NOTICE – The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) was established on June 1, 2024, in accordance with the Act to amend the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation with respect to research. The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) have since been regrouped into the new FRQ, which continues their existence. The rights and obligations of the FRQNT, FRQS and FRQSC have become those of the FRQ; activities continue as usual.

Please note that if you come across an old name or logo of one of the Fonds de recherche du Québec in the program rules or on the website, it should now read as follows:

  • The FRQNT becomes the Nature et technologies sector;
  • The FRQS becomes the Santé sector;
  • The FRQSC becomes the Société et culture sector.

Thank you for your understanding.

Competition year : 
2023-2024

Deadline (application) : 
At all times

Amount : 
$65 000 per year

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* The amount of 65 000$ must be used exclusively as financial support for the grant holder and cannot, under any circumstances, be converted into research funds. This amount must be supplemented by the managing institution in the form of complementary financial aid or services (immigration assistance, access to francization courses, mentoring, psychological support, travel expenses, insurance, etc.).

Contexte 
Researchers in exile due to an emergency situation in their home country (see definitions in Section 1 – Objective) face considerable challenges when attempting to pursue their research in a new environment.
The population in their home country may be in situations that threaten their immediate safety, their lives, their property or their environment. These situations may even lead to death, irreversible damage, exile or displacement of these populations.

Table of contents

  1. Objectives
  2. Eligibility requirements
  3. Application process for financial support
  4. Responsibilities of the various involved parties

1. Objectives

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) proposes to perpetuate and expand the programs put in place after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Indeed, the threats faced by the scientific and research communities in the world can be of several kinds and other crises will occur in the future. The FRQ intends to participate in global solidarity efforts with scientific communities affected by major and sudden crises.

Thus, the program aims to facilitate access to FRQ training grants for students from countries experiencing an emergency. The supports put in place can assist students in exile by providing scholarships, language training and networking opportunities through the collaboration of Quebec’s higher education institutions.

The rules of this program may evolve to better address the situations that arise over time.

What is an emergency?

For the purposes of this program, we consider a country to be in an emergency situation when it is facing a crisis with the following aspects:

  • a situation that presents an immediate danger to life, health or the environment;
  • a situation that causes death or serious effects on life, health or the environment;
  • a situation with a high probability of endangering life, health or the environment;
  • a situation that leads to the exile or displacement of a part of its population.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees lists here the countries or regions in emergency situations in which it intervenes.

Beyond this list, the FRQs will consider the particularities and challenges of each situation submitted when studying the application.

2. Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, the visiting scholar must:

  • Hold a passport from his/her country of origin that is valid on the date the application is submitted;
  • Hold or be in the process of obtaining (with proof) a residence permit (refugee claim, visa or any emergency travel authorization issued by Immigration and Citizenship Canada) to work as a visiting scholar at a university;
  • Provide a letter of justification for the request that describes the reasons why the person is seeking support (e.g. without this award, the person’s professional and scientific future, as well as his/her safety, could be compromised; security reason, impact on research etc.);
  • Hold a minimum of a PhD;
  • Have held (or hold) a faculty/research position in an academic institution or have completed a postdoctoral fellowship;
  • Be authorized by the competent authorities of a managing institution recognized by the FRQ to carry out research activities (see Common General Rules (CGR) section Definitions);
  • Work on a research project in one of the research fields covered by the FRQ (FRQSC, FRQNT, FRQS);
  • Be domiciled in Quebec when the financial support comes into effect.

3. Application process for financial support

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3.1 Agreement between host and guest researchers

The first step in obtaining this financial support is for the host and guest researchers to make contact and to establish an agreement (e.g., official letter of invitation) stating that the host agrees to host the guest for a minimum period of two years. The FRQ will not intervene at this stage and will not require a tangible and defined collaboration project at the time of the request, considering the likely emergency situation.

3.2 Submission of required documents for verification of eligibility by the managing institution

Once the agreement between the two researchers has been reached, verification of eligibility for the program must be carried out by the appropriate authorities at the host institution, which must be a managing institution recognized by the FRQ to manage funding.

The visiting researcher must provide the institution with:

  • a copy of the passport from the country of origin;
  • a residence permit or proof that a request has been made (e-mail, acknowledgement of receipt, etc.);
  • a letter of justification for the request that describes the reasons why the person is seeking support (e.g. without this award, the person’s professional and scientific future, as well as his/her safety, could be compromised; security reason; impact on research etc.);
  • a copy of the doctoral degree;
  • a document proving that the applicant has obtained an academic position (professor/researcher) or that the post-doctorate has been completed.
3.3 Submission of the Application to the FRQ

Once eligibility is confirmed by the institution, the host researcher must contact Ms. Elina Boutia Elina.Boutia@frq.gouv.qc.ca to obtain access to the form in her electronic portfolio, and then complete and submit the form within 30 days following the opening of the for. The host researcher must therefore provide:
the electronic application form, duly completed including the following documents:

  • copy of the passport and visa (or visa application);
  • Agreement between the two researchers or official letter of invitation signed by the host;
  • Letter of justification for the request that describes the reasons why the individual is seeking support (e.g. without this award, the individual’s professional and scientific future, as well as their safety, could be compromised; security reason, impact on research, etc.);
    • Letter signed by a competent authority of the managing institution certifying that
      • The university is committed to supporting collaboration between the researchers involved and agrees to provide the guest with the required infrastructure for the duration of his/her stay;
      • The university agrees to cover the list of expenses described in section 5.4. – Managing institution;
      • The visiting researcher meets the eligibility requirements and has submitted all required documents.
3.4 Documents required following the award

The documents listed below must be attached to the portfolio by the host researcher:

  • Proof of residence of the visiting researcher in Quebec (lease, invoice, RAMQ card, letter of attestation of accommodation on honour, etc.).
3.5 Analyse du dossier par les FRQ

Once the electronic application has been sent to them, the FRQs will analyze the file and transmit the funding decision as soon as possible.

Please note

The decision as to whether or not to award a grant to an applicant will be made to the FRQ’s best knowledge at the time the file is reviewed. Unfortunately, once the program’s budget has been reached, we will no longer be able to award a grant for this program. 

4. Responsibilities of the various involved parties

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4.1 Host and guest researchers

They work together to establish the terms of hosting (research projects, nature of the collaboration, schedule, etc.).

4.2 Host researcher

This person :

  • Is the anchor for the guest. They will welcome the researcher to their institution, guide them through the process and serve as a point of contact for verification by the FRQ;
  • covers the direct costs of the research (lab equipment, etc.) according to the agreement previously established with the visiting researcher;
  • Completes and submits the electronic application form;
  • agrees to respect the provisions of the FRQ Policy on Responsible Conduct in Research, as well as those of the managing institution’s policy.
4.3 Visiting Researcher

This person:

  • Works with the International Relations Office or the appropriate authorities at their host; institution to ensure that their application, including supporting documents, meets the criteria specified in the selection process;
  • Provides the host with the information and documents required to complete the application;
  • Submits a scientific report once a year;
  • Completes the MSSS training course on research ethics, if their project or research program involves humans.
4.4 Managing institution

L’établissement gestionnaire:

The managing institution :

  • validates the eligibility of applicants to this program and selects visiting researchers from among the applications (the host institution may terminate the stay if the visiting researcher does not comply with the institution’s standards and requirements or with those set out in these program rules);
  • Ensures the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty or a Vice-Rector, according to the institution’s internal processes;
  • provides the guest with the necessary infrastructure for the duration of their stay (office space, laboratory, equipment, etc.);
  • is responsible for the costs related to the following positions and their management, according to the procedures already in place within the institution:
    • Benefits (insurance, parental leave, etc.);
    • Hospitality (assistance in obtaining a visa, work permit or travel authorization, francization, settlement assistance, etc.);
    • Indirect research costs;
    • Outreach activities;
    • Various access (libraries, databases);
    • Salary supplement, if applicable;
    • Approves the application via the institutional portal.
4.5 Quebec Research Funds (FRQ)

The FRQ :

  • Ensure, when applicable, that the guest is trained in research ethics;
  • Take care of the payments made to the institution;
  • Ensure that the conditions of payment listed in the letter of award are met.