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

Note:

• NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR claim no rights of ownership to any intellectual property generated by grant projects.
• 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.

To ensure the Canadian research ecosystem is as open as possible and as secure as necessary, the Government of Canada has provided clear information on research security considerations for the development, evaluation and funding of grant applications.

For more information on the granting agencies’ implementation of harmonized research security measures, as well as further guidance and resources on how to safeguard your research, please refer to the Tri-agency guidance on research security.

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to research that advances sensitive technology research areas performed with research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security. The STRAC Policy applies to this funding opportunity.

Applicants must identify whether their proposed research aims to advance a sensitive technology research area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles in the grant application (see the list of named roles specific to this funding opportunity) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a named research organization.

The Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements, including the responsibilities of researchers and the responsibilities of institutions.

The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships provide clear information on national security considerations for the development, evaluation and funding of research partnerships. They enable researchers, research institutions and federal funding organizations to consistently perform risk-targeted due diligence—identifying and mitigating national security risks linked to research partnerships.

The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships apply to grant applications involving one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when those organizations participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors. For such partnerships, you and your postsecondary institution are required to complete a risk assessment form for your research project and submit it as an integral part of your grant application.

The Tri-agency guidance on the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements.

NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR support excellent, innovative, and impactful research that advances knowledge and understanding and responds to local, national and global challenges. NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR recognize that equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles are foundational to research quality and impact. It is essential to recognize and remove systemic barriers that limit the full participation of all individuals and communities, and to integrate EDI considerations in all aspects of research. These principles are integral to the Tri-agency statement on EDI and the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan. For more information, consult the NSERC EDI webpage, SSHRC EDI webpage and CIHR EDI webpage.