Competition year : 
2020-2021

Deadline (application) : 
October 31st, 2019 at 16:30 (EST)

Announcement of results : 
March or April 2020

Amount : 
Monthly living allowances of $ CAN 2,500, for researchers from Palestine

Duration : 
Maximum of 4 months

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Objective

In May 2017, a four-year scientific research collaboration agreement was signed between the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) and the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST). Its main objective is to set up a program in Quebec universities that consists of scientific missions for researchers from Palestinian universities. Proud of the success of the first two editions, the partners of the agreement are pleased with the launch of the program for the third year in a row. Once again, the Quebec scientific community is invited to respond massively to the call.

It should be noted that this agreement does not provide for researchers from Quebec to travel to Palestine in order to carrying out scientific missions.

Note: These rules mainly concern researchers from Québec. The equivalent for researchers from Palestine is availlable on the following website: http://palast.ps/en

Table of contents

  1. ELIGIBILITY OF SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS
  2. ELIGIBILITY OF RESEARCHERS
  3. PROCESS
  4. MANDATES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  5. RESEARCH RESULTS AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
  6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
  7. PARTNERS

1. ELIGIBILITY OF SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS

Domains of research

There is great flexibility in the themes of the scientific missions that can be carried out. Here are the privileged domains or research:

  • Health Sciences
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering
  • Social sciences and humanities (including economics)
  • Arts, language and literature
Opportunities

Scientific missions can meet different needs. Depending on the needs expressed by the host researcher from Québec and those of the Palestine researcher, various possibilities are available, notably:

  • Networking
  • Knowledge sharing (theories, research methods, tools and instruments, good practices, etc.)
  • Visits to laboratories or research facilities
  • Contribution of the Palestine researcher to a research project of the host researcher already ongoing
  • Contribution of the host researcher to a research project of the Palestine researcher already ongoinge
  • Starting of a joint research project
DurationThe minimum duration of a scientific mission is one (1) month and the maximum duration is four (4) months.

2. ELIGIBILITY OF RESEARCHERS

Host researchers from Québec

All Québec researchers wishing to host a researcher from Palestine must meet the definition of one of the following eligible research statutes (see the Definitions section of the General Common Rules):

  • University researcher
  • Clinical university researcher
Researchers from PalestineAll researchers from Palestine who wish to carry out a scientific mission in a Québec university must meet these criteria:
  • Work in a university in the West Bank, Jerusalem or Gaza or are members of the PALAST
  • Work on themes within the domains of research described above
  • Live in the West Bank, Jerusalem or Gaza

Note: the collaboration agreement values, but is not limited to, the scientific missions of young researchers.

3. PROCESS

Step 1Québec researchers wishing to host a researcher from Palestine must signify their interest by registering with the FRQ. To do this, they must click on the following link, which gives access to a form to complete: REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDED. The information to be provided is: name and first name, e-mail address, university, department, areas of interest and research, types of missions accepted (knowledge sharing, starting of a joint research project, etc.) and capacity (possibility to host more than one researcher or more than one researcher from Palestine. The deadline for registration is October 31st, 2019.
Step 2The FRQ verify the eligibility of Québec researchers who have registered, and then forward the final list to the PALAST.
Step 3The PALAST publishes the list of Québec researchers who have shown interest on its website for a period of about two months, so that the community of researchers from Palestine interested in scientific missions in Quebec can identify potential collaborations. The areas of interest and research as well as the types of missions accepted are crucial in this respect.
Step 4Researchers from Palestine contact researchers from Québec by e-mail to see if interests are shared and collaborations possible. If this is the case, both parties agree on the terms of the scientific mission (type, start date, duration, etc.). The host researcher from Quebec must then produce an official letter of invitation, ideally approved by the authorities in good standing of his university (Rectorate, Vice-Rectorate of Research, International Cooperation Office, etc.) and send to the visiting researcher from Palestine.
Step 5The researcher from Palestine submits a complete application package (including the official letter of invitation) to the PALAST. In January or February 2020, PALAST will hold a selection committee. The evaluation criteria are as follows:
  • Quality of research carried out by researchers in Quebec and researchers in the West Bank, Jerusalem or Gaza.
  • Complementarity of methodologies and disciplinary skills of researchers
  • Societal relevance or sensitivity to the Palestinian context
  • Presence of added value
  • Scientific value and potential benefits
  • Justifications presented
  •  Proposed duration
Step 6During the month of March or April 2020, the PALAST will inform the FRQ of the researchers that have been selected. The FRQ then contact the authorities of each Quebec university that will be visited by researchers from Palestine. Some relevant information is then transmitted to them: identity of visitors, identity of host researchers, expected date of start of the scientific missions as well as their duration. Note that it is the responsibility of the researchers to establish the preliminary contacts and invest the preliminary efforts required, so that the missions can be realized. For this third year of the Collaboration Agreement, it is expected that the scientific missions will start in May or June 2020.

4. MANDATES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Partners in the Agreement (FRQ and PALAST)           
  • Partners are responsible for the successful completion of the steps leading to the selection of applications, according to the process described above.
  • Partners are responsible for the payment of subsistence allowances to researchers in Palestine. The monthly allowance is $ CAN 2500. No additional amount will be paid by the partners, whether to researchers from Québec or researchers from Palestine, for carrying out the activities planned as part of the research mission.
  • Partners are not responsible for the procedures and decisions made by visa issuing authorities and other documents required for entry into Canada.
Host researchers from Québec
  • As indicated above, host researcher must produce an official letter of invitation. This letter will be useful to the researcher from Palestine in the constitution of his file for obtaining his visa and, possibly, during the control at the Canadian customs.
  • The host researcher from Québec must ensure that the research mission is conducted according to the terms and conditions agreed with the researcher from Palestine, as well as adequate access to the research facilities. In this respect, good communication with the authorities in good standing of the university is essential.
  • The researcher from Québec may decide to use his or her own research funds for activities related to the scientific mission, but there is no obligation about it. This is entirely left to his or her discretion.
  • The host researcher from Quebec agrees to complete a mission report, the template of which will be prepared by the FRQ, in order to assess the impact of the latter and to obtain feedback regarding the general experience.
Researchers from Palestine
  • The researcher from Palestine is responsible for his accommodation in Québec.
  • The researcher from Palestine must have adequate travel, health and personal liability insurance before arriving in Canada. In the same vein, he or she has checked whether the host institution requires additional or special coverages.
  • The researcher from Palestine agrees to respect the terms and conditions agreed upon with the host researcher in Québec.
  • The researcher from Palestine agrees to complete a mission report prepared jointly by the FRQ and the PALAST, in order to assess the impact of the mission and to obtain feedback regarding the general experience.

5. RESEARCH RESULTS AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Dissemination and use of results by the partners

Grant holders undertake to authorize partners to use the final report and the research results publicly released by the researcher (in the context of a scientific conference, symposium, congress or publication on a website), including for purposes of reproduction, translation, execution or communication to the public by any means whatsoever, same as any other form of use. This use must be made in respect of copyright and only for non-commercial purposes.

Open access

In accordance with the Fonds de recherche du Québec Open access policy for the dissemination of research, all researchers must agree to make their publications freely available in open access within 12 months of publication. For further information concerning FRQ requirements on the subject, please consult our Open science  Web page.

Knowkledge mobilization

The FRQS encourages researchers to conduct and participate in knowledge mobilization activities (transfer, sharing, development, enhancement and dissemination) with practice settings and the general public, when such activities are relevant. Please read the document Knowledge Mobilization.

6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The sharing of intellectual property rights and user rights must comply with the rules of the funding agencies involved.

7. PARTNERS

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS)

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC)

Palestine Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST)