Competition year :
2024-2025
Deadline (application) :
Announcement of results :
For application deadlines and announcement of results, see details below.
Amount :
$45,000
Duration :
12 months
TWO CALLS WILL BE HELD FOR THE 2024-2025 COMPETITION, WITH THE FOLLOWING DEADLINES:
CALL 1
Deadline for submission of applications: May 1, 2024, 4 p.m.
Announcement of results: June 2024
CALL 2
Deadline for submission of applications: October 1, 2024, 4 p.m.
Announcement of results: December 2024
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH CALL (SEE SECTION 3, “ELIGIBILITY”).
This program refers to the Common General Rules (CGR). These apply to all Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) programs. It is the responsibility of applicants and/or funding holders to read the CGR, which set out all rules governing competitions and managing awards. Only conditions specific to the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B3ZR) program are indicated in this document and these prevail over the CGR.
TO BE CONSIDERED ADMISSIBLE, THE APPLICATION MUST HAVE THE STATUS “SUBMITTED TO THE FONDS” IN THE FRQnet SYSTEM AT THE DEADLINE FOR THE CALL CONCERNED, I.E. 4 P.M. ON MAY 1, 2024 (CALL 1) OR 4 P.M. ON OCTOBER 1, 2024 (CALL 2).
This version was updated on March 1, 2024, subject to the approval of the Ministre de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie.
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. This supplement is conditional on a minimum presence of three months at the host environment outside Québec during the funding period.
2.1 Number of awards
At the end of each of the two joint calls for the Postdoctoral Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B3ZR) and Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B5R) programs, up to 5 applications will be offered funding, based on the ranking established by the evaluation committee.
3. ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements in effect at the time of application as stipulated in the program rules and the CGR.
Applying more than once to this program, under any competition, is not permitted.
3.1 Target group
This program is intended for all fellowship holders under the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program whose funding period ends no later than:
- CALL 1: between April 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024;
- CALL 2: between October 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
However, to avoid penalizing individuals who were unable to apply to the previous competition, Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) holders whose funding period ends between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024 may be exceptionally eligible for CALL 1 of this competition.
In any case, individuals who have already applied under this program (B3ZR) are excluded.
3.2 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 or permanent residency during the funding period of the postdoctoral fellowship (B3Z), the conditions and privileges associated with this status will apply.
As a reminder, applicants can implement their mobilization plan outside Québec only if they have:
- Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
AND
- A Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (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.
If either of the above conditions is not met, applicants must implement their mobilization plan in Québec. Continued physical presence in Québec is required throughout the duration of funding, apart from break periods listed in the university calendar, unless the institution approves* travel outside Québec deemed necessary for the proper implementation of activities.
* To avail themselves of this option if the fellowship is awarded, applicants must provide a Declaration of travel outside Québec (Déclaration de séjour hors Québec) approved by the Québec university in the Manage my funding section of the FRQnet E-portfolio.
3.3 Conditions of use of the fellowship
The mobilization activities must take place over a 12-month period beginning no later than 4 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).
3.4 Eligibility period exceptions
For more information on conditions regarding eligibility period exceptions for parental and sick leave, 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
.
To obtain the information they need to prepare their application, applicants are invited to refer to Section 3 “Submitting an Application” of the CGR, including Section 3.6 regarding the language of submitted forms and documents.
An application consists of the following documents:
- The application form (see 4.1);
- The Canadian Common CV and Detailed Contributions file (see 4.2);
- Required documents to be submitted with the form (see 4.3).
4.1 Application form
For those who request access, the application form, entitled Postdoctoral Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B3ZR) (Bourse postdoctorale – Plan de mobilisation des connaissances), will be made available in the “Available competitions” section of their FRQnet E-portfolio no later than one month before each of the two call deadlines. A PDF version of this application form (for information purposes) can be consulted in the program Toolbox.
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 duly completed using the template specific to postdoctoral fellowship programs, available in the program Toolbox. Once completed, it must be 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 following documents, when required or applicable to the situation, must be attached in the appropriate sections of the application form:
MOBILIZATION PLAN (mandatory) :
A description of the mobilization plan, including a postdoctoral fellowship outcome report. Refer to the evaluation criteria, Section 5.1, to be sure of including all necessary elements. (6 pages)
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH PROJECT SUMMARY (mandatory) :
A summary of the current funded postdoctoral research project that is the subject of the mobilization plan. This document should provide the evaluation committee with a better understanding of the context for the proposed mobilization plan. (1 page max.)
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 max.)
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 their 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 max.)
PROOF(S) OF REGISTRATION OR INVITATION (if applicable):
Proof of registration or invitation to participate in an event relevant to the proposed knowledge mobilization activities. Any such proof should allow the evaluation committee to confirm the planned activities. (5 pages max.)
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. As the awarding of the supplement is conditional on a minimum presence of three months at the host environment outside Québec during the funding period, the supporting document must also specify the planned period of stay. 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 max.)
SUPPORTING DOCUMENT FOR ELIGIBILITY PERIOD EXCEPTION (if applicable):
Applicants seeking eligibility period exceptions (see Section 3.4) 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 max.)
RAMQ CARD (if applicable):
An applicant who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident AND has
- a Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card that is valid at the competition deadline
OR
- proof that a card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline
must provide one of these documents. If the applicant does not have either of these documents, they are not required to provide alternative documentation. Citizenship and residency requirements will apply as set out in Section 3.2.
The number of pages allowed 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.
Attached documents must respect the Presentation standards for PDF attachments to FRQnet forms.
No document that is not required will be forwarded to the evaluation committee.
4.4 Submitting the application
At each call deadline, the status of the application in the FRQnet system must be “Submitted to the Fonds” and all required documents must be attached to the form.
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. For each call, no documents received after the deadline will be considered and applications cannot be updated after this deadline. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required documents have been included and submitted with the application.
As indicated in the CGR (Section 3.7), an acknowledgement of receipt confirms that the application has been transmitted to the Fonds.
4.5 Notice
All applications received by the Fonds are assessed for eligibility. Applicants will be informed by email, no later than one month following each call deadline, 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.
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
Based on the Fonds Scoring System Grid, applications are evaluated according to the following criteria, sub-criteria and weighting, by scientific committee members recruited for their expertise.
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)
The conditions governing funding decisions are specified in Section 4.5 of the CGR.
6. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
The Fonds informs every applicant, via email, of the evaluation and funding decision made with regard to their application. Competition results are officially announced on the Fonds website and a letter is sent to the applicant’s FRQnet E-portfolio.
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 4 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 4 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 and management
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. Payments are conditional on compliance with the basic requirements and submission of all required documents in the FRQnet E-portfolio.
In particular, the first fellowship payment is conditional on the submission 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.
A final report in the format required by the FRQ must be submitted at the end of the semester in which the last payment is made.
8.2.1 Cancellation of a payment or a fellowship
The conditions regarding cancellation of a payment or a fellowship are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
8.3 Full-time rule
To retain the fellowship, the fellowship holder must devote themself 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 Exceptions for part-time mobilization plan
The conditions regarding exceptions for part-time implementation of the mobilization plan are the same as those for part-time postdoctoral research within the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
8.5 Paid employment
The conditions regarding paid employment are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
8.6 Instalment deferral
The conditions regarding instalment deferral are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
8.7 Parental leave
The conditions regarding parental leave are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
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.
8.10 Concurrent awards
The conditions regarding concurrent awards are the same as those for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z) program.
9. EFFECTIVE DATE
The provisions set out in this document apply to the 2024-2025 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 March 19, 2024.