online Services Helpdesk by email at websupport@convergence.gc.ca or by phone at 613-995-4273.
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