VPR Announcements

An information session will be given by a NSERC representative at the University of Victoria on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Administrative Services Building, Rm 120).

This session will cover the Program requirements, the new target areas, the changes for 2011, the application procedures, the evaluation criteria, the signs of a good proposal, and more. If you are planning to apply to the SPG Program this year, do not miss this opportunity!

Please RSVP to Dailene O’Neill (resprog3@uvic.ca) if you are planning to attend.
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The 2011 Strategic Project Grants (SPG) Program is currently open for applications. The goal of the SPG program is to increase research and training in targeted areas that will strongly enhance Canada's economy, society and/or environment within the next 10 years. The program is intended to increase the participation of Canadian companies and government organizations in academic research and enable the transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise to those organizations that are well-positioned to apply the results.

Every five years, NSERC renews the target areas for its strategic partnerships programs to ensure they reflect the current priorities of all stakeholders. The four new target areas are now in place and will be effective for the 2011–15 competitions, resulting in an anticipated investment in excess of $200 million.

Highlights for the 2011 Strategic Project Grants Competition include:

• New target areas and research topics (Areas and topics accepted in the past may no longer be eligible. Check the new descriptions prior to preparing your application)
• Major equipment requests are now limited to $150,000.
• Where a government organization is a supporting organization, the letter of support accompanying Form 183A must be signed by a director general (or equivalent level).
• Co-applicants from outside the natural sciences and engineering may be incorporated into the proposals.
• Applicants are encouraged to incorporate international collaborations into their proposals. Information concerning calls for collaborative proposals under international agreements will be updated in January 2011.

NSERC must receive the application by April 15, 2011.

Please refer to http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/RPP-PP/SPG-SPS_eng.asp for full Program literature, applications procedures, and instructions.