Canada and Germany enjoy long-standing cooperation in science and technology. Recognizing the importance of international collaboration in promoting scientific discoveries, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on research cooperation. The MOU provides an overarching framework to enhance opportunities for collaborative activities between Canadian and German research communities and sets out the principles for developing jointly supported activities.

To facilitate the support of collaborative work between Canadian researchers and their German counterparts under this MOU, NSERC and the divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1) at the DFG are pleased to announce a call for proposals focused on Sustainable Processes and Chemistry. The proposed Canada-Germany collaborative research projects must focus on basic and fundamental research and are expected to generate new knowledge and address one or more research challenges related to environmental sustainability. Typical, but not exclusive, examples include

• sustainable polymerizations
• novel types of catalysts or catalytic reactions
• separation and purification technologies
• sustainable chemistry and engineering
• tools for life-cycle assessment

Applicants are encouraged to incorporate multi- and interdisciplinary approaches in their research and to look at systems and processes as a whole rather than one component of a system or process. Collaborative research proposals will be accepted to DFG subject areas 321 to 327 and 403 and 404 (refer to DFG’s subject classification.

Proposals that do not fit the topic of this call for proposals and/or that do not have a primary research focus in these subject areas will not be funded.

This call for proposals on Sustainable Processes and Chemistry includes a two-stage application process whereby Canadian researchers must first submit a modified Alliance International Collaboration grant application to NSERC by the application deadline. NSERC will convene a selection panel to assist it with the assessment of applications. The selection panel will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators, and the most highly rated applications will be invited to continue in the process. Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment will be used by NSERC as a screening criterion, and only those applications that meet this criterion will be retained for assessment by the selection panel. The eligibility of the Canadian researchers will also be reviewed internally by NSERC.

If invited to continue, Canadian and German research teams will then submit a single collaborative research proposal (submitted by the German principal investigator) that will undergo a scientific review process led by DFG. Only proposals from applicants that have been invited to submit will be accepted by DFG. Successful Canadian participants will receive funding from NSERC via an Alliance International Collaboration grant to support their involvement in the joint project, while eligible German participants will be supported by DFG.

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 organizations. 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 who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. You must also include at least one academic collaborator from Germany who meets DFG’s eligibility requirements. For this collaborative call for proposals, collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia are not permitted. You are limited to one application as either Canadian principal applicant or co-applicant.

Your German collaborator(s) must be from the academic sector and must meet DFG’s eligibility criteria.

For this collaborative call for proposals, collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia are not permitted.

This call for proposals focuses on supporting collaborative research projects in the area of Sustainable Processes and Chemistry. The proposed Canada-Germany collaborative research projects must focus on basic and fundamental research and are expected to generate new knowledge and address one or more research challenges related to environmental sustainability. Typical, but not exclusive, examples include

• sustainable polymerizations
• novel types of catalysts or catalytic reactions
• separation and purification technologies
• sustainable chemistry and engineering
• tools for life-cycle assessment

Applicants are encouraged to incorporate multi- and interdisciplinary approaches in their research and to look at systems and processes as a whole rather than one component of a system or process. Collaborative research proposals will be accepted to DFG subject areas 321 to 327 and 403 and 404 (refer to DFG’s subject classification).

Proposals that do not fit the topic of this call for proposals and/or that do not have a primary research focus in these subject areas will not be funded. Questions about the fit of a proposal should be directed to DFG.

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, as well as 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 project budget justification.

NSERC’s total budget allocation for this call is expected to be CAN $5 million. NSERC will provide funding for the research undertaken by eligible Canadian applicants. All 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. Costs incurred by your German academic collaborator(s) are not eligible, and you do not need to include these in your budget submission to NSERC.

The funds from NSERC must be paid to eligible Canadian universities and cannot be used to buy equipment, products or services from any collaborating organization.

You can request $20,000 to $100,000 per year from NSERC for up to three years to support the costs of your participation in the joint research project. In the Budget justification section of your proposal (form 101), you must include information on the estimated annual support requested by your German collaborator(s) in Euros.

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 German 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 German collaborator(s)

The application process involves two stages.

Stage 1:

Canadian researchers must first submit a modified* Alliance International Collaboration grant application to NSERC by the application deadline. You are limited to one application as either Canadian principal applicant or co-applicant.

• 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-DFG-Sustainable Chemistry from the drop-down menu
• Following the instructions for completing an Alliance International application, fill out the proposal template and complete the other sections of your application
  
  *Note: You do not need to attach a copy of the proposal prepared by your German collaborator(s) or confirmation that the proposal has been funded
   
• 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 of your German 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.

Stage 2:

NSERC will provide an Invitation to submit letter to Canadian applicants, which must be appended to the joint Canada-Germany collaborative research proposal as a supplementary document. Only proposals that have been invited to submit will be accepted by DFG. The collaborative proposals must be submitted by German principal investigators to a participating DFG program using the appropriate DFG submission process. Full applications are not submitted to NSERC. Proposals must be submitted to DFG by June 6, 2023, 5 p.m. (CEST) German time.

No changes in the Canadian research team composition are permitted after an invitation is issued. While the title of the Alliance International Collaboration grant application and the proposal that is submitted to DFG (Stage 2) should be the same, DFG requires that the title of the proposal submitted to them begin with “NSERC-DFG SUSTAIN”.

If you submit a proposal under this call (in both Stage 1 and Stage 2), you agree that information contained in your proposal will be shared between NSERC and the DFG for purposes consistent with the program objectives. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of the DFG rules concerning the disclosure of information contained in the proposal. Participants should also ensure they are aware of the policies surrounding DFG programs 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).

Applicants are encouraged to consider sex, gender and diversity in the project’s research design. Diversity and gender equity should also be considered when developing the research team and considering how to promote and support a variety of forms of mentoring to ensure trainees’ equitable participation and growth. Applicants should refer to the Guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application for more information.

Step 1

NSERC will convene a selection panel to assist it with the assessment of applications. The selection panel will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators, and the most highly rated applications will be invited to continue in the process. Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment will be used by NSERC as a screening criterion, and only those applications that meet this criterion will be retained for assessment by the selection panel. The eligibility of the Canadian researchers will also be reviewed internally by NSERC.

Step 2

The full proposals will be reviewed by DFG in competition with other proposals received for the same funding round of the program to which the proposal is submitted. Proposals will be reviewed using DFG's merit review process and criteria: quality of the project; objectives and work program and proposed research methods; qualifications of the applicants; and opportunities for employment in a scientific environment. NSERC will not conduct a parallel scientific review. DFG will provide NSERC with the peer review results. Please refer to the DFG website for additional information.

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

Relevance and expected outcomes

• significance of the research and the intended outcomes, and the potential for generating new knowledge in natural sciences and engineering (NSE) and further developing areas of Canadian research strength and leadership

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)

Need for funds

• budget commensurate with the requirements of your participation in the international research project
• appropriateness of, and justification for, the planned expenditures

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

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.

NSERC and DFG will determine recommendation outcomes. NSERC’s funding decision will take into consideration the merit evaluation, as well as the assessment of potential risks for Canada’s national security, when applicable.

Each selected Canada-Germany project will be jointly funded by NSERC and the DFG, to support the activities of eligible researchers in their respective countries. NSERC’s contribution will be awarded to the eligible Canadian applicants in the form of one Alliance International Collaboration 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. Canadian applicants are only eligible to receive funding from NSERC.

If your application is approved for funding, you will receive an award letter, and you must adhere to the terms and conditions set out in it.

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 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 results of research 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 Alliance International.

You must report regularly on how you use the funds from your grant, the activities you carry out during your funded project and the outcomes of this project. 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.

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 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 original goals of the project 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 then be allowed an additional one-year period to complete your project using existing funds.

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