1. Program objective
By offering CentrEau researcher members start-up funds, the CentrEau project seed fund program aims to encourage the emergence of collaborative and cross-sectoral research projects in the field of water, and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in connection with the scientific programming of the group. This program is intended to be a financial lever for carrying out impactful projects.
2. Available Funding
Four (4) non-renewable grants of $50,000 are available as part of this special edition. These amounts are intended to cover research-related expenses.
3. Financial criteria
For the non-renewable $50,000 envelope, the criteria are:
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At least 10% of the amount must be spent on scholarship supplements for one or more graduate students working on the project.
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Up to 90% of the amount can be spent, according to the Common General Rules and the Rules for Strategic Clusters of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), on:
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salary for highly qualified personnel (HQP): technical and research staff, university or college student, postdoctoral fellow, etc.;
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equipment and materials;
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supplementary scholarships;
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travel expenses;
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professional fees;
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knowledge and technology transfer expenses.
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For the non-renewable $10,000 envelope, if applicable, the criteria are:
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At least 10% of the amount must be spent on scholarship supplements for one or more college-level students working on the project.
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Up to 90% of the amount can be spent, according to the Common General Rules and the Rules for Strategic Clusters of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), on:
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salary for highly qualified personnel (HQP): technical and research staff, university or college student, postdoctoral fellow, etc.;
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equipment and materials;
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supplementary scholarships;
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travel expenses;
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professional fees;
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knowledge and technology transfer expenses.
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4. Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To obtain funding under CentrEau's project seed fund program, the project must meet all of the following cumulative conditions:
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Comply with the cost sharing described in the financial criteria section.
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Be part of a larger project for which a funding application to a granting agency is planned (the CentrEau project seed fund program is intended to serve as financial leverage).
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Be new. That is, it must not have started yet, or must have started no more than six months prior to the date of submission of the application.
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Promote inter-institutional collaboration by involving at least two researchers who are regular members (a CentrEau collaborating researcher who meets the criteria set out in CentrEau's statutes and regulations for becoming a regular member may be the principal investigator of the project) and affiliated with two different institutions. During the evaluation, particular attention will be paid to the diversity of the institutions involved.
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Be a leader. It is also recommended that submitted projects relate to one of the following themes or a variation of these themes that fits within CentrEau's scientific program:
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Water and climate
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Climate-water-energy-food security nexus
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Climate change and water management
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Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions (or Adaptation through nature-based solutions)
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Water and health
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One Health approach and integration of sustainable development goals
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Reduction of contaminants and nutrients in waterways
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Water and governance
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Inclusion of First Nations
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Conflicts over water use
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Studies on governance processes and requests
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Management, sharing, and promotion of water data
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Proposals received must fall within one of the three categories listed below. The evaluation committee has set a target of funding two proposals per category. However, based on its evaluations, the committee reserves the right to fund more or fewer proposals per category, up to a maximum of six in total.
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Faculty succession: Proposal submitted by one or a group of young researchers as defined by the FRQ. To be eligible for this category, the principal investigator must be a young researcher. If the young researcher is a co-investigator, then the proposal falls under the "Consolidating Teams" category.
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New collaborations: Proposal submitted by a group of at least two researchers who have not collaborated in the past, i.e., no joint grant applications or joint scientific articles. The research proposal submitted must clearly demonstrate the contribution of each researcher to the research project.
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Teams in consolidation: Proposals accepted under this component must involve at least two researchers. The participation of a young researcher (as defined in component 1) is an asset.
During the evaluation, particular attention will be paid to:
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The diversity of CentrEau's research areas and the disciplines covered by the project.
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The scope of the project. The indicators used to assess this criterion are: the number of institutions involved, the number of researchers involved, the number of students involved, and the size of the proposed project.
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The application of the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the selection of research team members.
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The involvement of a college-level technology transfer center (CCTT) in the project.
The following will be considered assets:
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A project with an international perspective.
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A project that has established links with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5. Evaluation
The CentrEau Scientific Committee will evaluate applications based on the eligibility and selection criteria described above, as well as based on a complete application (i.e., all the required elements in point 6 have been provided) to determine the recipients of the funding. Once the evaluation is completed, the response will be sent by email to the principal investigator as soon as possible.
6. Application Submission
To submit an application, the research team must submit its application (PDF format, maximum 3 pages) using the form at the top of this page. The application must include:
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A summary of the research project (the complete project for which the seed funding would serve as leverage).
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A description of how the project fits in with the themes of the consortium's scientific program.
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The scope of the project for society.
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The start and end dates of the project.
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Deliverables and overall timeline.
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A budget breakdown for the $50,000.
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For applications to CentrEau's seed funding program: the name and home institution of the principal investigator for the application, as well as the researchers involved and, if possible, the highly qualified personnel involved.
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The name of the funding agency to which the subsequent funding application would be submitted.
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For the subsequent funding application planned with a funding agency: the name and home institution of the principal investigator for the application, as well as the researchers involved and, if possible, the highly qualified personnel involved.
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Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations: What measures are in place to ensure that EDI principles are upheld within the team? We are not seeking information about the composition of the research team, but rather whether the necessary conditions for EDI have been put in place.
7. Funding Delivery
Financial support will be provided through an inter-institutional fund transfer that will be processed by the CentrEau institutional representative of the principal investigator's institution (or through multiple fund transfers if the researchers involved wish to distribute the funding among themselves).
8. Accountability
In exchange for the financial assistance provided by CentrEau, the research team agrees to:
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Submit at least one funding request for this project to a granting organization (e.g., NSERC/SSHRC, FRQ, Mitacs, ministries, municipalities, etc.) as soon as possible.
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Six (6) months after receiving the financial support, submit a project progress report to CentrEau by filling out this follow-up form.
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At the end of the financial year, complete a financial report on FRQnet for the institutions through which seed funds were transferred.
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Indicate the project's affiliation with CentrEau – Quebec Water Management Research Centre in all communications regarding the project.
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Thank CentrEau and use its logo during activities and presentations related to the project.
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Thank FRQ and use its logo, when possible, during activities and presentations related to the project.
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Present a conference or a poster at one of the events organized by CentrEau.
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Manage and organize the data at the end of the project to facilitate sharing. If the data is made public, share with us where it can be accessed.
9. Modification or Cancellation of the Application
Anyone who has submitted an application must inform the Scientific director of the group in writing at direction@centreau.org of the abandonment, cancellation, or modification of their original application as soon as possible, as well as refund the unused amounts, if applicable.
Questions? Contact us at info@centreau.org