11 MAR 10
The Office of Research Services (ORS) has recently obtained the following information which we are forwarding to list members.
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Reminder to SFU faculty members: Applications/proposals/letters of intent must be approved by Research Services using an SFU Research Funding Application Signature Sheet prior to their submission. This form can be found on the web at: http://www.sfu.ca/ors/sig.html and must accompany a copy of the application for ORS records when seeking University approval. Applicants are strongly advised to allow sufficient lead-time for the proper consideration at each level.
Further, SFU requires overhead (or indirect costs) on industry grants, regardless of whether the industry funding will be used to leverage other sources (i.e., CIHR, NSERC; SSHRC). Thus, any required matching funding from industry must be detailed in separate SFU Funding Application Signature Sheet(s), with overhead calculated at a rate appropriate to the anticipated funding arrangement. The separate SFU Signature Sheet(s) for the industrial component(s) should be attached to the main SFU Signature Sheet that displays the funding requested from the funding agency. The rate used to calculate overhead (or indirect costs) should be confirmed in advance with Elaine Walton, Contracts Administrator, Office of Research Services; elaine_walton@sfu.ca, local 26684.
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AGENCY: Automotive Partnership Canada
PROGRAM: Three themes (see below)
TYPE: Application
DEADLINE: none
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Automotive Partnership Canada has been conceived to meet the R&D needs of the Canadian automotive industrial sector. As such, there are two fundamental and underlying tenets to APC:
• Any project or program of research funded by APC must be driven by industry needs, and must have active industrial participation and collaboration.
Since all research to be funded by APC must have an engaged industrial partner, proposals that comprise only the passing interest of an industrial partner will not be considered. Proposals must be able to demonstrate how the planned activities will be meeting the needs of industry; how industry has been integral in developing the proposed research; and, how the support of the industrial partner is integral to the research. Proposals will need to be crafted by researchers in close collaboration with their industry partners.
• To meet the needs of industry, a flexible approach to funding mechanisms will be employed. APC will not be taking a "business as usual approach," forcing researchers to fit their proposed activities to pre-existing program structures. APC will work with applicants and their industrial partners to develop proposals and funding mechanisms that will fit the research activities best suited to industrial needs.
To increase flexibility and responsiveness, APC will not issue a specific call for proposals. Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis to more effectively address industry needs as they arise. This approach also allows for proposals to be uniquely crafted according to the requirements of the research and industry challenges at hand.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) would like to highlight the opportunities available for social sciences and humanities research funding through the Automotive Partnership Canada and has committed $5 million over five years to this initiative to fund social sciences and humanities research in the priority areas of the Automotive Partnership Canada. SSHRC promotes these opportunities for funding with social sciences and humanities researchers working in areas of interest related to this initiative.
Research Areas
An Industry Task Force guided the development of APC. This included identifying research priorities, grouped under three strategic themes. All research to be supported must fall under at least one of the 10 priority areas listed below.
Improving the Automobile's Environmental Performance and Impact
• Lighter Weight and/or Sustainable Materials
• Advanced Powertrain
• Energy Storage
• Application of Alternative Fuels
The Cognitive Car
• Vehicular Software
• Electronics and Mechatronics for Safety and Performance Enhancement
• Wireline and Wireless Communications for Vehicular Application
Next Generation Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Processes for Mass Reduction
• Manufacturing Processes for Cost Reduction and Quality Improvement
• Improving Manufacturing Flexibility and Efficiency
Researchers from academia and the NRC, with their industrial partners, should bring forth their ideas to the Project Office. The Project Office staff will work with the researchers and industrial partners to provide advice and feedback so that a proposal can be assembled which suits the needs of the industrial partners, fits within the mandates of the funding agencies and is in a form suitable for peer review. Please do not prepare a complete proposal until being advised to do so by the Project Office.
For more information, contact the Automotive Partnership Canada Project Office at auto@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
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Research Grant Facilitators are available to assist SFU researchers to obtain research funding. These individuals have extensive knowledge concerning funding sources and successful grant writing skills. See http://www.sfu.ca/vpresearch/facilitation.html for their names and contact numbers. Applicants are strongly advised to contact a Grants Facilitator early in the application process.
The Major Projects Office (MPO) http://www.sfu.ca/ors/major+project.html works in close cooperation with the Faculties, including the Deans, Grants Facilitators and faculty members to promote, encourage and support the development of proposals (and budgets) for submission to major grant competitions at the provincial, national and international levels. These activities include (but are not limited to) assistance with facilitating the establishment of collaborative teams and multidisciplinary teams including collaborators at other institutions and in the private sector. Within SFU, the MPO works with Facilities Management for those major proposals which have important space implications for the University (major renovations and/or construction of new space).
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Office of Research Services (ORS)
Simon Fraser University
Mailing address:
8888 University Drive
Multi-Tenant Facility
Burnaby BC V5A 1S6
Courier/Visitor address:
Multi-Tenant Facility, Room 230
8900 Nelson Way
Burnaby BC V5A 4W9
Phone: 778-782-5798
Fax: 778-782-3477
E-Mail: ors@sfu.ca
ORS Web site:
http://www.sfu.ca/ors/