1. How to Apply to SSHRC’s New Partnerships Funding Opportunities
Gail Zboch, Senior Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives

2. Purpose of Presentation
Provide information on the first two funding opportunities launched within SSHRC’s renewed program architecture, under the Insight and Connection programs:
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application deadline: November 25, 2010
Insight/Connection Partnership Grants Letter of Intent: Application deadline: January 31, 2011
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3. Format of Presentation
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants
Insight/Connection Partnership Grants
Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Changes to the CV Process
Insight/Connection Partnership Opportunities: New Guidelines and Procedures
Characteristics of a Successful Application
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4. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants
Key features
Purpose/objectives
Formal partnerships – suggested approaches
Optional priority areas
Requirements
Eligibility – institutional and participants
Evaluation process and criteria
Application process
Attachments
Other sources
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5. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Key Features
Applicant: Principal investigator
Duration: 1 to 3 years
Value: Typically $75,000 to $200,000, with requests for lower or higher amounts considered
Institutional and partner contributions: Secure cash and/or in-kind contributions during life of grant. While there is no minimum contribution, applicant and partners are expected to demonstrate a formal partnership exists or will be de developed.
Application process: One-stage application
Next deadline: November 25, 2010
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6. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Purpose
Develop research and related activities in SSH—including knowledge mobilization and the meaningful involvement of students and new scholars—by fostering new research partnership activities involving existing and/or potential partners; or
Design and test new partnership approaches for research and/or related activities that may result in best practices or models that either can be adapted by others or have potential to be scaled up at a regional, national or international level
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7. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Program Objectives
Proposal must meet one or more program objectives, or a combination of objectives between the two:
Insight—build knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world by supporting research excellence in all subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding
Connection—realize the potential of SSH research for intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact on and beyond the campus by supporting specific activities and tools that facilitate the multidirectional flow of research knowledge
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8. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Definition of Formal Partnership
A bilateral or multilateral formal collaboration agreement between an applicant and one or more partners. Partners agree and commit to work collaboratively to achieve shared goals for mutual benefit.
Evidence of commitment may include: an agreed-upon governance and/or management structure, mutually determined methodological approach with established roles and responsibilities, memorandum of understanding, or other evidence endorsed by the partners—e.g., sharing in intellectual leadership, providing expertise, and providing cash and/or in-kind contributions.
While the formality of partnerships may vary, a formal partnership is grounded in trust and mutual respect, with partners contributing in a meaningful way to the success of the endeavour.
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9. Any other approach and any combination of the above is possible!
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Examples of Partnership Approaches
Disciplinary and interdisciplinary partnerships
Cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding
Networks for research and/or related activities
Partnered knowledge mobilization
A Creative Open Space:
Any other approach and any combination of the above is possible!
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10. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Optional Priority Areas
Most SSHRC funding, including Partnership Development Grants, is awarded through open competitions accessible to all disciplines, areas, themes and approaches
The following priority areas are available:
Aboriginal Research
Canadian Environmental Issues
Digital Media
Innovation, Leadership and Prosperity
Northern Communities—Towards Social and Economic Prosperity
Applicants requesting funding under one of these should, in their application, identify their Partnership Development Grant proposal as related a SSHRC priority area.
Applicants are not obligated to choose a priority area.
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11. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Requirements
Quality and commitment of formal partnerships:
Applicants must include relevant documentation to allow an informed evaluation of the quality and level of commitment of the proposed formal partnership. Documentation may include, but is not limited to:
governance frameworks;
strategic plans;
memorandums of understanding;
intellectual property agreements; and/or
letters of participation and engagement.
Institutional and partner contributions:
Applicants must secure cash and/or in-kind contributions during the life of their grant. While there is no minimum requirement, partners and institutions are expected to contribute during the life of the grant.
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12. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Eligibility Requirements
Applications must be submitted by the applicant (principal investigator / project director) on behalf of the formal partnership partners.
The applicant must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization.
Partnership Development Grants are open to universities, colleges and not-for-profit organizations.
Any postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization that does not currently have institutional eligibility and wishes to administer SSHRC grants must apply for, and be granted, institutional eligibility.
For institutional eligibility questions, or to receive an institutional eligibility application package, contact SSHRC's Corporate Secretariat, at
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13. Note: Team Composition
A research team within a Partnerships Development Grant or a Partnerships Grant can be composed of the following participants:
A Principal Investigator/ Organizational Contact for an institution
Co-applicants
Collaborators
Partners
Other contributors
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14. Insight/Connections Partnership Development Grants: Eligibility Requirements (Participants)
There are two categories of individual participant for Partnership Development Grants: co-applicant and collaborator.
Co-applicants may be individuals from any of the following: postsecondary institutions; not-for-profit organizations; philanthropic foundations; think tanks; international postsecondary institutions; or municipal, territorial or provincial governments.
Collaborators may be individuals from any of the following: postsecondary institutions; not-for-profit organizations; public sector or private sector organizations; philanthropic foundations; think tanks; international postsecondary institutions; or municipal, territorial, provincial or federal governments.
Note: Individuals from the private sector or federal government may only participate as collaborators.
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15. A partner must be an organization, not an individual
Insight/Connection Partnership Opportunities: New Guidelines and Procedures (New Partner Definition)
Partner:
An organization that participates actively in a formal partnership and contributes in a meaningful way to the success of the endeavour
Partners are expected to support the activities of the formal partnership by sharing in intellectual leadership or providing expertise. The partner is also expected to provide cash and/or in-kind contributions
A partner must be an organization, not an individual
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16. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Evaluation Process
Adjudication: Partnership Development Grants are adjudicated by multidisciplinary committees that include relevant expertise from the academic community, as well as research expertise from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors
Priority areas: If an applicant identifies their proposal as related to one of SSHRC’s priority areas, the application will also undergo a relevance review by an existing or specially constituted committee to verify alignment with the priority area
Feedback: All applicants will receive, together with their SSHRC notice of decision, a summary of the adjudication committee's comments
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17. Challenge—Aim and importance of endeavour (50%):
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Evaluation Process (Criteria)
Challenge—Aim and importance of endeavour (50%):
originality, significance and expected contribution to knowledge in the social sciences and/or humanities;
appropriateness of the theoretical approach or framework;
appropriateness of the methodologies or approaches (including for the co-creation of knowledge across sectors);
quality of training and mentoring to be provided to students, emerging scholars and other highly qualified personnel, and opportunities for them to contribute; and
likelihood of influence and impact within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.
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18. Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (20%):
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Evaluation Process (Criteria)
Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (20%):
feasibility to meet the objectives of the Insight and/or Connection programs, the Partnership Development Grants funding opportunity and, where appropriate, expected outcomes of a priority area;
strategies and timelines for the design and conduct of the research and/or related activities;
appropriateness of the requested budget, justification of proposed costs, and indications of other planned resources (time, human and financial), including cash and in-kind support already secured, or to be secured, from the host institution and/or from partners;
quality of the knowledge mobilization plans, including for effective dissemination, exchange, and engagement within and/or beyond the research community, where appropriate;
quality and genuineness of the formal partnership and associated management and governance arrangements and leadership, including evidence of genuine involvement of partners and others in the design and conduct of the research and/or related activities; and
potential for long-term viability and for progress indicators.
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19. Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%):
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Evaluation Process (Criteria)
Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%):
quality, quantity and significance of past experience and published outputs of principal team members relative to their role in the partnership, and to the stage of their career;
evidence of contributions through, e.g., publications (such as commissioned reports, etc.); professional practice; and contributions to public discourses, public policies, products and services, and the development of talent;
experience with collaboration and formal partnerships; and
potential to make future contributions.
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20. Below 3 = Not recommended for funding
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Evaluation Process (Criteria)
Scoring Scheme
Adjudication committee members assign a score for each of the three criteria based on the following scheme:
5–6 = Excellent
4–4.9 = Very good
3–3.9 = Good
Below 3 = Not recommended for funding
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21. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants and Partnership Grants applications will be fully electronic submissions
Similar system was used in Standard Research Grants 2009 competition
No paper copies required
Institutional signatures no longer required
CVs of research team members attached electronically to application
Decreased margin of error (reduced number of ineligible files in SRG competition)
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22. Innovative online form engages partners in application process.
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Partners)
Innovative online form engages partners in application process.
Applicants will identify partners and partners’ contact persons to invite on the project.
System will automatically send an to each potential partner contact person, inviting them to participate in the application.
Partners will fill out engagement forms to be attached to applicaton. Forms include: Identification, Cash and/or In-Kind Contributions, and Letter of Engagement.
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23. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Partners—Letters of Engagement)
Each invited and confirmed partner should, to the extent possible, provide a letter, written on official letterhead, with the following information:
a statement that the partner has read and agrees in principle with the objective(s) of the proposal;
the exact nature of the involvement of the partner;
the nature of the partner’s participation in the governance structure of the partnership, if appropriate;
what the partner intends to contribute to the partnership;
precise details on the financial and/or in-kind contributions to be provided by the partner; and
what the partner expects from participating in the partnership. 
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24. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Participants)
An innovative online form also engages participants in the application process.
Applicants identify co-applicants and co-applicant contact persons to invite on the project.
System will automatically send an to each potential co-applicant contact person, inviting them to participate in the application.
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25. Statement of Relevance (if applicable)
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Attachments)
Statement of Relevance (if applicable)
Summary of Proposed Partnership and Activity
Intended Outcomes of Proposed Activity
Description of Activity (maximum 5 pages)
Description of Participants Involvement (maximum 2 pages)
Description of Formal Partnership(s) and Partners’ Contribution (maximum 5 pages)
Evidence of Formal Partnership—no page limit
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26. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Attachments—Description of Activity)
Description (max. 5 pages) should clearly contextualize proposal within the stated program objectives (Insight and/or Connection) and partnership approaches, address all the program evaluation criteria, and describe:
overall goal and specific objectives the partnership has set for itself.
originality, significance (social, economic, cultural) and expected contribution to knowledge in SSH of the proposed research and/or other partnership activities, as well as the appropriateness of the theoretical and methodological approaches chosen to meet the stated objectives.
relevance and significance of these objectives for all the partners in the partnership.
appropriateness of the duration (1 to 3 years) chosen to achieve the objectives.
anticipated challenges in managing the project and organizing the activities.
involvement of students, new scholars, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel.
contributions the project is expected to make to the creation or mobilization of new knowledge. Identify expected outputs, potential outcomes and long-term impacts the partnership may generate.
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27. Training and Mentoring (maximum 1 page)
Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Attachments)
Training and Mentoring (maximum 1 page)
Knowledge Mobilization Plan (maximum 2 pages)
List of References (maximum 10 pages)
Budget Justification (maximum 4 pages)
Competitive Quotes (if applicable)
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28. Insight/Connection Partnership Development Grants: Application Process (Other Sources of Funding/Other Contributors)
Other contributors include organizations (e.g., philanthropic foundations, private sector organizations) or individuals who are not invited partners but are likely to contribute cash and/or in-kind contributions during the life of the grant.
Their contributions should go into the Other Sources of Funding section of the form.
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29. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants
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30. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Key Features
Applicant: Institution
Duration: 4 to 7 years
Value: Typically $500,000 to $2.5 million, with requests for lower or higher amounts considered
Minimum contributions: Minimum 35 per cent cash and/or in-kind contributions above and beyond SSHRC funding during life of grant
Two-stage application process:
Letter of Intent (next deadline: January 31, 2011)
Formal Application (fall 2011)
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31. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Purpose
Provide support for new and existing formal partnerships over 4 to 7 years
Advance research and/or knowledge mobilization in the SSH through mutual co-operation and sharing of intellectual leadership, as well as through resources as evidenced by cash and/or in-kind contributions
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32. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Program Objectives
Proposal must meet one or more of the following program objectives:
Insight—build knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world by supporting research excellence in all subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding
Connection—realize the potential of SSH research for intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact on and beyond the campus by supporting specific activities and tools that facilitate the multidirectional flow of research knowledge
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33. Any other approach and any combination of the above is possible!
Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Examples of Partnership Approaches
Disciplinary and interdisciplinary partnerships
Cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding
Networks for research and/or related activities
Partnered knowledge mobilization
Partnered Chairs (different from PDG)
Partnered Research Centres (different from PDG)
A Creative Open Space:
Any other approach and any combination of the above is possible!
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34. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Optional Priority Areas
Most SSHRC funding, including Partnership Grants, is awarded through open competitions accessible to all disciplines, areas, themes and approaches
The following priority areas are available:
Aboriginal Research
Canadian Environmental Issues
Digital Media
Innovation, Leadership and Prosperity
Northern Communities—Towards Social and Economic Prosperity
Applicants requesting funding under one of these should, in their application, identify their Partnership Grant proposal as related to one of SSHRC’s priority areas
Applicants are not obligated to choose a priority area.
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35. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Requirements and Eligibility
Same as for Partnership Development Grants, with the addition of the following increased requirements for securing cash and/or in-kind contributions:
Stage 1—LOI: Applicants are expected to include a plan to secure, over and above the budget requested from SSHRC, a minimum of 35 per cent in additional resources from sources other than SSHRC during the life of the grant (4 to 7 years).
Stage 2—Formal Application: Applicants are required to demonstrate they have already begun to confirm the 35 per cent or more in additional cash and/or in-kind contributions, and indicate how they will secure the remaining resources during the life of the grant. A minimum contribution of 35 per cent must be confirmed by the mid-term evaluation of the project.
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36. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Evaluation Process (LOI Stage)
Adjudication: Letter of Intent applications are adjudicated by multidisciplinary committees that include relevant expertise from the academic community, as well as research expertise from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors
Assessments: No external assessments
Feedback: All applicants will receive, together with their SSHRC notice of decision, a summary of the adjudication committee's comments
Priority areas: At both stages, if an applicant identifies their proposal as related to one of SSHRC’s priority areas, the application will undergo a relevance review by an existing or specially constituted committee to verify alignment with the priority area
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37. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Evaluation Process (Formal Application)
Adjudication: Full proposals are adjudicated by multidisciplinary committees that include relevant expertise from the academic community, as well as research expertise from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors.
External assessments: A minimum of 3 external assessments are obtained before adjudication at the committee meeting. For proposals requesting more than $2 million, up to 6 external assessments are obtained before adjudication, and a formal interview process is required.
Feedback: All applicants will receive, together with their SSHRC notice of decision, a copy of the external assessments obtained, and a summary of the adjudication committee's comments.
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38. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Evaluation Process (Criteria)
The evaluation criteria and scoring scheme are the same as for Partnership Development Grants, except for the weighting of the criteria:
Challenge—The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%)
Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (30%)
Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%)
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39. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Partnered Chairs
Partnered Chairs must contribute directly to the objectives of the Insight and/or Connection program(s)
Chair partners pool financial resources and suggest an amount of funds required from SSHRC
Partnered Chairs may be created in collaboration with other organizations and institutions
Host institution will be responsible for managing the funds and for overall partnered chair arrangements
See published guidelines for more details
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40. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Application Process
Still in development
Will also be online
Will also engage partners and participants in application process
Will incorporate invited partners’ contributions and other contributors
Will use similiar attachments as the Partnership Development Grants application
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41. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: Changes to the CV Process
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42. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: CV Process
All participants from postsecondary institutions must electronically submit verified SSHRC web-based CVs. These assist the committee in evaluating the qualifications of the team to carry out the proposed research
Participants must now also include both of the following CV attachments:
Research Contributions; and
Relevant Work Experience
-it’s important that a SSHRC CV is provided for each participant (i.e. applicant, co-applicant, collaborator – NOT PARTNERS…these are organizations) – because assists the committee to evaluate the qualifications of the team AND ensures that all participants are listed on the Notice of Award should the application be funded
-we have received feedback that the CV requirement can be challenging for team applications involving community members (because forms originally created for academics) – for this program (and CURA) we have added an attachment called “Relevant Work Experience” where participants can list such experience including work with Elders and knowledge keepers. This section was initially 2 pages and we have increased the limit to 6 pages for the Aboriginal Research program.
-we have also clarified (at the top of the application instructions) the minimum requirements for a CV to be considered valid – so please take a look at that section (copied below here):
Note: If you are an applicant, co-applicant or collaborator from a community organization, you also must submit a SSHRC Web CV and are encouraged to complete as many sections as possible (see CV instructions). At a minimum, the modules/sections you are required to complete/validate on the SSHRC Web CV are (a) the Identification module; (b) the Current Position module; (c) the Address module; and (d) the Research Expertise module (i.e., Keywords section and first entry in the Disciplines section). Members from community organizations are invited to use the 6-page "Relevant Work Experience" attachment to describe their expertise/experience.
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43. Discipline of expertise Primary affiliation, with end dates
Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: CV Process (Minimum Requirements)
Participants not affiliated with a postsecondary institution may submit the full SSHRC CV or only complete the following mandatory fields:
Discipline of expertise
Primary affiliation, with end dates
Primary affiliation and department
Permanent postal address
Correspondence language
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44. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: CV Process (Attachments)
Research Contributions:
Research contributions over the last 6 years
Other research contributions
Most significant career research contributions (for regular scholars)
Career interruptions and special circumstances
Contributions to training
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45. Insight/Connection Partnership Grants: CV Process (Attachments)
Relevant Experience:
Explain your experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships, and any previous experience related to the objectives of the partnership application. Include:
your experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships;
a brief description of the nature of the work you performed;
an explanation of how this work has prepared you for your role in the project; and
a description of the skills you developed (e.g., training, mentoring, analysis, networking).
Examples of relevant experience include: working within or with communities and/or organizations (e.g., not-for–profit organizations, philanthropic foundations, think tanks, private sector organizations), non-academic career information, or voluntary work.
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46. Insight/Connection Partnership Opportunities: New Guidelines and Procedures
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47. An institution must demonstrate it meets all the requirements:
Insight/Connection Partnership Opportunities: Guidelines and Procedures (Institutional Eligibility)
Institutions eligible to apply for and receive SSHRC funding include: universities, colleges, and some not-for-profit organizations.
An institution must demonstrate it meets all the requirements:
Institutional status and governance
Research function in SSH
Financial stability and management
Management of the research environment
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48. Insight/Connection Partnership Opportunities: Guidelines and Procedures (Securing Institutional Eligibility—Process)
If your organization is not on SSHRC’s eligible institution list, you must SSHRC’s Corporate Secretariat, at to begin the eligibility process.
If you do not contact SSHRC, your institution will not be added to the list of eligible institutions and you will not be able to complete your application.
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49. Characteristics of a Successful Application
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50. Characteristics of a Successful Application
Complete all mandatory fields (boldfaced labels).
Attach all mandatory electronic uploads (application).
Ensure all co-applicants and collaborators (i.e., participants with SSHRC CVs) have submitted their "Accept Invitation Form."
Ensure confirmed partners have submitted their "Accept Invitation Form."
Verify and correct data until the Verification Report indicates successful verification.
Click on the "Submit" button (Submit to Research Administrator) for institutional approval.
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51. Characteristics of a Successful Application
Clarity: application is well written, well organized and error-free
Originality: application is challenging, interesting, and ambitious yet feasible
Project’s significance is clear
Potential impact is stated convincingly
Presented confidently, not boastfully
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52. Thank you / Merci
Tel.:
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