Sponsor

NSERC

Program

Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program

For More Information

CREATE Progra [1]m Guidelines [2]

CREATE Program - Frequently Asked Questions [3]

Video of CREATE info session for prospective applicants [4]

Description

The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program [1] supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:

• Encourage collaborative and integrative approaches and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and
• Facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce. 

These innovative programs must foster the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills and improve their job readiness for careers in industry, government, non-governmental organizations and/or academia.

In addition, these programs should encourage the following as appropriate:

• Student mobility, nationally or internationally, between individual universities and between universities and other sectors;
• Interdisciplinary research within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), or at the interface between the NSE and health or between the NSE and the social sciences and humanities -- however, the main focus of the training must still lie within the NSE; and
• Increased collaboration between industry and academia.

Eligibility

CREATE grants are tenable only at NSERC-eligible Canadian universities [5], and the applicant must hold an eligible position at that university. Researchers at non-eligible organizations may participate as collaborators. Ensure that you consider the eligibility requirements for applicants, co-applicants and collaborators described on NSERC’s website under Eligibility criteria for faculty. [6] Please note that the 1-year COVID-19 extension to CREATE grants is added to the grant duration and affects the eligibility of applicants or co-applicants for new applications to the CREATE program.

Note to multi-university applicants: All universities that will be involved in the application must have at least one co-applicant listed in the proposal. This ensures access to CREATE funds for all students/fellows involved at that university. The funds will be administered by the co-applicant on behalf of all the students/fellows whether they are under the co-applicant’s direct supervision or not.

The following conditions apply to all applications:

• In the case of multi-organization collaborations (academic, industrial, government or not-for-profit sectors), the applicant must be from an NSERC-supported field at an NSERC-eligible university. One person must be designated to administer the grant. This person is the “applicant” and is responsible for completing and submitting the LOI and the application (if invited) on behalf of the group. The applicant’s university will be the lead university.
• Only trainees supervised by collaborators at one of the grantee institutions are eligible for CREATE stipends and expenses.
• At least 70% of the group of co-applicants must be from NSE fields, but co-applicants at the interdisciplinary frontier between NSE and the areas covered under the umbrella of SSHRC and CIHR may be incorporated into proposals. Applicants submitting proposals at the interdisciplinary frontiers of the granting agencies may be required to justify why NSERC is in fact the most appropriate funding agency [7] for their training proposals.
• The focus should be on new training initiatives; existing initiatives must justify the incremental value that will accrue from the CREATE program.
• A yearly quota has been established for each university, and only those researchers selected at their university can submit LOIs. In addition, a researcher may only be the applicant on one CREATE initiative annually. There is a limit on participation in multiple CREATE initiatives. NSERC limits the participation of an individual researcher in a maximum of two CREATE initiatives as either an applicant or co-applicant (active or applied for).
• Each training program will have a program committee [8] responsible for overseeing the progress of the program and its future directions. The chair of the program committee cannot be the CREATE lead applicant nor any co-applicant, direct collaborator (e.g., financial stakeholder, internship host, trainee supervisor, research collaborator or joint author), the program coordinator or a trainee.
• The program committee chair must approve each progress report.
• Additional requirements are as follows:
  • Researchers who currently hold or participate in an active CREATE grant must clearly describe their distinct contribution to and justification for their participation in the proposed training program.
  • Researchers who are applying in a research area already supported by other active CREATE grants must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded.
  • Previous CREATE grantees and co-grantees must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded.

Descriptions required above should appear in either the "Excellence of proposed team of researchers" or the "Merit of the proposed training program section," as applicable. Please refer to form 187 instructions for details. The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient information to enable the selection committee to evaluate the relationship with other CREATE initiatives. Currently funded CREATE grantees can be found in the competition results.

Maximum Project Value

Funding of $150,000 in the first year (± $50,000) and $300,000 (± $50,000) annually for up to five subsequent years will be provided by NSERC for up to $1.65 million over six years. It is expected that funds will be spent on an annual basis. The grantee will be able to choose either an April or a September start. Also, CREATE initiatives are expected to be self-sustaining by the end of six years. Note that there is no automatic extension for the use of funds, and renewal of funding beyond six years is not possible.

Collaborators may contribute additional funds. The application must provide a detailed justification of all expenses.

Eligible Expenses:

• At least 70% of the CREATE grant must be used for trainees’ stipends.
  • Up to 30% of this portion can be distributed to trainees who are not enrolled in the NSE.
• Remaining 30% of the CREATE funds may be used for the following expenses:
  • Training program administration;
  • Trainee travel;
  • Dissemination of training materials;
  • *NEW* Initiative website maintenance for duration of the grant;
  • *NEW* Travel & accommodation costs of the applicant, co-applicants or program coordinator to attend training events.

Indirect Costs

0%

Special Notes

Changes to the 2024 CREATE program include:

• Please note the adjustment made to the previously announced revised quota in December 2023. As of January 17, 2024, University Letter of Intent (LOI) quota for the University of Guelph will be four (4).
• The LOI stage is now non-competitive, meaning that the LOIs are not adjudicated by the selection committee and proceed directly to the application stage.
• LOI submissions are still required by May 1, but less information is required.
• The industrial stream has been eliminated. Industrial participation in CREATE initiatives is encouraged, but the extent and nature of industrial participation is determined by the applicants and their industrial partners.
• Mobility experiences are now mandatory for all master and doctoral trainees, with a minimum duration of one month at the master level and two months at the doctoral level.
• See ' 'Maximum Project Value' above' for eligible expense categories.
• See 'CREATE Information Session Slides' attached below for more details.

Details of these changes will be communicated in more detail at the information sessions above and reflected on the CREATE program website in March 2024. 

How to Apply

Applying to the CREATE Program involves a three phase application process: 

• Phase 1: Confirm College support and submit internal EOI form (Attachment section below) signed by ADR. AVPR will confirm University quota and approval to move to next phase.
• Phase 2: Letter of Intent; and 
• Phase 3: Full Application.

Phase 1: College/Institutional approval: University quota

Please review the "Deadlines" section above for instructions on U of G's internal requirements to obtain approval for use of the University's CREATE quota.

Phase 2: Letter of Intent

To apply for a CREATE Program grant, researchers must first submit Form 187 to their university for consideration. Refer to Form 187 instructions for complete information.

The entire LOI application process is performed using NSERC’s On-line System. Applicants must wait to "Submit" their LOI until the research grants office has reviewed and approved the submission. Applicants will be responsible for submitting the approved LOI to NSERC directly online.

A complete LOI includes the following:

• Form 187 (do not complete the self-ID questionnaire at LOI stage);
• Form 100 for the applicant;
• Letter from the applicant’s University Vice-President Research confirming the University's support, and that the application was selected as a part of the University's quota – *NEW* Do not describe financial and/or in-kind support at this stage;
• *NEW* Outline of Training Program: 300-word summary of the proposal; and
• *NEW* Excellence of Proposed Team: To satisfy system requirements, include this section, but leave as blank. The excellence of the team will be described at the full application stage.

Phase 3: Application

Applicants must then submit the following documents to NSERC through the research grant office by the deadlines indicated above. The research grant office will submit the full application to NSERC directly, on behalf of the applicant. 

• Form 102;
• Form 100 for the applicant;
• Form 100 or CCV for up to 10 co-applicants;
• Self ID questionnaire for applicant and co-applicants;
• One letter of support from the lead university; 
• A maximum of three letters from collaborators; and
• Research training program proposal.

Refer to Forms 100, CCV and 102 instructions for complete information.

The entire application process is performed using NSERC’s On-line System.

Information For Co-applicants

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Research Services Office with at least five days in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Research Services Office (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
CREATE Information Session (Feb 7, 2024) slides [11]	2.58 MB
EOI CREATE 2024 [12]	16.55 KB