College Research Team Projects (PEC)

1. OBJECTIVES

Through this program entitled College Research Team Projects, the FRQSC aims to:

• Promote, consolidate and maintain a diversified and high-quality research base in HASS fields within colleges and college centres for technology transfer (CCTT) in the social sphere
• Contribute to the emergence and retention of outstanding researchers in the college network
• Enhance the competitiveness of Québec researchers in federal competitions through the implementation of innovative projects
• Introduce college students to the practice of research in HASS fields, notably by awarding them research mandates in the form of scholarships or contracts
• Promote the transfer of knowledge

2. ELIGIBILITY

Only funding applications in research fields covered by the FRQSC are eligible.

2.1 Eligibility of the principal investigator

In addition to the conditions indicated in the CGR, the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements specific to this program at the time of application and throughout the duration of the grant, if awarded.

The person assuming the role of principal investigator must meet the following requirements:

Person who has a PhD and who is employed in the equivalent of a full-time position in the college-level institutions recognized by the FRQ to manage funding and/or in the Québec college centres for technology transfer (CCTT).

This person must also possess the professional autonomy required to supervise research projects and hold: i) a position as a college-level institution professor, OR ii) a position as a CCTT researcher, OR iii) a position in a college-level institution in which at least 75% of their time is dedicated to research activities. 

Precarious (i.e., non-tenured) teachers or researchers are eligible for the role of principal investigator or co-investigator (CGR, Roles in the application), provided that they maintain an employment relationship with a college or CCTT in Québec throughout the period covered by the grant. The managing institution must confirm at each grant year that it continues to employ the individual on an ongoing basis.

A college researcher may be principal investigator for only one project submitted or funded under this program.

2.2 Eligibility of co-investigators

In addition to the principal investigator, the team must include at least one co-investigator with one of the following statuses, as defined in the CGR:

Status 1: University researcher
Status 3: College researcher
Status 4 c): Practitioner

There is no limit to the number of co-investigators on a funding application.

It is possible to have the role of co-investigator in several projects submitted or funded under this program. However, the relevance and feasibility of this type of multiple participation will be examined by the evaluation committee.

The team may also include collaborators with any of the four research statuses defined in the CGR, as well as postdoctoral fellows, researchers outside Québec, and retired college researchers. The CVs of collaborators are not required for evaluation. An individual may be a collaborator on an unlimited number of funding applications.

Individuals funded under this program remain eligible for the role of principal investigator or co-investigator in FRQSC programs and competitions in which they are allowed to participate.

3. APPLICATION (see also Section 3 of the CGR)

Before applying, applicants must create a user account on the Fonds website, if this has not already been done. Individuals who already have a personal identification number (PIN) have direct access to a FRQnet account and must update their profile in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

3.1 Electronic forms 

Anyone wishing to apply to this program must complete the form that will be made available in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

Please consult the Presentation standards for files (PDF) attached to FRQnet forms document to properly format any documents to be attached to the application.

It is preferable that the funding application be written in French, but it can also be written in English. However, the title and abstract must be in French. These may be used by the Fonds for promotional and dissemination purposes (CGR, Section 3.6).

3.2 Documents to attach to the form 

– CANADIAN COMMON CV and DETAILED CONTRIBUTIONS FILE for each co-investigator associated with the project, including the principal investigator.

The Canadian Common CV and its Detailed Contributions attachment can be found in the Toolbox of the program page or in the Activity Details box on opening the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

The Canadian Common CV – “Société et culture” version – must have been updated within 12 months prior to the competition deadline. The Detailed Contributions file must be completed in due form and attached to the application in the appropriate section of the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

To ensure that the attachment is properly transmitted to the Fonds, it must be saved in PDF format in the Canadian Common CV section of the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

– A six-page text presenting the project in relation to the evaluation criteria.

– If the project includes a partnership dimension, proof of partnership may be provided to support the evaluation. This may take different forms, ranging from a letter of support from the partner(s) to a formal agreement co-signed by the team and its partners. It is suggested that the documents submitted for this purpose be explicit with regard to the nature of the partnership and the role of the parties involved.

3.3 Submission

An incomplete application that does not contain the information necessary to establish eligibility or which cannot be evaluated will be deemed ineligible by the Fonds. Elements missing from the application will not be requested. No document received after the deadline for application will be considered. Documents that are not required will not be submitted to the evaluation committee.

All applications received by the Fonds are assessed for eligibility. A notice will be sent via email no later than December following the competition deadline, informing the applicant of the status of his/her application and, where applicable, its transmission to the evaluation committee. Applicants whose application is not forwarded to the evaluation committee will also be informed of this by email.

A college administrator must approve and forward each application from his/her institution or CCTT using the FRQnet integrated management system. The administrator of a college that does not have access to this system must contact the program administrator in order to designate a system manager for their institution, no later than two weeks before the application deadline.

The form and all required documents must be submitted to the college before the competition deadline of October 24, 2022 at 4 p.m. 

4. EVALUATION

5. DESCRIPTION AND NATURE OF FUNDING

5.1 Type of funding

The funding consists of an operating grant of up to $60,000 per year for a period of 24 months. It must be used to cover the direct costs of carrying out the research project.

Indirect costs of research (FIR) (CGR, Section 8.2) are paid to the managing institution by the FRQSC. They are funded in addition to the $60,000.

5.2 Eligible expenses 

All budget items listed in the CGR (Section 8) for the conduct of research projects are eligible.

Costs associated with a release from teaching activities to carry out research or coordination activities are allowed for the principal investigator and co-investigators who hold a doctoral degree. This amount is to be taken from the $60,000 annual funding envelope. The appropriateness of this teaching release expense will be assessed by the scientific committee

In addition, a portion of the grant at the discretion of the principal investigator may be used for salary support for Status 3 co-investigators working in a CCTT without teaching duties and who may or may not have a doctoral degree. This amount must be included in the budget and may, if awarded, be transferred by the principal investigator’s institution directly to the college institution with which the CCTT researcher is affiliated.

6. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

For information on the results of the competition, contact the grant officer at the managing institution, the Fonds website, or the College Research Team Projects program administrator.

7. FOLLOW-UP AND FINANCIAL REPORTING

The conditions regarding the management of funding and reporting mechanisms are set out in the CGR (sections 5 to 8).

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this grant must be released as immediate open access (without embargo), under an open license, in accordance with the FRQ Open Access Policy (revised in 2022).

8. EFFECTIVE DATE

These rules apply to the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Technical assistance 
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: 418 646-3669
Toll free: 1 866 621-7084

centre.assistance.sc@frq.gouv.qc.ca

Email requests for technical assistance are given priority. Nevertheless, we would like to draw the attention of applicants to the fact that, in the event of a large volume of requests in the 48 hours preceding the application deadline, the Fonds cannot guarantee adequate assistance. Applicants are therefore encouraged to plan accordingly for the completion of their funding application in order to ensure submission in a timely manner.

Updated July 7, 2022