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
Six (6) non-renewable envelopes of $20,000 are available each year. These amounts are used to cover research-related expenses.
One (1) additional non-renewable envelope of $10,000 per project is available for a project involving a researcher from a Centre for the Transfer of Technology and Innovative Social Practices (CCTT) and member of CentrEau, as well as one of their college-level students.
3. Financial criteria
For the non-renewable $20,000 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 the CentrEau Project Seed Funding Program, the project must:
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Be new. That is, not yet started or started a maximum of six months before the date at which the program application is submitted.
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Promote inter-institutional collaboration by involving at least 2 regular status CentrEau researcher members from 2 different institutions. During the evaluation, particular attention will be paid to the diversity of the institutions involved.
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Be impactful. The project must be part of the group's scientific programming and have potential for the future. Here are examples of themes the project could address:
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human and environmental health;
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sustainable and smart agriculture;
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hydroclimatic issues;
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green infrastructures;
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reduction of contaminants and nutrients in watercourses;
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adaptation to climate change in water management;
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usage conflicts;
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valorization of water resources.
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Respect the cost-sharing described in the financial criteria section.
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Be part of a larger project for which a funding request to a granting agency is planned (the CentrEau Project Seed Funding Program must serve as a financial lever).
During the evaluation, particular attention will be paid to:
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The diversity of research axes and disciplines touched by the project.
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The project scope. 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 equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in the selection of research team members.
Considered as assets:
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Involvement of a College Technology Transfer Center (CCTT) in the project.
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A project with international perspectives.
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A project that has established links with the United Nations 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
There will be two calls for applications per year, with a third organized only if there are remaining funds after the first two calls.
To submit an application, the research team must submit their application (PDF format, maximum of 3 pages) in the form found 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 a lever).
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A description of how the project fits with the group's scientific programming.
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The project's scope for society.
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The start and end dates of the project.
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The deliverables and the overall timeline.
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A budget breakdown for the $20,000, and if applicable, also a budget breakdown for the $10,000 granted for the involvement of a researcher and a student from a college.
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For the CentrEau Seed Fund application: 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 granting agency to which a subsequent funding request would be submitted.
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For the required subsequent funding request to a granting 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 maintained in the team? We are not looking for the composition of the research team, but rather if the conditions necessary to EDI have been put in place. Consult the EDI toolbox on our website.
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