Volume 46 - No. 3
Top story
A Message from NSERC’s President
Dear members of NSERC’s community,
I am very pleased to share with you our new strategic plan, NSERC 2030: Discovery, innovation, inclusion. The plan lays out an ambitious vision for Canadian research excellence and the potential for natural sciences and engineering to benefit the well-being of humanity and of our planet.
NSERC began the long process of developing this strategy during the height of the pandemic, at a time when ideas about the future and priorities and opportunities were top of mind for our community. For over a year, NSERC held discussions with key research leaders, gathered responses to a series of public discussion papers, and organized open-invite consultations and focus groups.
We received an enormous amount of feedback and guidance from researchers, students, partners, and experts that was invaluable in shaping the strategic plan.
NSERC 2030 is built around five pillars: supporting research excellence that strengthens Canada; expanding, diversifying, and nurturing Canada’s talent pool; translating discovery into impact, mobilizing knowledge on a global scale, and empowering our organization and our people. It emphasizes the overarching importance of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion across all our programs and throughout the research ecosystem. It also commits to developing deeper and more meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, organizations, researchers, and trainees and to exploring the role of science and research in the journey towards reconciliation.
Our process was community driven, our strategy is community focused, and with your help we will transform Canada into a global sustainability leader with a robust innovation economy and a dynamic research culture.
Thank you for your valuable input and support throughout the strategic planning process. I look forward to embarking on this journey with you!
Prof. Alejandro Adem, FRSC
President, NSERC
Researchers
Launch of NSERC 2030: Discovery, innovation, inclusion
Following months of information gathering and consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, we are pleased to launch our next long-term strategic plan, NSERC 2030: Discovery, innovation, inclusion. This plan presents a vision for an agile agency that is steadfast in its support for investigator-driven discovery research while enabling quick responses to emerging Canadian research priorities.
Government of Canada invests over $500 million to help create world-firsts in knowledge with the NSERC Discovery research programs
Researchers from across the country are receiving over $430 million of this funding to continue to lead world-class research programs, and $73.8 million in one-time, one-year extensions as part of an ongoing response by NSERC to support researchers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introducing Alliance Missions: Anthropogenic greenhouse gas research
We are pleased to officially launch a special call supporting the goals of the 2022 Federal Budget that prioritizes Canada’s ongoing efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment by taking bold and immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These grants will provide support ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per year, for a duration of three years, and will encourage interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects supporting net-zero GHG emissions targets.
Government of Canada announces 119 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of more than $102 million, in support of 119 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 35 Canadian research institutions.
Newly funded CREATE initiatives support students and postdoctoral fellows
NSERC is pleased to announce funding of up to $21.45 million for a total of 13 training initiatives through its Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program.
Launch of the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research
The new guide is designed to help NSE researchers apply a critical equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lens in their work by providing guiding questions and examples relevant to their field of research.
First Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering competition now open in the Atlantic region
NSERC is launching the first competition for the Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) program as a two-year pilot in the Atlantic region. The CISE program builds on the successful Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering program, continuing to promote the participation and retention of women in science and engineering while expanding to address issues faced by a broader range of underrepresented groups.
Launch of NOVA Program - FRQNT-NSERC
The main objective of this program is to support research projects in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering fields led by junior researchers from Quebec universities and conducted in collaboration with other researchers from Quebec and from other Canadian provinces and territories.
NSERC supports the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development
NSERC is pleased to support and celebrate the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, which was implemented by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of basic sciences to address Sustainable Development Goals.
Research partnership grants to assess longitudinal housing outcomes
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced new Partnership Grants to examine key issues affecting outcomes of investments in affordable housing. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) will administer the grant and work with NSERC and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to attract researchers of the highest caliber.
NSERC and DFG strengthen partnership
NSERC and the German Research Foundation (DFG) are pleased to announce the launch of an NSERC-DFG joint call for proposals on sustainable processes and chemistry. The joint call will be the first between NSERC and DFG to accept a single collaborative proposal from research teams in Canada and Germany.
NSERC signs agreement with Toronto Metropolitan University to onboard a Scholar in Residence
NSERC is delighted to announce that it has signed an agreement with the Toronto Metropolitan University to onboard Dr. Imogen Coe as the inaugural Scholar in Residence. Dr. Coe will provide expert input to NSERC’s Vice-President’s Office, Research Grants and Scholarships and work closely with NSERC senior management for a 12-month period to help guide NSERC’s key priorities.
NSERC and SSHRC launch Financial Monitoring Pilot
As part of the Tri-Agency Financial Administrative Renewal Initiative, NSERC and SSHRC, in collaboration CIHR, have revised the existing Tri-Agency Financial Monitoring Framework and launched a pilot with 12 organizations.
Consolidated telephone contact information for NSERC
As of December 6, 2021, NSERC has consolidated its telephone numbers under its toll-free telephone number (1-855-275-2861), which serves as the new single point of entry for contacting all NSERC's programs. Please update your contact information as other dedicated program numbers are no longer in use.
Learn more about the Canada Research Coordinating Committee
The CRCC advances federal research priorities and the coordination of policies and programs of Canada’s research funding agencies and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Visit the Committee’s website for the latest updates and opportunities for Canada’s research community.
Students
New funding opportunity for Indigenous Master’s students offered by NSERC in partnership with SSHRC
The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative will provide financial support to meritorious Indigenous students who have applied to the Canada Graduate Scholars—Master’s program.
Science promoters
Thank you for participating in Science Literacy Week!
Last week, organizations from across the country came together to celebrate science culture and this year’s Science Literacy Week theme: mathematics. NSERC would like to thank all the researchers that participated by sharing their love of science and research with Canadians of all ages!
Science, Action! video contest
This October, in partnership with FRQNT, NSERC will be launching a special edition of the Science, Action! video contest to celebrate the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. Prepare your camera and your creativity and get ready to show us your science! Stay tuned for more details soon!
