Visage Municipal Program (pilot) 2021-2022

1. Objectives

The general objective of the Visage Municipal (MUN) program is to catalyze the development of research projects conducted in partnership between the scientific research community and Municipal stakeholders in Québec. Through the MUN program, the FRQ aim to fund intersectoral research and innovation activities dealing with issues jointly identified by researchers and key actors in Québec’s municipal and regional sectors.

More specifically, this funding program aims to:

1. Support innovative research projects based on the needs and challenges of Municipalities;
2. Promote intersectoral networking by financing research projects at the interface between different disciplines and sectors¹;
3. Exert a decisive leverage effect for the development of research projects defined and carried out in partnership between post-secondary institutions and Municipalities in Québec;
4. Provide a high quality, stimulating environment for the training and mentoring of college and university students and postdoctoral fellows;
5. Strengthen the commitment of the FRQ and the scientific community to society by supporting projects that meet the research, innovation and skill development needs of Québec Municipalities.

By “intersectoral networking”, the FRQ are referring to a research and collaboration approach which, in order to shed new light on common or shared research issues, brings together researchers from disciplinary fields or research practices from at least two of the three major sectors covered by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (Nature et technologies, Santé, Société et culture). For reference, the research areas covered by each of the FRQ are listed on their web pages: FRQNT; FRQSC and FRQS. We are talking about going beyond the simple combination or juxtaposition of several disciplines and sectors (or even the instrumentalization of one discipline or sector by another) to resolve a problem or tackle a research topic. From an intersectoral perspective, disciplines and sectors must firmly engage in a joint, co-created “research approach” whose mode of operation lies outside of the hierarchization of fields of knowledge.

¹For the FRQS research sector:

Research teams who wish to include or address a health research component in their project proposal are encouraged to consider, for example (but not limited to) the areas of mental health and addictions, population health (e.g. public and community health, environmental health) and population aging.

2. Eligibility requirements

Researchers, co-investigators, Municipalities and institutions must meet the conditions set out in the program rules and the Common General Rules (CGR) upon submission of a Pre-Application and for the duration of funding. The Fonds determines the administrative eligibility and admissibility of the application based on the information and documents received by the deadline for each stage of the program (see Section 3).

2.1 Project

To be eligible for the Visage Municipal program, a project must meet all the following conditions:

• The project is carried out entirely in Québec, and involves the active participation of people residing in Québec for the duration of funding;
• The project respects the maximum budget for FRQ funding, i.e. $100,000 over 2 years;
• The project is supported by a Partner Municipality as per the terms and conditions set out in Section 2.6.

The following are not eligible:

• Projects that have been rejected by citizens during a public consultation exercise or a referendum approval process.

2.2 Composition of the research team (roles)

As of the Pre-Application Stage, eligible research teams must be composed of at least three members, each of whom assumes one of the following roles:

1. A researcher working primarily in research fields covered by one of the Fonds de recherche du Québec, who assumes the role of principal investigator (see Section 2.3.);
2. A person attached to the Partner Municipality involved in the project, who assumes the role of co-investigator (see Section 2.4.1). Hereinafter referred to as the “Municipal co-investigator”;
3. A researcher working primarily in research fields covered by a different Fonds de recherche du Québec than the principal investigator, who assumes the role of co-investigator (see Section 2.4.2). Hereinafter referred to as the “mandatory scientific co-investigator”.These three individuals must be identified in the Pre-Application (see Section 3.1; document #7). In the event that several Municipalities support the same project, one person from each of the Municipalities involved must assume the role of Municipal co-investigator in the team, under the same conditions indicated in Section 2.4.1. This or these Municipal co-investigators must be identified in the Pre-Application and are part of the mandatory minimum team (see Section 3.1; document #7).A research team may also include:
4. One or two additional Co-investigators (see Section 2.4.2). These co-investigators must work in research fields covered by one or more of the three FRQ.

Important:

• After submission of the Pre-Application, the mandatory team members (points 1, 2 and 3 above) cannot be replaced except in the event of force majeure and upon approval of the Fonds.
• An individual may only be a team member (points 1, 2, 3 and 4 above) in one project under the same competition. However, a team member may be a collaborator on several projects (see Section 2.5.).

2.3 Eligibility of the principal investigator (research status)

The principal investigator of the project must have one of the following statuses as defined in the FRQ CGR: Status 1, 2 or 3*.

*Status 3: For college researchers working in research fields covered by the Fonds Société et culture, the definition of Status 3 provided in the CGR applies.

College researchers (Status 3) working in research fields covered by the Fonds Nature et technologies and Santé must have at least a master’s degree and possess the professional autonomy required to direct research projects and supervise students. Hereafter, eligible college researcher status will be referred to as “Status 3*”.

2.4 Eligibility of co-investigators (research status)

2.4.1 Municipal co-investigator

Under the Visage Municipal program, the Municipal co-investigator ensures that the project is aligned with the reality and needs of the territory covered by the study. He or she has Status 4c of the CGR. No amount of FRQ funding can be transferred to the Municipal co-investigator or his/her home Municipality.

To be eligible for the program, a Municipal co-investigator must:

1. Contribute to the project by providing skills, a capacity for action, experience, and practical knowledge of the territory, rather than research or research-creation expertise;
   and
2. Occupy one of the following positions:

• a. Director general of the Partner Municipality;
• b. Director of a department of the Partner Municipality;
• c. Full-time employee of the Partner Municipality supporting the project;
• d. Full-time employee of a mandatary body2 of the Partner Municipality supporting the project.

² “Mandatary body of the municipality” means any body or NPO declared by law to be a mandatary or agent of the municipality, whose board of directors is composed in the majority of members of the council of the municipality and whose budget is adopted by the council of the municipality (source: CQLR, c. R-9.3, art. 18).

The following are not eligible to be Municipal co-investigator:

• The mayor of the Municipality or any member of the municipal council;
• Individuals with research status 1, 2, 3*, 4a, 4b as defined in the CGR and the program rules;
• Any person paid by or under contract with a post-secondary institution for research activities at the time of application and for the duration of funding.

2.4.2 Co-investigators

The mandatory scientific co-investigator and the one or two additional co-investigators must have one of the following statuses, as described by the FRQ CGR and the program rules: Status 1, 2 or 3*.

2.5 Collaborators

Collaborators can contribute to the research project. The definition of this role is presented in the CGR.

2.6 Municipal support

A project submitted to this program must receive support from at least one Partner Municipality. The term “Municipality” as applicable to this program is defined at the top of the page. A Municipality can only be part of one Pre-Application and one Funding Application.

This support from the Partner Municipality is comprised of the following two actions:

1. The Partner Municipality provides the principal investigator with a Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement, available in the Toolbox, duly signed at the time of submitting the Pre-Application.

The following may sign the Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement, as applicable:

3. Contents of applications and required documents

The electronic Pre-Application and Funding Application forms must be completed and submitted via the E-portfolio of the principal investigator, available in FRQnet. Stage 1 is mandatory and precedes Stage 2.

Important: Pages in excess of the maximum number permitted for the type of document will be systematically removed without notice from the files submitted for evaluation.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all accompanying documents to be attached to the electronic form must comply with the standards presented in the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document.

Stage 1: Pre-Application form
The purpose of the Pre-Application is to assess the appropriateness and relevance of the project in relation to the program objectives.

Required documents:

1. FRQnet form:
   Accessible directly in the FRQnet Portfolio of the principal investigator. Mandatory.
2. Project presentation (3 pages maximum – PDF format) :
   Attach in the “Project or program description” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
3. Bibliography (1 page maximum – PDF format) :
   Attach in the “Bibliography” tab of the FRQnet form. Optionnal document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
4. The abridged CV of the principal investigator (3 pages maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Free formatting standard, see the FRQ Abridged CV – Expected Information document in the Toolbox.
5. A letter from the institution confirming eligible status for principal investigators with Status 3* (1 page maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document where applicable. Formatting standard : use letter template provided in the Toolbox.
6. Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement (4 pages per Partner Municipality – PDF format – If there are several Municipalities, combine all the Agreements in a single PDF document):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Formatting standard: use the template provided in the Toolbox. The attestation must be duly signed.
7. Team composition (1 page maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Formatting standard: use the template provided in the Toolbox.
   This is a list of team members and their affiliations. The team composition must meet the program eligibility requirements.

Stage 2: Funding Application form

Only the principal researchers of projects that are declared eligible and receive a positive evaluation in Stage 1 (Section 5.1.) will be invited to submit a Funding Application.

Required documents:

1. FRQnet form:
   Accessible directly in the FRQnet Portfolio of the principal investigator. Mandatory.
2. Project description (6 pages maximum – PDF format) :
   Attach in the “Project or program description” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
3. Bibliography (1 page maximum – PDF format) :
   Attach in the “Bibliography” tab of the FRQnet form. Optional document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
4. Justification of planned expenditures for the FRQ funding (2 pages maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Budget” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
5. Justification of supplement for release from teaching duties, if applicable (1 page maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Teaching release – college” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document where applicable. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
6. Letter of support from the Partner Municipality (1 page per Partner Municipality – PDF format – If there are several Municipalities, combine all the letters in a single PDF document):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Optional document. Free formatting standard.
   If provided, the Letter indicates how the Partner Municipality :
   (1) Intends to contribute to the successful implementation of the research project;
   (2) Will benefit from the results of the research project.
   Important: The Letter must be signed by one of the signatories authorized in Section 2.6 as applicable.
7. A letter from the institution confirming eligible status for co-investigators with Status 3* (1 page maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document where applicable. Formatting standard: use the template provided in the Toolbox.
   It is not necessary to provide this letter again for a principal investigator with Status 3 if the contents of the Letter included with the Pre-Application still apply.
8. If necessary**, a new Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement, (4 pages per Partner Municipality – PDF format – If there are several Municipalities, combine all the letters in a single PDF document):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document where applicable. Formatting standard: use the template provided in the Toolbox. The attestation must be duly signed.
   ** Do you need to provide a new Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement at Stage 2 of the competition?
   If there have been no changes to the Partner Municipality’s contribution since the Pre-Application, this document is not required. You must submit a new Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement only if you have made changes to the letter submitted with the Pre-Application (e.g., revised monetary contribution amounts, addition of Municipalities). If you change the Municipality’s monetary contribution between the Pre-Application and the Funding Application, be sure to (1) meet the minimum required percentages for the Municipality’s monetary contribution, calculated according to the annual amount of FRQ funding as per the applicable Case (see Section 2.6.) and (2) indicate the same amounts in the Contribution Agreement signed by the Municipality and in the table in the “Partner contributions” tab of the FRQnet form.
9. The updated abridged CV of the principal investigator (3 pages maximum – PDF format):
   Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Free formatting standard, see the FRQ Abridged CV – Expected Information document in the Toolbox.
   If there have been no changes to your CV since Stage 1, submit the same CV.
10. The abridged CV of all co-investigators on the team (3 pages maximum per CV – PDF format – Combine all these CVs into a single PDF):
    Attach in the “Co-investigators” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document for: Municipal co-investigator ;Mandatory scientific co-investigator ; Additional co-investigator, if applicable. Free formatting standard, see the FRQ Abridged CV – Expected Information document in the Toolbox.
11. Document addressing the EDI criterion (1 page maximum – PDF format):
    Attach in the “Other documents” tab of the FRQnet form. Mandatory document. Compliance with the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms document required.
    Note for the principal investigator: At Stage 2 of the competition (Funding Application), all co-investigators (Status 1, 2, 3*, 4c) must be listed in the Co-investigators tab in the FRQnet form. To add a co-investigator to your team, you must ensure that he or she has a FRQnet account. We invite you to send them the procedure to follow, available in the Toolbox.

4. Procedure for submitting the Pre-Application and Funding Application

The Pre-Application and Funding Application (Stage 2) must be completed using the appropriate forms available in the FRQnet E-portfolio of the person designated as the project’s principal investigator.

• The Pre-Application (letter of intent) must be submitted to the FRQ before October 4, 2021, 4 p.m.
• By invitation from the FRQ, the Funding Application must be submitted to the FRQ before January 20, 2022, 4 p.m.

Important: The managing institution must approve your Pre-Application and Funding Application in the Institution portal before they are submitted to the FRQ. It is therefore likely that your institution has set an internal deadline earlier than the actual competition deadline. To find out the internal deadline, contact the person in charge of research at your institution (Office of Research, Dean’s Office, research advisor, etc.) to ensure that all documents are submitted on time.

5. Evaluation of Pre-Applications and Applications

5.1. Evaluation of Pre-Applications

Pre-Applications that meet the eligibility requirements are forwarded to a relevance committee whose members are recognized for their skills, expertise and achievements relating to the program objectives and the applications submitted.

The appropriateness and relevance of each project in relation to the program objectives is assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Direct alignment of the project’s objectives, results and deliverables with the needs of the Partner Municipality(ies) (40 points)
   In the project presentation, identify and formulate the needs and expectations of your Municipal partners in relation to the research project. The objectives of the research project must explicitly relate to these needs. The expected results and deliverables must be consistent with these objectives.
2. Level of intersectoral integration of the project and quality of the partnership(s) with the Municipality(ies) (30 points)
   This level of integration must be apparent in the project’s design and objectives, the methodology and the team composition. See the definition of “intersectoral networking” at the beginning of the program rules.
3. Nature and significance of the project’s impacts for the research community and the municipal or regional community (30 points)
   The Pre-Application evaluation is an eliminatory stage. The relevance assessment has a cut-off score of 80%, which is eliminatory. A limited number of relevant Pre-Applications representing no more than twice the budget of this competition are selected on the basis of merit according to the score assigned by the relevance committee. Successful applicants are then invited to submit a Funding Application.

5.2. Evaluation of the Funding Application

The FRQ submits the Funding Applications for scientific evaluation by a committee whose members are recognized for their skills, expertise and achievements relating to the program objectives and the applications submitted.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria and weighting:

1. Scientific quality of the research project (25 points)
   – Originality and contribution of the project to the advancement of knowledge;
   – Clarity of the scientific objectives and the proposed methodology;
   – Realism of the budget and timeline.
2. Quality of the team and the partnership(s) (25 points)
   – Demonstration of the collaborative construction and joint implementation plan of the project between team members;
   – Research accomplishments of the team members and alignment between the expertise of the team members and the research project;
   – Intersectoral and complementary nature of the team;
   – Quality of involvement and collaboration with the partner(s) from the Municipality(ies).
   A methodological approach that includes a participatory view of the Municipality is an asset.
3. Quality of the knowledge mobilization and dissemination plan (25 points)
   – Positive impact of the proposed project on the search for solutions to the needs expressed by the Partner Municipality(ies);
   – Implementation of a strategy for transferring the results and know-how acquired to the municipal or regional community;
   – Quality of the plan for knowledge and technology mobilization and uptake.
4. Quality of the supervisory environment for student researchers (20 points)
   – Integration and supervision of students (college, undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate) or postdoctoral fellows in the research project;
   – Joint experience of team members in supervising students;
   – Quality, inclusion and diversity of the supervisory environment.
   The involvement of student researchers in the project must be described. An emphasis on intersectorality and collaboration with the municipal sector in student training is an asset.
5. Consideration of the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) (5 points)
   This criterion assesses the applicant or team’s efforts to promote equity, diversity and inclusion, not the composition of research teams*.
   – Training: specific actions already taken and/or planned to promote EDI in the training of the next generation (recruitment, mentoring and career development practices, etc.);
   – Research: where relevant, the consideration of diversity in the design and execution of research projects (research questions, methodology, etc.) and the dissemination and mobilization of knowledge to a diverse audience;
   – Involvement: specific actions already taken and/or planned to promote EDI in the applicant’s community or field or within the research community in general (committees, inclusive scientific events, awareness activities, etc.).
   *The applicant should not provide any information as to whether he or she, or members of the team, belong to marginalized or underrepresented groups. For more information, please refer to the Our Actions section under the Equity, diversity and inclusion tab of the FRQ website.
   The Application evaluation has a cut-off score of 80 %, which is eliminatory.

6. Description and nature of funding

6.1. General considerations

The maximum funding awarded by the FRQ for a project is $100,000 in total, over 2 years.
The funding contributes to operating expenses directly related to carrying out the research project, the training of highly qualified personnel, and the dissemination of the results to the research and Municipal communities.

Only eligible expenses that are directly related to the proposed research activities of the project will be accepted. These must be rigorously justified in the Funding Application. Any unjustified expenses may be removed from the budget during the evaluation of the Application.

Important: No portion of the FRQ funding can be transferred to the Partner Municipality, in accordance with the CGR. Municipal co-investigators may be reimbursed upon presentation of invoices for expenses incurred as a result of their participation in the funded research activity.

The minimum monetary contribution from the Municipality is required in addition to the FRQ funding and is added to the funding amount (see Section 2.6.).

6.2. Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses under this program are those listed in Section 8 of the CGR, with the exception of expenses covered by Section 8.7 of the CGR. The following expenses are also eligible:

Salary support for eligible Status 3* CCTT researchers with no teaching duties working in fields of research covered by the Fonds NT or the Fonds Santé

Part of the funding awarded may be used as salary support for college researchers on the team who have no teaching duties. This amount must be included in the budget. In the event of funding, this amount is paid directly to the college, or to the college with which the CCTT is affiliated in the case of a CCTT researcher.

SUPPLEMENT for eligible Status 3* college researchers with teaching duties working in fields of research covered by the Fonds NT (Teaching release –college)

For each college researcher on the team who has teaching duties, a maximum additional amount of $16,000 per year can be requested in the Teaching release – college tab of the FRQnet form. In the event of funding, this amount is paid directly to the college to cover the portion of the salary dedicated to a release from teaching duties.

SUPPLEMENT for eligible Status 3* college researchers with teaching duties working in fields of research covered by the Fonds Santé (Teaching release –college)

For a principal investigator who is a Status 3* researcher with teaching duties, an additional amount representing between 30% and 50% of his or her gross salary can be requested in the Teaching release – college tab of the FRQnet form. For a co-investigator who is a Status 3* researcher with teaching duties, an additional amount representing up to 20% of the gross salary can be requested in the Teaching release – college tab of the FRQnet form.

In the event of funding, these amounts are paid directly to the college to cover the portion of the salary dedicated to a release from teaching duties.

SUPPLEMENT for eligible Status 3* college researchers with teaching duties working in fields of research covered by the Fonds SC (Teaching release –college)

Status 3 researchers on the team are eligible to apply for a release from teaching duties under the Program to Release College Researchers from their Teaching Duties (CHZ). Researchers interested in obtaining this supplement are invited to read the complete rules of this program.

The principal investigator must identify, in the Teaching release – college tab of the FRQnet form, each person—including himself or herself, where applicable—for whom a release from teaching duties is being requested. Note that the CCV is not required for the Visage Municipal program. In the event of funding, these amounts are paid directly to the college to cover the portion of the salary dedicated to a release from teaching duties.

6.3. Conditions for disbursement of funding instalments

Allocation of funding and disbursement of funds for the first year are conditional on:

• The principal investigator’s agreement to carry out the research activities according to the objectives and timeframe established in the Funding Application, with the financial resources granted and in compliance with the conditions set out in the summary sheet accompanying the announcement letter;
• The members of the research team continuing to meet the initial eligibility requirements for the duration of the funding;
• The maintenance of support for the project from the Municipality(ies) involved for the duration of the funding in accordance with the terms set out in the Partner Municipality Contribution Agreement provided with the evaluated application;
• An agreement being signed between the funding holder and his or her managing institution and the Partner Municipality(ies) concerning:
  (1) Intellectual property clauses that respect the basic principles set out in the CGR (§ 5.6.) and the program rules; and
  (2) Payment of the amounts committed in the Funding Application by the Partner Municipality(ies) to the managing institution.

The managing institution shall confirm in an email to the FRQ that such an agreement, which complies with the CGR and the program rules, has been reached between the grant holder, his or her institution and the Partner Municipality(ies), no later than six months after the announcement of the funding award. The agreement must be effective as of the project start date of March 31, 2022.

All other conditions related to awards set out in the CGR must also be respected. Any additional conditions, if applicable, will be indicated in the award letter or at the time of subsequent instalments.

7. Duration and management of funding

Funding is awarded for a period of 2 years. Funds are disbursed annually for the period from April 1 to March 31 of each year.

Indirect research costs (FIR) of 27% are paid to the principal investigator’s institution on the portion of funding provided by the FRQ in addition to the FRQ funding when this institution is a university (Section 8.2 of the CGR).

The funding is not renewable.

Good to know: With the exception of the Financial report, all the following reports must be written in French.

Financial report (CGR §7.1.): The managing institution must submit an annual financial report via the FRQnet Portfolio no later than June of each year of funding.

Progress report (CGR §7.2.): After a year of funding, teams must submit a progress report to the FRQ via the FRQnet Portfolio of the principal investigator. This report describes the progress of the work in relation to the objectives presented in the initial application and provides a follow-up of the implementation schedule, the budget, and the training of students.

Final report: No later than one year (12 months) after the end of the research project, funded teams must provide a final report presenting the results obtained in relation to the objectives set out in the initial application. This report is submitted to the FRQ via the FRQnet Portfolio of the principal investigator.

8. Announcement of results

Decisions regarding the admissibility and eligibility of applications are final and without appeal.

8.1. Stage 1

The results of Stage 1 are sent to applicants in December 2021.

8.2. Stage 2

Funding awards will be announced in March 2022. The list of funding recipients is published on the FRQ website.

Funding is contingent on the allocation of funding by the Québec National Assembly and the decisions of the Board of Directors of the Fonds, and may be modified at any time without prior notice. It is therefore highly recommended that no funding be committed before it has been officially announced.

9. Ethics and the responsible conduct of research

9.1. Responsible conduct of research

Please refer to the CGR and the FRQ Policy for the responsible conduct of research for any matter related to responsible conduct in research, privacy and confidentiality, intellectual property and the protection of academic freedom.

Researchers working primarily in research fields covered by the FRQS: Basic training in research ethics is mandatory for all research projects that involve human beings. Research on human beings involves: the participation of human beings; use of human biological materials (parts, products, tissue, cells, genetic materials, derived from a living or dead individual); assisted procreation activities or the use of human embryos derived therefrom, within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities relating to assisted procreation (CQLR c. A-5.01); the use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data from human participants. This basic training consists of successfully completing levels 1 and 3 of the Online Tutorial in Research Ethics developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

Principal investigators and co-investigators on the team who work primarily in research fields covered by the FRQS must confirm that they have completed this basic training before activation of payments.

Researchers working primarily in research fields covered by the FRQSC: Basic training in research ethics is mandatory. This basic training consists of successfully completing levels 1 and 3 of the Online Tutorial in Research Ethics developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. The principal investigators and co-investigators of these projects must complete this basic training before activation of payments.

9.2. Intellectual property

The sharing of intellectual property rights and exploitation rights must comply with the principles defined by the Government of Québec in its Action Plan for managing intellectual property in universities and institutions of the health and social service network (MRST, 2002) and the CGR  (§. 5.6.).

Compliance: Researchers funded under this program must comply with the practices in effect in their institution. Team members and partners are also required to comply with these practices. Accordingly, researchers and their institutions should work with practitioner co-investigators and project partners to negotiate intellectual property clauses that respect the fundamental principles set out in the Action Plan and the CGR with respect to intellectual property (Section 5.5). The institution must confirm that such an agreement has been reached prior to the disbursement of funding.

Rights of the FRQ regarding the summary of results available in the final report: The FRQ may use the summary of project results and applications requested in the final report form, for reproduction, adaptation, publication, translation, or communication to the public by any means (conference, websites, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in compliance with copyrights and for non-commercial purposes only. The text may be edited prior to dissemination without further notice.

10. Effective date

These rules apply to the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

11. Contact person for this program

Margaux Gourdal
Program Administrator
Visage municipal program
418 643-8560, poste 3373
Margaux.Gourdal@frq.gouv.qc.ca