FRQSC - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B3ZR) - 2023-2024

1. OBJECTIVES

This program offers a funding extension to support Fonds Société et culture Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) recipients in their efforts to publicize and promote the results of their postdoctoral research through knowledge mobilization activities, in accordance with the Fonds de recherche du Québec Knowledge Mobilization Strategy. Under this strategy, knowledge mobilization is an umbrella term covering several concepts related to the use and exploitation of research results: sharing, exchange, transfer, translation, application, valorization, commercialization, promotion, dissemination, etc.

More specifically, this program aims to maximize the impact of research funded by the Fonds in civil society by contributing to the circulation of knowledge and expertise outside the academic community and by encouraging the implementation of mobilization and transfer activities that will increase its reach. The following are targeted as potential users of research results: public, private, community and practice sector audiences; policymakers; the general public, etc.

This program also aims to promote the professional integration of postdoctoral fellows outside the academic community by encouraging them to create ties with the communities that are potential users of their research results.

2. VALUE AND DURATION

The fellowship has a maximum value of $45,000 and a duration of 12 months.

Based on the supporting document provided with the application (see Section 4.3) and on the evaluation committee’s recommendation, a supplement of $5,000 may be awarded for applicants who wish to implement their mobilization plan in whole or in part in a host environment situated more than 250 km from Québec’s borders.

3. ELIGIBILITY

All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements in effect at the time of application and for the duration of the fellowship. Applying more than once to this program, under any competition, is not permitted.

3.1 Conditions of use of the fellowship

The mobilization activities must take place over a 12-month period beginning no later than 3 months after the end of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) funding period (see Section 8, “Terms of the fellowship”).

They must be carried out under the formal supervision of a member of the academic community (researcher), who may or may not be the same person who supervised the postdoctoral fellowship funded under the Postdoctoral Fellowship program (B3Z). Academic co-supervision is accepted.

As practical experience is encouraged, applicants may also designate a non-academic setting from which to implement the knowledge mobilization plan. In this case, a person from the practice setting concerned must provide a letter of invitation (see 4.3).

3.2 Target group

This program is intended for all fellowship holders under the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program whose funding period is underway.

However, individuals who have already applied under this program (B3ZR) are excluded.

See Section 3.4 (“Application conditions”) for information on when to submit the funding application.

3.3 Citizenship and residency

To be eligible for the competition, the applicant must maintain the citizenship and residency conditions they demonstrated at the time of application for a Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z).

If the applicant acquires Canadian citizenship during the funding period of the postdoctoral fellowship (B3Z), the conditions and privileges associated with this status will apply (see the “Citizenship and residence” section of the Postdoctoral Fellowship – B3Z program).

3.4 Application conditions

To be eligible, the application form must be submitted in the last six months of the postdoctoral fellowship for which the applicant received funding under the B3Z program. An application submitted after the end of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) funding period is not eligible.

3.5 Eligibility period exceptions

For more information about conditions regarding eligibility period exceptions, please refer to Sections 6.13 and 6.14 of the CGR.

The Fonds reserves the right to refuse any request that is not adequately justified.

4. APPLICATION

Applicants are invited to refer to Section 3 “Submitting an Application” of the CGR.

An application consists of the following documents:

1. The application form (see 4.1);
2. The Canadian Common CV and Detailed Contributions file (see 4.2);
3. Required documents to be submitted with the form (see 4.3).

As indicated in the CGR (Section  3.6), it is preferable that forms be filled out in French, but they can also be filled out in English. However, the project title and abstract must imperatively be in French. This information may be used by the Fonds for promotional and dissemination purposes.

4.1 Application form

IMPORTANT: It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to choose the right application form, the right funding program and the right Fonds for their application. In the event of an error, the Fonds will not transfer the application and the application will be deemed ineligible, either when assessed for eligibility or by the evaluation committee.

The application form, entitled Postdoctoral Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B3ZR) (Bourse postdoctorale – Plan de mobilisation des connaissances), is available in the “Available competitions” section of the FRQnet portal.

4.2 Canadian Common CV and Detailed Contributions attachment

The Canadian Common CV and “Detailed Contributions” attachment file are available in the Toolbox section on the program page or directly in the “Activity details” box in the FRQnet E-portfolio. The Canadian Common CV (“Fonds Société et culture” version) must be up-to-date. The Detailed Contributions file, also up-to-date, must be completed in due form and attached to the application in the appropriate section of the FRQnet E-portfolio. To ensure that the attachment is properly transmitted to the Fonds, it must be saved in PDF format under “Canadian Common CV” in the FRQnet E-portfolio.

For more information, refer to Preparing a CV for the Fonds in the program Toolbox.

4.3 Required documents

The description of the mobilization plan (maximum 6 pages) must be attached in the appropriate section of the application form.

The following documents are also required and must be attached in the “Other documents” section of the form:

• POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH PROJECT SUMMARY (mandatory): A summary of the current funded postdoctoral research project that is the subject of the mobilization plan. (1 page)
• LETTER(S) OF SUPPORT (mandatory): A letter of support from each of the persons (maximum 2) designated to (co)supervise the postdoctoral fellowship in an academic setting, attesting to the relevance of the mobilization project and confirming (co)supervision for the additional year of funding (in the form, document referred to as: LETTRE DU SUPERVISEUR OU DE LA SUPERVISEURE). (5 pages)
• LETTER OF INVITATION FROM THE HOST ENVIRONMENT (if applicable): If the fellowship will be taking place in a non-academic setting, an official letter of support from a person representing the practice setting that has agreed to host the applicant for his/her mobilization activities must be included with the application. This letter must indicate the added value of this collaboration and describe the planned support and guidance mechanisms (in the form, document referred to as: LETTRE D’INVITATION DU MILIEU). (5 pages)
• PROOF OF REGISTRATION OR INVITATION (if applicable): Proof of registration or invitation to participate in an event relevant to the proposed knowledge mobilization activities. (5 pages)
• SUPPORTING DOCUMENT FOR THE $5,000 SUPPLEMENT FOR MOBILIZATION OUTSIDE QUÉBEC (if applicable): Applicants who plan to implement their mobilization plan in whole or in part in a host environment located more than 250 km from Québec’s borders and who wish to take advantage of the $5,000 supplement for mobilization outside Québec must include a demonstration of the added value and relevance of carrying out the mobilization activities in the intended location outside Québec. It is up to the evaluation committee to recommend that the Fonds grant this supplement if adequately justified. (See Section 2, “Value and duration”.) (1 page)
• A RAMQ CARD THAT IS VALID AT THE COMPETITION DEADLINE OR PROOF OF APPLICATION FOR A RAMQ CARD AND THAT THE NEW CARD WILL BE VALID AT THE COMPETITION DEADLINE, OR OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS (mandatory): If the applicant does not have a valid RAMQ card or proof that he or she has requested a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline, the applicant must provide a copy of two different documents, each of which demonstrates that he or she lived in Québec throughout the postdoctoral fellowship (see List of accepted documents )
• SUPPORTING DOCUMENT FOR ELIGIBILITY PERIOD EXCEPTION (if applicable): Applicants seeking eligibility period exceptions (see Section 3.5) must provide an official document attesting to a parental leave authorized by the Fonds during the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z), a medical certificate attesting to serious health reasons or a disability, or a supporting document attesting to major family obligations. (5 pages)

The number of pages requested for each document is specified in the form.

For each of the relevant sections under “Activity details”, all required documents must be assembled and scanned into a single PDF document and attached to the form in the section concerned.

To be accepted, scanned PDF copies must be legible and without read protection or special double tab configuration.

Refer to the Presentation standards for PDF attachments to FRQnet forms document to properly format any documents to be attached to the application.

No document other than those listed here will be accepted or forwarded to the evaluation committee.

4.4 Submitting the application

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. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required documents have been included and submitted with the application.

THE APPLICANT MUST NOT FORGET TO TRANSMIT THE APPLICATION AFTER COMPLETING AND VALIDATING IT, BY CLICKING THE “SUBMIT” BUTTON IN THE FORM.

At any time, applicants may verify in their FRQnet E-portfolio that the most recent version of their application has been successfully submitted. The application file in “My forms” should be flagged as “Submitted to the Fonds”. This indicates that the application has been received by the Fonds.

All applications received by the Fonds are assessed for eligibility. Applicants will be informed by email, at the latest one month following the submission of the application, of the progress of their application and, where applicable, its transmission to the evaluation committee. The evaluation committee has the right to declare an application ineligible if it considers that the application does not meet the program conditions and objectives.

Once the application has been assessed for eligibility and the applicant has been informed of its transmission or non-transmission to the evaluation committee, the application form may not be modified or resubmitted.

Applicants whose application package is deemed invalid will also be notified by email that their application has not been transmitted to the evaluation committee.

5. ASSESSMENT

5.1 Evaluation criteria, sub-criteria and weighting

Applications are evaluated according to the following  criteria, sub-criteria and weighting. Applicants are advised to attach equal importance to both the evaluation criteria and their associated sub-criteria.:

Postdoctoral fellowship (30 points):

• Scientific output (15 points)
• Acquisition of skills and experience (15 points)

Mobilization plan (70 points):

• Description of the planned mobilization strategy in accordance with the program objectives, including a presentation of the research results that will be mobilized and specifying the nature of the target  audience(s) (25 points)
• Relevance of the planned mobilization activities and anticipated benefits for the target audience(s) (20 points)
• Timeframe, realism and feasibility (15 points)
• Added value for the career plan (10 points)

5.2 Evaluation process

Applications are evaluated by scientific committee members recruited for their expertise, based on the FRQSC Scoring System Grid.

Under this program, the funding threshold is set at 80%, which aligns with the excellence criterion of the Scoring System Grid.

The number of recommended applications that receive funding will also depend on the availability of FRQSC funding for the program.

6. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

The results are announced via the applicant’s FRQnet E-portfolio no later than 8 to 10 weeks after the fellowship application submission date.

Successful applicants must accept or refuse the fellowship within 30 calendar days after the fellowship offer was sent, in the “Manage my funding” section of their FRQnet E-portfolio. An applicant who fails to accept the fellowship before the deadline is considered to have refused the fellowship (CGR, Section 5.3).

7. OPEN ACCESS DISSEMINATION POLICY

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this award 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. TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIP

To retain the fellowship, fellowship holders must meet the following basic conditions throughout the duration of funding:

• Meet the conditions relating to citizenship and place of residence.
• Have completed the Postdoctoral Fellowship funding period before beginning the mobilization activities.
• Begin the mobilization activities no later than 3 months after the end of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) funding period and pursue them on a full-time basis.
• Respect the rules relating to concurrent funding.
• Respect the rules relating to paid employment.

Fellowship holders are required to inform the Fonds immediately if they cease to satisfy any of these conditions. Should any of these conditions no longer be met, the Fonds will be obliged to withdraw the fellowship and could request reimbursement.

8.1 Fellowship period

The fellowship must begin no later than 3 months after the end of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) funding period.

The fellowship is non-transferrable from one year to the next.

The fellowship is not retroactive.

8.2 Fellowship payments

Each fellowship instalment covers a period of 4 months (the equivalent of one university term). Instalments must be requested each term in the “Manage my funding” section of the FRQnet E-portfolio.

The first fellowship payment is conditional on the submission, via the fellowship holder’s E-portfolio, of a Knowledge Mobilization Plan Certificate (available in the program Toolbox) signed by the supervisor and confirming the official start date of the mobilization activities.

Any unclaimed payment can be cancelled at the end of the period it covers, without advance notice.

8.3 Full-time rule

To retain the fellowship, the fellowship holder must devote himself/herself full-time to carrying out the mobilization activities. Failure to respect this rule could result in the withdrawal of the fellowship. If, under exceptional circumstances, these conditions cannot be respected, the Fonds must be advised as soon as possible and will determine whether the fellowship should be maintained or cancelled.

8.4 Instalment deferral or suspension of fellowship

Note that the postdoctoral fellowship cannot be suspended during the funding period. However, in the event of force majeure that prevents all or part of the postdoctoral fellowship from continuing on a full-time basis (e.g. major family obligations, serious illness, etc.), the fellowship holder must contact the Fonds, which will analyze the situation on reception of the required supporting documents and approve or refuse the requested suspension. If a suspension is granted, the payment(s) covering this period may be carried forward to the end of the funding period.

For more information on the conditions surrounding medical leave or other types of leave provided for by the Act respecting labour standards, please refer to Article 6.14 of the CGR.

8.5 Paid employment

Paid work carried out while pursuing the knowledge mobilization plan is permitted with no time limit per semester. This employment must be approved by the fellowship supervisor and must not interfere with the fellowship holder’s mobilization activities.

In addition to the paid work permitted per semester, a fellowship holder may accept remuneration to work exclusively on the knowledge mobilization plan funded by the Fonds. For the sole purpose of interpreting the rules for concurrent funding (see 8.7), this remuneration is considered a scholarship for which concurrent funding is permitted when confirmed by the fellowship supervisor.

8.6 Parental leave

The conditions regarding parental leave are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z).

8.7 Concurrent awards

THE FELLOWSHIP MAY NOT BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH:

• A fellowship or scholarship from a Canadian granting agency such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), etc.
• A fellowship or scholarship from a Québec granting agency such as the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), the Conseil de recherches en pêche et agro-alimentaire du Québec (CORPAQ).
• A scholarship from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) or the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) awarded for the same project.

THE FELLOWSHIP MAY BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH:

• Scholarships and fellowships from ministries and agencies of the Québec and Canadian governments, other than those mentioned above.
• Private sector and university scholarships and fellowships.

8.8 Changes during funding period

As indicated in Section 6.5 of the CGR, any changes to the conditions of the fellowship, the mobilization plan, the host environment or the (co)supervisor(s) require prior authorization from the Fonds. To that end, the applicant must submit a change request in the “Manage my funding” section of his or her FRQnet E-Portfolio. The program manager will analyze the request and ensure that the proposed changes do not affect the outcome of the initial evaluation. The decision to accept or refuse the requested changes is sent by email.

8.9 Convertibility of the fellowship into a start-up grant

This fellowship can be used as a start-up grant by a fellowship holder who is offered a position as a regular professor in a Québec university. The fellowship holder must have completed 4 full months of planned transfer activities before requesting to convert part of the fellowship (up to $15,000) into a start-up grant for the new position. The effective date of the start-up grant is the fellowship holder’s employment start date.

This grant is subject to the same rules as those of the Research Support for New Academics program. A person who benefits from this conversion remains eligible to apply for this program.

9. EFFECTIVE DATE

The provisions set out in this document apply to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

The Fonds reserves the right to modify the value of the scholarship and/or the program rules detailed in this document without prior notice.

Version updated on the website May 31, 2023.