NOVA – FRQ – NSERC PROGRAM for junior researchers (6th Edition)

3.1 Team Composition

The team must include, at a minimum, an early-career principal investigator from Quebec, at least one co-investigator from Quebec and at least one co-investigator from another Canadian province or territory outside Quebec.

The complementarity of the expertise required to carry out the research project must be reflected in the composition of the team and must bring together the best expertise across Quebec and the other Canadian provinces and territories.

3.2 Principal investigator (PI)

The PI for the application must:

• Be a researcher at a Quebec university AND
• Hold Status 1 according to definition i) only, as defined in the FRQ Common General Rules AND
• Have accumulated more than 3 years and fewer than 6 years in a regular professor position, meaning having started between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2023¹.

Status 1 researchers paid under definition ii) of the Common General Rules are not eligible as PIs, but may join the team as co-investigators (COIs).

Retired researchers are not eligible as PIs.

Participation limits apply (section 3.6).

Exceptional extension of the eligibility period (PEPA):

A PI whose research career has been interrupted or slowed down, including because of parental leave, a disability, major family obligations, bereavement or health reasons, may have their eligibility period extended. Any period during which the applicant does not hold a university position as a professor or researcher is not counted in the calculation of years of experience.

In the case of an interruption for parental, family, health, bereavement or disability-related leave, the extension granted is equal to twice the duration of the leave.

In the case of a slowdown, the Fonds determines the extension to be granted after analyzing the supporting documents provided with the extension request.

A PI who wishes to request an exceptional extension of their eligibility period is invited to complete a Web Form “PEPA REQUEST – NOVA” available from the section “Principal Investigator” of the FRQnet Form. This Web Form and the supporting documents may be submitted confidentially at any time between July 9, 2026 and September 3, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. The Fonds determines the exceptional extension to be granted based on its analysis of the documents provided and will send the response through the FRQnet electronic portfolio.

3.3 Co-investigators

From Quebec:

• At least one co-investigator from a Quebec university or college holding Status 1, 2 or 3, as defined in the Common General Rules.

Quebec COIs may be at any career stage and may be grant-funded or retired researchers, provided they have a university affiliation that allows them to independently supervise students.

Other Canadian provinces and territories outside Quebec:

• At least one co-investigator from a university or college in another Canadian province or territory AND
• From institutions eligible under NSERC rules (List of Eligible Institutions).

Co-investigators from other Canadian provinces and territories may be at any career stage and may be grant-funded or retired researchers, provided they have a university affiliation that allows them to independently supervise students.

For college co-investigators outside Quebec, you must hold a position or have received a firm offer of appointment at an eligible Canadian college. During the term of your grant, you must hold such a position, whether permanent or for a limited term of at least three years. The position you hold must allow you to conduct research-related activities without the supervision of another researcher.

3.4 Collaborators

Any person meeting Status 1 to 4, as defined in the Common General Rules, may join the team as a collaborator. A CV is not required. In addition, international researchers are also eligible as collaborators.

Collaborators do not have access to FRQ or NSERC funds; they must provide their own resources.

3.5 Intersectorality

The FRQ and NSERC encourage you to include university and college COIs from fields outside NSE on the team. Research costs associated with work not covered by NSE fields may not represent more than 30% of the NSERC financial portion. The eligibility conditions for these persons must comply with the conditions for COIs or collaborators set out above, where applicable.

*** A researcher who is in the final year of a grant within the Continuum is entitled to one additional participation in this competition.

There is no participation limit for carrying out other projects as a collaborator.

3.7 Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

The research team is responsible for creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable research environment, where the climate and culture allow everyone to feel supported and respected. The concrete actions and practices that will be implemented to integrate EDI principles must be described in the training plan, with reference to NSERC guides. The implementation of EDI principles in the training plan is an eliminatory step in determining the eligibility of the funding application.

3.8 Research project

Please note that only funding applications falling within the research areas covered by the Nature and Technologies sector and NSERC are eligible. As such, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the objectives, methods and approaches, deliverables, etc. fall within the FRQ Nature and Technologies sector.

For all Continuum programs, and pursuant to section 6.12 of the Common General Rules, the FRQ reserves the right to deem ineligible research proposals submitted by the same researchers that present the same activities or whose description suggests overlap between the activities presented.

Research projects jointly funded by the FRQ and NSERC cannot simultaneously receive funding from other granting agencies.

Notice of the result of the administrative eligibility review of the application will be sent to the PI in October 2026.

4.1     Required documents

A complete application includes the following documents:

Funding application form (FRQnet electronic portfolio) including, in particular, the following:

• FRQ CV: The PI and all COIs, including COIs outside Quebec, must attach the narrative FRQ CV to the application form. The narrative FRQ CV must be completed using the FRQ CV template, following the FRQ narrative CV Instructions and the Presentation standards for attachments to FRQnet forms. All these documents are available on the FRQ CV page.

The information provided in the narrative CV must be aligned with the program objectives and evaluation criteria. It is therefore essential to review the objectives and evaluation criteria of the program for which you are submitting your application in order to determine the relevant content to include in the narrative CV.

• Eligibility supplement: In addition to the narrative CV, the principal investigator and all COIs, including COIs outside Quebec, must complete and attach the Eligibility Supplement, whose template is available in the toolbox. This document will not be forwarded for evaluation.
• Abstract: The project summary must be clearly written and must describe the main elements of the project to make it easier for readers and evaluators to understand.
• Project description: description related to the four evaluation criteria (maximum 12 pages, including the list of references, tables and figures).
• Teaching release – Quebec Colleges: identification of the team members concerned and justification for release from teaching duties (1 page), if applicable.
• Budget: Attach one consolidated PDF file including 1) the justification of planned expenses for the FRQ (maximum 2 pages), 2) the justification of equipment requested from the FRQ (maximum 1 page), and 3) the budget table and justification of planned expenses for NSERC (maximum 3 pages). Reminder: Planned expenses for the FRQ award and those for the NSERC award must be presented separately in this consolidated PDF file.
• Other documents*:

1. A letter from the university institution for a retired Quebec researcher, if applicable;
2. A letter from the university institution for the PI and grant-funded COIs, if applicable;
3. Equipment request: two supplier quotes if the unit cost is over $25,000 (including all taxes);

*Clarifications regarding the documents to attach in the Other documents section of the form:

A. Retired Quebec researcher

The letter from the university institution must certify that the retired researcher will have access, for the duration of the grant, to office or laboratory space and the logistical support needed to carry out their research activities, and that they will continue to train students and prepare the next generation in their field. In this letter, the university must also certify that it will assume, in terms of the management and administration of funds, the same responsibilities it currently fulfills following funding.

B. Grant-funded researcher

A letter from the university institution is required for eligible PIs and COIs who hold a non-tenure-track position at their university, indicating that they will retain this status throughout the duration of the grant. A letter with insufficient documentation could result in the ineligibility of the grant-funded person.

C. Equipment request to the FRQ

Two supplier quotes, where applicable, are required for any equipment whose unit cost is over $25,000 (including all taxes). Exceptionally, a single quote may be submitted provided that it is fully justified in writing in the budget justification.

4.2 Team registration with NSERC: Simplified letter of intent

Applications to NSERC

As the applicant acting on behalf of your team, when you submit the application to the FRQ via the FRQnet portal, you must also submit a letter of intent (LOI) to NSERC. The LOI must be accompanied by a completed simplified Personal Data Form — Form 100A with the FRQ’s Eligibility Supplement form and the FRQ CV as attachments, and a description of how EDI considerations have been integrated into the training plan. If applicable, the Impact Assessment Form (Appendix A) must be completed and uploaded in the Impact Assessment section.

The applicant and all co-applicants participating in the NOVA grant application must create an account in NSERC’s online system. For more information, consult the On-line System – Frequently Asked Questions web page.

As the applicant, you are responsible for providing all of the following documents and information in your LOI:

• A simplified Personal Data Form — Form 100A for each member of the research team. For this funding opportunity, the FRQ’s Eligibility Supplement form replaces the “Contributions to research and training explanation” attachment normally included with Form 100A, and the FRQ CV replaces the Canadian CV Attachment. Each co-applicant will automatically receive a message inviting them to complete the form and explaining how to link it to Form 101.
• A description of how equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations have been integrated into the training plan (maximum one page) using the mandatory NSERC template. Once completed, the NSERC template must be attached to the application in the “Other Documents” section.

Consult the Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan web page and the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research for more information.

Note: The integration of EDI considerations into the training plan is an eligibility requirement. If your application does not meet this criterion, it will be rejected during the eligibility review.

• If applicable, the Impact Assessment Form (Appendix A) must be completed and uploaded in the Impact Assessment section.
• Indicate whether the proposed research activities supported by this grant aim to advance any listed Sensitive Technology Research Areas.
• The applicant must select “yes” or “no” in NSERC’s online system. For more information, consult the Tri-agency guidance on the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy).
• If the applicant answers “yes”, every researcher with a named role in the grant application (applicant, co-applicant or collaborator) must submit an Attestation for Research Aiming to Advance Sensitive Technology Research Areas form (PDF file to be completed online), which must be attached to the application (for more information on the procedure for submitting the form, see the relevant frequently asked question).

Note: The applicant must collect and compile all the completed attestation forms and save them as a single PDF file. Before attaching the file, the applicant must convert it from a fillable to a read-only PDF. To do this, one option is to click on Print in the form, select the PDF format as the printer, and save the file.

To create and submit an LOI:

• Open a session in NSERC’s online system and click Create a new Form 101.
• Select Research Partnerships Programs, then select Alliance Grants.
• In the Proposal Type field, select Letter of Intent.
• In the Type of Request for Proposals field, select FRQ-NOVA from the drop-down menu.
• Complete the required sections, provide the simplified Personal Data Form — Form 100A for the applicant and all co-applicants, and attach the completed EDI training plan template.

Application deadline

• You must submit your LOI using NSERC’s online system by September 10, 2026, before 4:00 pm (ET).

The deadline for submitting your LOI to NSERC is the same as the deadline for submitting the application to the FRQ.

Note: You must submit your LOI to NSERC through your Research Grants Office. Institutional approval is required before submitting the LOI to NSERC. Check your institution’s internal submission deadline, which may be earlier than the deadline for submission to NSERC. You are responsible for ensuring that NSERC receives your LOI by the deadline.”

6.1 Eligible expenses

Under this program, the PI will receive two awards: one corresponding to the NSERC financial portion and another corresponding to the FRQ financial portion.

All expense categories provided for in the Common General Rules (Section 8) are eligible for the FRQ financial portion, except for expenses covered under section 8.7. Specific features of this program are described below.

Reminder: The FRQ grant must be used in Quebec; transfers of funds outside Quebec are not permitted unless explicitly covered in the Common General Rules.

Eligible expenses under this program for the NSERC financial portion must comply with the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

Research costs associated with work not covered by NSE fields must not exceed 30% of the NSERC financial portion and must be clearly justified in the project budget.

Terms for salary support for eligible Quebec college researchers (Status 3) from CCTTs without teaching duties

A portion of the grant awarded by the FRQ may be used to provide salary support for Quebec college researchers who are members of the team and who do not have teaching duties. This amount must be included in the budget and may be transferred by the principal investigator’s institution directly to the college institution or to the college affiliated with the CCTT, in the case of a researcher from a CCTT.

ADDITIONAL amount for teaching release for eligible Quebec college researchers (Status 3) with teaching duties

For each Quebec college researcher who is a member of the team and who has teaching duties, an additional annual amount of up to $16,000 will be paid directly to the college institution to compensate for the portion of the salary associated with the teaching release. This amount, paid directly to the administering college institution, may be used either to compensate for the portion of the researcher’s salary dedicated to the release from teaching duties or to ensure that these teaching duties are carried out by another member of the college faculty.

Equipment acquisition grant

An additional grant may be provided for the purchase of scientific equipment whose unit cost is at least $7,000 and for which the total cost does not exceed $50,000 (including all applicable taxes). This equipment grant is awarded based on the justification of expressed needs and according to the criteria outlined below. Where applicable, the reuse of equipment and the purchase of second-hand equipment are encouraged. Due to budgetary limitations, the equipment grant is not automatically awarded if funding is granted.

The equipment must be acquired within the first 12 months following the date the award letter is issued. Where applicable, the equipment grant is awarded specifically for one or more item(s) identified in the “equipment budget” section of the funding application, provided they comply with program rules and are recommended by the evaluation committee.

Only the principal investigator may receive this grant. Equipment acquired must remain at the administering institution.

For any equipment whose total cost exceeds $50,000, the equipment grant becomes effective once the principal investigator(s) provide supporting documents confirming that they have secured complementary funding for the purchase of the requested equipment. These supporting documents must be submitted to the FRQ within one year following the announcement of the grant.

Eligible equipment requests are evaluated by the multidisciplinary evaluation committee based on the following criteria:

• The relevance of the requested equipment for carrying out the research project;
• The absence of overlap between the current equipment request and any other sources of funding already obtained since the start of the applicant’s position (e.g., CFI, NSERC equipment grants, etc.);
• The availability (physical or in terms of access) of similar equipment within the institution or the region;
• The structuring impact of the equipment on the sustainability of the laboratory and on the user training plan;
• The possibility of repairing and refurbishing the equipment (if applicable);
• The possibility of using shared computing or genomics platforms (if applicable);
• The risk management plan if the equipment is not funded.

6.2 Maternity and parental leave (Students and postdoctoral fellows)

Maternity allowance for students and postdoctoral fellows

This measure aims to support the retention of women in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), where they are historically underrepresented.

A postdoctoral fellow or student enrolled in a Quebec postsecondary institution and receiving remuneration (in the form of a scholarship or salary) from a grant under this program may receive a maternity allowance paid by the FRQ for a maximum period of eight months following the birth or adoption of a child.

To be eligible, the postdoctoral fellow or student must have been receiving remuneration from a grant under this program in the Nature and Technologies sector for at least six months. In addition, she must not hold an FRQ excellence award and must not receive benefits under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP).

The maximum amount of the allowance is calculated based on the annual value of the scholarships offered under FRQ excellence award programs. If the postdoctoral fellow or student receives other supplements or payments related to maternity leave, these amounts must be declared to the FRQ. The amount of the allowance will then be adjusted to complement the amount received, up to the maximum amount calculated by the FRQ.

To obtain the maternity allowance, the postdoctoral fellow or student must contact the program officer by email. She will then be invited to complete a maternity allowance application form through her FRQnet electronic portfolio. She must attach the following documents:

• A copy of a medical certificate confirming pregnancy or proof of adoption of the child;
• Proof of interruption of studies issued by the Quebec postsecondary institution;
• A copy of the remuneration agreement established with the postdoctoral fellow or student;
• Where applicable, supporting documents indicating the amount of other supplements received in connection with maternity leave, to enable calculation of the complementary amount paid by the FRQ.

The maternity allowance may begin up to eight months before the birth or adoption of the child. Payment of the allowance is determined after review of the required supporting documents. The FRQ reserves the right to reject any insufficiently justified request.

The principal investigator of the grant undertakes to resume supervision of the postdoctoral fellow or student after her absence.

Paid maternity and parental leave for students and postdoctoral fellows (NSERC)

Within 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child, the agencies provide maternity or parental leave supplements to eligible students and postdoctoral trainees (Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, Part 5) who are the primary caregivers of the child. The amount of these supplements, paid from the agency’s grants for a maximum period of 12 months to cover the leave, is determined based on the individual’s salary or stipend at that time.

If both parents receive grant funding, they may share the leave, provided that the total duration of both leaves does not exceed 12 months. If the student or postdoctoral fellow is engaged in part-time research training, the supplement is calculated on a pro rata basis.