Research Support for New Academics

To be eligible, the PI must have Status 1 as defined in the CGR and meet the following conditions:

• The PI has held this position for less than 3 years, i.e., since September 2nd, 2021, or later, but no later than September 2nd, 2025.
• Similar positions held in Quebec or outside Quebec must be included in this 3-year eligibility period. (See Section 4-Application: Letter from the PI’s institution).
• As a contracted professor, the PI must occupy a position or have received a firm offer of appointment to a position with an annually renewable contract in a Quebec University. The appointment must have been ratified by the responsible authority for university appointments (or their representatives) according to the university’s constitution. The position held must allow the PI to perform research without any supervision from another researcher and to individually supervise undergraduate or graduate students or postdoctoral fellows.
• The PI must have obtained their doctorate or PhD or successfully defended their doctoral dissertation no later than September 2nd, 2024.
• The PI must benefit from a teaching release of at least 25% to carry out the research project for the duration of the grant, i.e., from April 2025 to March 31, 2027. The managing institution must provide a letter of confirmation (see Section 4-Application: Letter from the PI’s institution). This condition cannot be complied retroactively.

A PI is ineligible for this program if:

• The PI whose research project is in a field that is not covered by the mission and research fields of the Fonds de recherche du Québec — Nature et technologies (FRQNT);
• The PI who is applying simultaneously for, or has been or is currently funded by, any of the following programs:

o   Research Support for New Academics by Fonds de recherche du Québec — Nature et technologies (FRQNT).

o   Research Support for New Academics by Fonds de recherche du Québec — Société et culture (FRQSC).

o   Research-Creation Support for New Academics by Fonds de recherche du Québec — Société et culture (FRQSC).

o   Research Scholars, Junior 1 by Fonds de recherche du Québec — Santé (FRQS).

Also, within the framework of all Continuum programs, and in accordance with Section 6.12 of the CGR, the FRQNT reserves the right to declare ineligible any research proposals submitted by the same researcher that present the same activities or whose description suggests overlap.

Exceptional Extension of Eligibility Period (PEPA)

A PI who has interrupted or delayed their research career due to parental leave, major family obligations, disability, bereavement or for health reasons, or a career period outside the research community, may have their eligibility period extended.

a)      In the event of an interruption for parental, family, health, bereavement or disability-related leave, the extension granted is equivalent to twice the duration of the leave.

b)     In the event of an interruption outside the research community, the extension granted corresponds to the duration of the interruption.

c)      In the event of a slowdown, the Fonds determines the extension to be granted after analyzing the supporting documents provided with the PEPA application.

A PI who wishes to apply for an exceptional extension of their eligibility period are invited to complete the form by clicking on this link Request PEPA.

This form and supporting documents can be sent at any time between the July 9th, and September 4th, 2024, at 16:00. The Fonds determines the exceptional extension to be granted based on the documents provided and will send the response via the FRQnet portfolio.

Participation Limits as PI

The PI may submit a maximum of two applications for funding during their eligibility period.

Also, per Continuum competition year, the researcher may participate in a maximum of ONE application as PI, regardless of the program involved.

Notifications regarding the outcome of the administrative eligibility of the application will be sent by email to the PI in November 2024.

NCM-Metropolitan Community and NCR-Region forms

Two forms are available based on the geographic location of the PI’s university’s head office:

NCM form: For universities located in the metropolitan communities of Montréal (MMC) and Quebec (QMC).

NCR form: For universities in the rest of Quebec (outside the MMC and QMC). Also applies to regional academic institutions whose managing institution is in a metropolitan community (CMM or CMQ).

A complete application includes the following documents:

The funding application form (FRQnet Electronic Portfolio) including the following sections:

• Selection of the multidisciplinary evaluation committee: Select the multidisciplinary evaluation committee best suited to the research topic, discipline, research field and key-words of your proposal. Please consult the list in the program Toolbox with descriptions of the different research areas covered by each committee.

The FRQNT scientific council will confirm the allocation of applications to the different committees, as well as compliance with eligibility requirements related to the research field.

• Description of the research project (maximum 7 pages): Attach a document describing the project proposal (including figures and tables).
• Bibliography (maximum 1 page): Attach the references related to the project proposal description.
• Justification of planned expenditures (maximum 1 page): Provide a complete list of eligible expenses (see Section 8 of the CGR and Section 6 of the program rules).
• Description of planned expenditures for the equipment grant (maximum 2 pages) (if applicable).

This complement to the grant covers requests for equipment whose total cost exceeds $7,000. The equipment grant must be spent during the first 12 months after receiving the funding letter.

Equipment that requires an assembly of modules or accessories to be functional may be accepted. The relevance of the assembly must be clearly indicated in the application (diagrams, etc.)

This justification will be evaluated under the Methodology criterion.

Ensure clear explanations for the following:

a)      The relevance of the requested equipment for the successful completion of the research project.

b)     Lack of overlap between this equipment request and any other sources of funding already obtained by the applicant since taking up their position (CFI or NSERC equipment grant, etc.).

c)      The availability (physical or usage) of similar equipment in the PI’s institution or in the region.

d)     The structuring impact of the equipment on the sustainability of the laboratory and the training plan for users.

e)      The possibility of repairing or refurbishing existing equipment (if applicable).

f)        The possibility of using computing or genomics platforms (if applicable).

g)      Risk management plan if the equipment is not funded.

For each of the following categories, a description and appropriate supporting documents are also required:

Equipment with a value of $7,001 to $25,000: No quote required.

Equipment with a value of $25,001 to $50,000: When the cost of a single piece of equipment exceeds $25,000 (including taxes, in Canadian dollars), two quotes from suppliers must be provided in the appropriate section (20 pages).

Exceptionally, a single quote may be accepted if provided with a full justification.

The assembly of equipment whose total cost exceeds $25,000 (including taxes, in Canadian dollars) requires at least one quote.

Equipment with a value over $50,000: For equipment whose total cost exceeds $50,000, two quotes from suppliers must be provided in the appropriate section.

Furthermore, the PI must specify the source(s) of complementary funding in the description of planned expenditures for the equipment grant.

If, at the time of application, the PI does not have the complementary funding, the managing institution must undertake to pay the necessary amount before the first instalment of the grant year (June 1).

A letter of undertaking from the managing institution must be included with the application in the “Other documents” section of the form.

• List of suggested experts: The PI must suggest 10 experts who will be able to assess the scientific merit of the project (see the FAQ in the Toolbox for further details). The experts must have no current or recent (five years or less) collaborative relationship with the PI (see Section 4.2 of the CGR for examples).
• Other documents: Letter of attestation from the PI’s institution

A letter written and signed by the managing institution, attesting to the following:

a)    That the PI holds or will hold a full-time tenure-track position (no later than September 2nd, 2025).

b)   That the PI will be released from at least 25% of their teaching duties to carry out the research project for the duration of the grant (2025-2027).

c)    The hiring date and position held (DD-MM-YYYY).

d)   Where applicable, employment start and end dates (DD-MM-YYYY) for all full-time tenure-track professorial positions previously held by the PI at other universities in Quebec or outside of the province of Quebec.

Include any official documents that provide a definition of the position occupied at another Canadian or a foreign university.

In case of doubt as to the nature and duration of previous positions, the FRQNT reserves the right to contact the appropriate university authorities to obtain further information.

e)  If applicable, that the PI’s salary will be paid by the university or another source for the duration of the grant, in the case of a contracted professor.

f)   If applicable, that the PI has successfully defended their dissertation and that graduation is a mere administrative formality.

g)  If applicable, that the PI affiliated with an NCM managing institution will perform most of their functions in an NCR institution for the duration of the funding.

Canadian Common CV and list of detailed contributions (FRQnet Electronic Portfolio)

The Canadian Common CV of the PI, including the PDF file of detailed contributions, must be attached in the FRQnet Electronic Portfolio.

The detailed contributions should cover the last 5 years (calculated from September 2nd, 2018) in FRQNT format. The Canadian Common CV and detailed contributions must have been updated since June 2023.

Proof for publications that are submitted, accepted or in press must be included with the Canadian Common CV PDF file of detailed contributions. (See the Instructions for detailed contributions and the Canadian Common CV for details.)

Maternity supplement for student and postdoctoral fellows

This measure is designed to encourage the retention of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, where they have historically been under-represented.

A female postdoctoral fellow or student enrolled at a Québec postsecondary institution who receives remuneration (in the form of an award or salary) funded by a grant under this program may receive a maternity allowance paid by the FRQNT for a period of up to eight months for the birth or adoption of a child.

To be eligible, the postdoctoral fellow or student must have been receiving the remuneration under the FRQNT grant for at least six months. In addition, she may not hold a FRQ excellence award and may not receive benefits from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (RQAP).

The maximum amount of the allowance is calculated on the basis of the annual value of an FRQNT excellence award. If the postdoctoral fellow or student receives other supplements or payments in connection with the maternity leave, these amounts must be declared to the FRQNT. The allowance will then be adjusted to top up the amount already obtained, up to the maximum calculated by the FRQNT.

To obtain the maternity allowance, the postdoctoral fellow or student should contact the program officer by email. She will be asked to fill out a maternity allowance request form in her FRQnet electronic Portfolio. The following must be attached to the form:

• A copy of the medical certificate confirming pregnancy, or proof of adoption of the child;
• Proof of interruption of studies issued by the Québec postsecondary institution;
• A copy of the postdoctoral fellow or student’s remuneration contract;
• If applicable, supporting documentation indicating the amount of any other supplements or payments received in connection with the maternity leave must be provided in order to calculate the FRQNT top-up amount.

The maternity allowance may begin up to eight months before the birth or adoption of the child. The FRQNT will transfer the maternity allowance to the postdoctoral fellow or student upon receipt and analysis of the required documents. The FRQNT reserves the right to reject any request with insufficient supporting documentation.

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

Funding condition for professors who will occupy a position as of September 2nd, 2025

A PI who will occupy a Status 1 position no later than September 2 of the year following this competition must have legal status to work in Quebec no later than April 30th, 2025 (see Section 2.1 of the CGR).

Funding condition for equipment grants

The equipment grant can only be used to purchase the equipment originally requested in the application (any equivalent purchases will need to be justified).
Equipment acquisition must be made within the first 12 months after receiving the funding letter.
The grant for the purchase of equipment is funded, if applicable, specifically for one or more item(s) identified in the “equipment budget” section of the funding application, which are also in accordance with the program rules and recommended by the evaluation committee.

Equipment over $50,000

In order for the contribution of the FRQNT to come into effect, the PI must provide supporting documents indicating the sources of complementary funding for the purchase of the requested equipment before June 1st of the funding starting year.

Final report

The final report is administrative and allows the FRQNT to document the impact of the funding it offers. The funding holder must complete and submit the final report, which will be available in their FRQnet Electronic Portfolio, no later than 6 months after the submission of the last financial report.

If the final report is not submitted within the time prescribed by the FRQNT, or the report is not to the satisfaction of the FRQNT, the funding holder is not eligible to receive new funding as PI or Co-I from any of the three branches of the FRQ or may have their payments suspended until the situation has been remedied.