Administrative Support for Large-Scale Funding Applications – Session 5: SSHRC Partnership Grants

1. Administrative Support for Large-Scale Funding Applications – Session 5: SSHRC Partnership Grants Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation Sarah Whitaker, Sr. Research Officer June 28, 2012

2. Goals • To offer professional development for research administrative staff, enabling continuous improvement in the quality of support for research funding applications. • To increase the number of research support personnel on campus who have the skills and knowledge needed to support the development of large-scale research applications. • To increase the University’s overall capacity to support a growing number of large-scale applications for external research funding.

3. Session 5 – SSHRC Partnership Grants Topics to be addressed include: • Program overview • How to determine a project’s fit • Project chartering • SSHRC priority areas • Application components – what’s required • Budget and matching funds • Common challenges and strategies for success • Support services • Effective communication of feedback to researchers • York application process details and timelines

4. Program Overview • Institutional awards • Letter of Intent + Full Application (+ interview for 6 and 7 year projects) • Min budget of $500,000, max budget of $2,500,000 • 4-7 years • SSHRC LOI Deadline: 15 February 2013

5. Program Overview con’t • Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research partnerships • Cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding • Networks for research and/or related activities • Partnered knowledge mobilization • Partnered chairs • Partnered research centres

6. Partner – SSHRC Definition Partner: A partner is an organization that participates actively in a formal partnership and contributes in a meaningful way to the success of the endeavour. A partner organization may be, for example, a Canadian or foreign: • postsecondary institution, • government department • for-profit or not-for-profit organization, • Foundation. A partner is 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.

7. Formal Partnership Formal partnership: A bilateral or multilateral formal collaboration agreement between an applicant (normally an individual or a Canadian postsecondary institution) and one or more partners. These partners agree and commit to work collaboratively to achieve shared goals for mutual benefit.

8. Types of Partnership Existing partnerships: Support to foster new research and/or research-related partnership activities that are distinct from the partnership’s previous/ongoing partnership activities. New partnerships: Support to foster new research and/or research-related partnership activities that are undertaken by partnerships in their initial stages.

9. How to determine a project’s fit • Does the research fit the SSHRC mandate? • How large is the research team? • How many organizations are involved? • Do the described activities, outcomes and goals depend on the collaboration of institutions? • Do the described activities, outcomes and goals fit a 4-7 year timeline and $500,000 - $2,500,000 budget? • Are the application timelines reasonable for the team and for the project’s needs?

10. Project chartering • All SSHRC Partnership Grant applications will incorporate a project charter. • The charter describes roles and responsibilities of each application team member. • The charter confirms a timeline for each stage of the application development process.

11. SSHRC priority areas “Most SSHRC funding is awarded through open competitions accessible to all disciplines, areas, themes and approaches. In certain cases, priorities have been identified for either additional support and/or a more tailored adjudication.” • Aboriginal Research • Canadian Environmental Issues • Digital Economy • Innovation, Leadership and Prosperity • Northern Communities – Towards Social and Economic Prosperity Applications outside of the above areas are eligible for funding in all SSHRC competitions.

12. Application Components

14. Budget and matching funds • 35% matching funds are required from Host + partner organizations e.g., $1,000,000 from SSHRC + $350,000 from partners • Budget Justification is required only at full application. This document must be as detailed as possible. • Projects over $1million should budget for staff. • Students and other HQP are a priority for SSHRC. • What items can compose a York contribution?

15. Support Services • Faculty-based Research Officers • ORU staff • Sr. Research Officer, Office of the VPRI • Associate Deans Research • Associate Vice-President(s) • Office of Research Services • Michelle Galloro, Research Applications Coordinator

16. Effective communication of feedback to researchers • Reminders of upcoming deadlines • List of application sections to be completed • Editing and review + concrete suggestions for improvement • Offer assistance with proposed timelines • Ask constructive questions • We’re all in this together!

17. York application process details and timelines

18. Common challenges • Relaxed approach to LOI stage • Budgeting last! • Budgeting for ineligible expenses • Imbalances in budget categories • Submitting poor budget justifications • Extended timelines • Balancing stakeholder interests • Not working with partner organizations soon enough • Underestimating the level of detail required

19. Common challenges • Not addressing the evaluation criteria • Using highly technical writing for a multidisciplinary committee • Partners are institutions not people • Not following formatting requirements • e.g., semicolons, font, margins • Typos and spelling mistakes • Attachments referring to more than the past 6 years • “Career interruptions” are not well justified • Organizations should only be signed on as partners if they are contributing something beyond the involvement of one or more researcher(s)

20. Strategies for success • Read the instructions and think through associated timelines • Create overall budgets in post award format • Create your own on-line form as a resource • Know your adjudication audience • Focus writing on the reader of the application

21. Strategies for success • Contact colleagues who have put applications together before • Justify the budget, justify the budget, justify the budget • Use the pages provided/space available • Show benefit to Canada and Canadians where appropriate • Work with Partners well in advance of the deadline • Havethe application reviewed internally/externally by staff and faculty

22. Feedback Please complete the feedback form in your kit as your recommendations will help us improve subsequent sessions. Thank you!

23. Up Next… Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Information Session – June 28, 2012 at 1:00pm in room 519 York Research Tower (YRT). Workshop Series – August / September 2012 SSHRC Partnership Development Grant and Partnership Grant Information Sessions – September 2012