NSERC Alliance-Mitacs Accelerate joint program
NSERC and Mitacs have developed an opportunity for applicants seeking support from both an Alliance grant and Mitacs Accelerate. Applicants are invited to include in their Alliance application a request for additional support through Mitacs Accelerate internships as a component of the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP). Please review the NSERC Alliance-Mitacs Accelerate Grants Program.
See the SPARC website for details of available support and/or contact Erin Evoy, NSE Research Development Officer, SPARC (erin.evoy@ubc.ca).
NATIONAL SECURITY GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS
NSERC Alliance Grant applications with a private sector partner (including applications currently under review) must now include a Risk Assessment Form completed by the researcher and, if necessary, a risk mitigation plan.
To meet this new requirement, a Risk Assessment Form must be completed by the researcher and submitted to Research Security for validation.
Applications to the Alliance program are submitted via NSERC’s Online System.
DEADLINES
Due to the complexity of this program, please allow a minimum of five (5) working days for ORS review and approval.
Useful Resources: NSERC provides templates, instructions and FAQs related to the Alliance program on its website.
E-SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
1. APPLICATION PREPARATION
The application must be prepared using NSERC's online system. Under the Alliance Advantage program, NSERC will match partners’ cash contributions to the direct costs of research. NSERC will recognize eligible partners' cash contributions with a cost sharing ratio of 2:1 (NSERC:partner). Cash contributions are not required from the partner for Alliance Society (NSERC contributes 100% of the project costs). UBC’s indirect costs rates will apply to contributions from the partner organizations only. Consult with your faculty to confirm the appropriate indirect costs rate is being applied. If you have questions as to how to calculate the indirect costs, please contact dmitriy.ryabika@ubc.ca.
2. NSERC ONLINE SYSTEM
On the Form 101, select “University of British Columbia” as the Institution administering the grant (do not select “Technical University of British Columbia”). Co-applicants’ electronic acceptance of PI’s invitation to participate in the application meets NSERC signature requirements – their physical signatures do not need to be uploaded. If co-applicants are outside of UBC, an external authorized institution official signature is required.
3. UNDERSTAND AND COMPLY WITH FACULTY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AND/OR DEADLINES
Complete a Research Project Information Form (RPIF) and follow UBC Signature requirements.
If you are a co-applicant on a grant application initiated by a PI at another institution, you must submit a copy of the application with required UBC signatures for review, even though the application is being submitted to the agency by another institution. ORS does not need to approve the application online but must still review a copy of the application.
Please check with your grant facilitator regarding faculty-specific requirements and/or deadlines.
4. SUBMIT REQUIRED PAGES TO THE APPROPRIATE ORS CONTACT
You can email or drop off the pages to the appropriate ORS location. Ensure you have collected ALL required internal signatures prior to submitting to ORS, and that the documents submitted to ORS are identical to your NSERC online submission.
- A signed UBC Research Project Information Form (RPIF)
- From the NSERC application:
- Page 1 of the application
- Certification/Requirements
- Partnership/Conflict of Interest
- Sensitive Technology Research Areas
- Co-applicants (If co-applicants are outside of UBC, an external authorized institutional official signature is required)
- Summary of Proposal
- Proposed Expenditures budget page
- Budget justification
- Contributions from Supporting Organizations budget page(s)
- Budget justification of In-Kind Contributions, if applicable
- Completed Partner Organization Form(s)
- Mitacs supplemental application and budget spreadsheet, if applicable
- Risk Assessment Form approved by Research Security
5. SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION
Applicant must ensure all required forms are uploaded and CVs are linked to the completed application as described in the Alliance program instructions. First “Verify” to ensure the application is complete. Then click “Submit” to send the online application to ORS for review and approval.
If the Alliance opportunity you are applying to has a deadline, please submit your application by noon a day before the deadline.
6. ORS REVIEWS YOUR APPLICATION
If all requirements are met, ORS will approve your application on the NSERC online system. ORS has read-only access to your application and cannot make changes. If the application is not approved, ORS will return it to you for changes. ORS is not required to physically sign the application submitted through the online system per NSERC instructions (see “Are original signatures required?”)
7. ORS APPROVES AND SUBMITS YOUR APPLICATION
Once ORS has approved and submitted your application, the status of the application on the NSERC online system will change to “Approved" (see Definition of Application Status). Material or updates received under separate cover (before or after the deadline date) will not be accepted by NSERC.