Canada and France enjoy long-standing cooperation in science, technology and innovation. Recognizing the importance of international collaboration in promoting scientific discoveries, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and France’s Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on research cooperation. The MOU provides an overarching framework to explore new collaborative research and innovation opportunities between Canadian and French research communities.

In support of collaborative work under this MOU, and to support priority areas identified by the Canada-France Joint Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, NSERC and ANR are partnering to fund collaborative research projects on quantum science and technologies, specifically in the area of quantum computing hardware and software. This call will support Canada’s National Quantum Strategy.

This call for research proposals aims to foster scientific collaborations and knowledge exchange between leading-edge researchers in Canada and France, driving advancements in the rapidly evolving field of quantum technologies. This call aims to support collaborative research projects that address fundamental challenges and explore cutting-edge applications in the field of quantum technologies. Through these joint projects, we aim to leverage the unique expertise and resources of both Canadian and French academic research excellence.

This collaborative opportunity with ANR is open to scientific challenges in quantum science that aim to advance the National Quantum Strategy (NQS) – Mission: Make Canada a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of quantum computing hardware and software by advancing research in any of the following areas of quantum technologies, or a combination thereof:

• Quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• Quantum communications
• Quantum computing
• Quantum materials
• Quantum sensing

Proposals may also combine any of these quantum technology thrusts with other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering. Proposals that do not address the NQS Mission: Make Canada a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of quantum computing hardware and software and that do not have a primary research focus in the above areas of quantum technologies may be removed from consideration; see the Important note for additional information on what to include in your proposal. Questions about the appropriateness of a proposal should be directed to NSERC.

Through a lead agency model, the Canadian applicant will submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the Canadian and French research teams, which will undergo a review process by NSERC, the lead agency. Please refer to the Apply section for more details. Researchers in France will need to consult the Generic call for proposals – AAPG 2024 available on the ANR website for more information.

Successful Canadian participants will receive funding from NSERC via an Alliance International Collaboration grant to support their involvement in the joint project, while eligible French participants will be supported by ANR.

At all times, Canadian researchers are encouraged to exercise appropriate levels of due diligence when managing their research and establishing and/or continuing partnerships with national, international and multinational partners. Resources to do so are provided by the Government of Canada on the Safeguarding Your Research portal, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships. NSERC reserves the right to request additional information, as needed, before making a final funding decision.

If you are a Canadian university researcher eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. You must include at least one academic collaborator from France who meets ANR’s eligibility requirements. NSERC will internally review the eligibility of the Canadian researchers, and ANR will review the eligibility of the French collaborators.

For this collaborative call for proposals, collaborators and partner organizations (industry, public, not-for-profit) from outside academia are not permitted.

You are limited to one application as either a Canadian principal applicant or co-applicant. For any application limits applying to French collaborators, please consult with ANR.

Your French collaborator(s) must be from the academic sector and meet ANR’s eligibility requirements. The French coordinator is subject to ANR’s rules (in particular of eligibility) to which all national scientific coordinators of the 2024 Generic call for proposals must comply (see AAPG 2024 Guidelines, § B.5.2. Eligibility of full proposals). Collaborators from CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) are considered eligible by NSERC if they are affiliated with a Unité mixte de recherche (UMR) or hold an academic position at a French university.

For this collaborative call for proposals, collaborators and partner organizations (industry, public, not-for-profit) from outside academia are not permitted.

This call aims to promote collaborative research projects that address fundamental challenges and explore cutting-edge applications in the field of quantum technologies, specifically in quantum computing hardware and software. Through these joint projects, we aim to leverage the unique expertise and resources of both Canadian and French academic research excellence.

This collaborative opportunity with ANR is open to scientific challenges in quantum science that aim to advance the National Quantum Strategy (NQS) – Mission: Make Canada a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of quantum computing hardware and software by advancing research in any of the following areas of quantum technologies or a combination thereof:

• Quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• Quantum communications
• Quantum computing
• Quantum materials
• Quantum sensing

Proposals may also combine any of these quantum technology areas with other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering. Proposals that do not address the National Quantum Strategy (NQS) – Mission: Make Canada a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of quantum computing hardware and software and that do not have a primary research focus in the above areas of quantum technologies may be removed from consideration; see the Important note for additional information on what to include in your proposal. Questions about the appropriateness of a proposal should be directed to NSERC.

You cannot use an Alliance International Collaboration grant to support secret or contract research.

Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements and scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the project costs and must be specifically identified in the budget justification.

For the call, NSERC will provide up to CAN$4.5M in funding over three years, with a maximum of CAN$300,000 per project for a three-year project to support the research of eligible Canadian applicants. ANR will provide up to €3M in funding over three years, with a maximum of €200,000 per project for a three-year project to support the research of eligible French applicants. Canadian applicants are only eligible to receive funding from NSERC, and French applicants are only eligible for funding from ANR. The respective national funding body will provide funding to each principal investigator (Canada)/scientific coordinator (France), subject to national rules and budgetary availability. The estimated number of awards is 15. The estimated number of awards and anticipated funding level are subject to the availability of funds.

All Canadian expenditures are subject to the principles and directives governing the appropriate use of grant funds outlined in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. You must only include NSERC-eligible direct costs of research in the budget submitted to NSERC. The funds from NSERC must be paid to eligible Canadian universities and cannot be used to buy equipment, products or services from, or on behalf of, any collaborating organization. Costs incurred by your French academic collaborator(s) must meet the ANR's eligibility requirements.

In the Budget justification section of your proposal (form 101), you must also include information on the support requested by your French collaborator(s) from ANR, with a breakdown of each category and a detailed justification for spending in each category. Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess whether the resources requested are appropriate. The collaboration should ensure an adequate balance and significance for both research teams, with no more than 75% of the project budget contributed by either NSERC or ANR.

You can only include NSERC-eligible direct costs of research in your project budget, such as:

• Salary support for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral fellows) to perform research and related training;
• Salary support for technicians and research professional personnel;
• Materials and supplies;
• Activities that support collaborations and knowledge mobilization related to the project;
• Activities to develop and grow the research collaborations with the French collaborator(s).

Refer to the guidelines on the use of grant funds in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

You can also include the costs of equipment, provided that the equipment is:

• essential to achieving the objectives of the research project;
• incremental to the equipment already available at the university or to your French collaborator(s).

Proposals must be prepared by a research team that includes at least one academic applicant in Canada and one in France. Through a lead agency model, the Canadian principal investigator will submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the Canadian and French research teams, which will undergo an external peer review led by NSERC, the lead agency.

All documents should follow NSERC’s online presentation and attachment standards. You must submit your application and other information by the applicable deadline. NSERC will screen all applications to ensure they are complete and adhere to the program requirements and objectives. If your application does not meet all program requirements, it will be rejected.

Applications will be accepted from November 23, 2023 until 8:00 p.m. (ET) on March 28, 2024, using the NSERC's online system. Given the limited funding available, Canadian applicants can participate in only one grant application, either as the principal investigator or co-applicant. Proposals exceeding this limit will be returned without review in the reverse order received. To support separate projects, you may concurrently apply as the principal applicant or as a co-applicant to other Alliance funding opportunities, including Alliance International grants. The grants must cover distinct expenses; no duplication of funding is permitted.

A complete application includes:

• An application for a grant (form 101);
• A personal data form with a common CV attachment (form 100A) for each Canadian applicant and co-applicant;
• A common research plan developed jointly by applicants in Canada and France (maximum 7 pages, free form; see below for details);
• Annual funding to be requested from ANR (€EUR);
• A 2-page biosketch for each French collaborator.

To start your application:

Canadian researchers must submit a modified* Alliance International Collaboration grant application to NSERC by the application deadline.

• Log in to NSERC’s online system and choose Create a new form 101
• Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants
• For the Proposal type field, select Full proposal
• For the Type of call field, select International-Collaboration-ANR-Quantum from the drop-down menu
• The project title must be preceded by “Canada-France QUANTUM:”

• Following the instructions for completing an Alliance International application, fill out the proposal template ** and complete the other sections of your application.
  
   

  *Note: Since NSERC is the lead agency for this call, you do not need to attach a copy of the proposal prepared by your French collaborator(s) or confirmation that the proposal has been funded

Your application must also include, as separate documents:

• Annual funding to be requested from ANR (€EUR).
• A common research plan (maximum 7 pages, free form) developed jointly by Canadian and French researchers to provide context for external peer reviewers who will assess each proposal using merit criteria. The common research plan must include the following headers:
• Background - Relate the proposal to current scientific, technical and commercial developments in the field of quantum science, referring to the current literature and market conditions, if applicable. Describe the background research on which the project is built.
• Detailed proposal - Discuss the scientific issues, research problems or technical complexities, and describe the research methodology and theoretical or experimental design proposed to explain or resolve them.
• Team expertise - Describe the appropriateness of the academic researchers’ expertise from both countries for carrying out the planned research activities and mentoring trainees.
• Research management – Provide a project management plan for day-to-day direction, scientific leadership, and communication between the university research groups.

Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the personal data form with CCV attachment for the Canadian applicant and all Canadian co-applicants, and the biosketch(es) of your French collaborator(s) through NSERC’s online system.

By submitting your application, you and your co-applicants (when applicable) agree to the Terms and conditions of applying for applicants.

For submissions under this call, you agree that information in your proposal will be shared between NSERC and the ANR for purposes consistent with the program objectives. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are aware of the ANR rules concerning the disclosure of information in the proposal. Participants should also ensure they understand ANR program and post-award policies.

The information you provide in your application is collected under the authority of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act. NSERC is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you provide is stored in a series of NSERC data banks as described in Information about programs and information holdings. You must ensure that others listed in the application have agreed to be included.

NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and is aligned with the objectives of the Tri-agency EDI action plan.

Excellent research considers EDI both in the environment in which research takes place (forming a research team, student training) and in the research process itself. For Alliance grants, EDI considerations are currently evaluated in the training, mentorship and professional development opportunities for students and trainees. The aim is to remove barriers to the recruitment and promote full participation of individuals from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups as one way to enhance the excellence in research and training. For additional guidance, applicants should refer to Alliance grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan and the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research.

NSERC will convene a selection panel of external reviewers to assist in assessing applications. The selection panel will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators. NSERC will consider equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment as a screening criterion, and only those applications that meet this criterion will be retained for assessment by the selection panel. NSERC will also internally review the eligibility of the Canadian researchers.

The merit of your Alliance International Collaboration grant application is evaluated using the following equally weighted seven criteria and sub-criteria. The proposal must address all criteria and sub-criteria to be considered for funding.

Relevance and outcomes

• Significance of the research and the intended outcomes. Alignment with the NQS mission to advance quantum computing hardware and software. Further develop areas of Canadian strength and leadership. Foster expertise in both countries.

Collaboration

• Added value of the proposed international collaboration for Canada and the rationale for the selected international collaborator(s).

Training

• Opportunities for enriched training experiences for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows) to develop relevant research skills as well as professional skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship (where possible and relevant, international experiences for Canadian trainees are encouraged).

Equity, diversity and inclusion (assessed by NSERC staff)

• Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment (for guidance, consult the Equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan document).

Quality of the proposal

• The need for original research to address the topic and the potential for generating new scientific knowledge.
• Clarity of the objectives and appropriateness of the proposed research to achieve the objectives and expected outcome(s); justification for the planned expenditures.
• Appropriateness of academic researchers’ expertise, and that found within the collaborators, both for carrying out the planned research activities and in mentoring trainees.

NSERC uses established merit indicators to rate each evaluation sub-criterion/criterion.

NSERC and ANR will jointly determine recommendation outcomes.

NSERC and ANR will jointly fund each selected Canada-France project to support the activities of eligible researchers in their respective countries. NSERC’s contribution will be awarded as one Alliance International Collaboration Quantum grant per successful application, to be administered by the Canadian principal applicant’s institution. NSERC’s funding is intended to support the activities of the eligible Canadian researchers and must be used in accordance with the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. Only Canadian applicants are eligible to receive funding from NSERC.

If your application is approved for funding, you will receive an award letter and must adhere to its terms and conditions. ANR will inform your French collaborator(s).

Your award letter will indicate the start date of your project. NSERC will normally transfer your grant funds to your university within 30 days of that start date. NSERC and ANR intend to coordinate award timing where possible. However, because each agency may have different funding cycles, it is possible that some projects will have different start and end dates.

NSERC recommends that you and your university follow best practices by signing a research agreement that defines the intellectual property rights and obligations of all organizations involved in your research project. The agreement must be aligned with NSERC’s policy on intellectual property, which promotes the use and/or exploitation of knowledge and open access to research results funded by NSERC.

Note:

• NSERC claims no rights of ownership to any intellectual property generated from projects funded by Alliance International;
• NSERC’s policy on intellectual property stipulates that each of your students must maintain their right to defend their thesis without delays or impediments;
• All participants, including any trainees, should consult this policy to ensure that they are aware of their rights and obligations.

You must acknowledge NSERC support in any communications or presentations about your research supported by this initiative.

You must report regularly on how you use the funds from your grant, the activities you carry out during your funded project and the project's outcomes. You will be informed of reporting requirements upon receiving your award letter. You must provide a final report within three months of the end of your project. ANR will communicate reporting requirements to your French collaborator(s).

Subsequent instalments of your grant depend on (1) a demonstrated need for NSERC funds and (2) adherence to all other conditions specified in the terms and conditions of an award.

You must notify NSERC of any changes to the Canadian research team or if any of your international collaborators leave the project. In this case, you should discuss with NSERC the impact on your ability to achieve the project's original goals and whether the project may need to be amended or terminated.

If you fail to provide the requested feedback, your subsequent applications may be denied.

If you cannot complete your planned research activities within the specified term of your grant, you must notify NSERC. You may be permitted an additional one-year period to complete your project using existing funds. In this case, your international collaborator must inform ANR.

NSERC
Email: alliance_quantumquantique@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Toll free: 1-855-275-2861

ANR
Questions about the administrative and financial arrangements.
Email: aapg.adfi@anr.fr

Questions about the scientific aspects of the project proposal.
Email: aapg.science@anr.fr
 

Difficulties encountered when entering data or during document submission to ANR.
Email: aapg.si@anr.fr