Funding Resources for Québec Digitization Researchers
This page is designed as a resource for researchers from Québec. Here you can find the different funding agencies pages where calls will be published. Also on this page are opportunities for mobility funding, both incoming and outgoing, funding for training young researchers, and fellowship and scholarship opportunities for PhD and graduate students from Québec who want to study in the other RLS regions.
Multilateral Funding for International Projects
Horizon 2020 | European Union
According to the European Commission, Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. EU member states are automatically eligible to compete for funding. Non-EU RLS partners can participate in Horizon 2020 either by providing a unique competence that cannot be found in the EU, or through bilateral agreements between their home countries and the European Union. Canadian researchers can participate in collaborative research and innovation projects in Horizon 2020, and are sometimes eligible for funding. Funding can be granted when one of the following conditions are met:
Visit the Horizon 2020 ICT website here. |
Digital security, privacy, data protection and accountability in critical sectors (SU-DS05-2018-2019) | European Union Horizon 2020
(Please note this call has now closed) Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of about EUR 5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. In the context of an increased digitization and of growing complexity of cyber-attacks, there are certain sectors/subsectors identified as critical from the point of view of cybersecurity needs, among others the transport domain and the healthcare sector. It is of outmost importance to facilitate the engagement of end-users towards defining and providing sector-specific common requirements about digital security, privacy and personal data protection. Proposals concerning digital security, privacy and personal data protection in multimodal transport should develop secure access management for citizens to all types of vehicles, protection against specific cyber-attacks in the multimodal transport domain, and standardization to allow the quick adoption of cybersecurity best practices in the domain. Proposals dealing with digital security, privacy and personal data protection in healthcare ecosystem should develop dynamic vulnerability data basis for collecting, uploading, maintaining, and disseminating vulnerabilities of ICT-based medical systems, technologies, applications and services. They should deliver dynamic, evidence-based, sophisticated security, privacy and personal data protection risk assessment frameworks and tools and provide collaborative privacy-aware tools enabling healthcare stakeholders to access and share information healthcare participants. In the long term, projects should contribute to a better cybersecurity for specific standards in the respective critical domains/sectors and a better implementation of the relevant EU legislation and established trust chains among all entities. View the call here. |
ERA-NET Co-Fund Enhanced cooperation in Digitalisation of Energy Systems and Networks (LC-SC3-ES-9-2019) | European Union Horizon 2020
(Please note this call has now closed) Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution in the range of EUR 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Cross-Themes: Digitalisation, Energy Beyond direct efficiency gains and cost savings, digitalization holds the potential to catalyse fundamental, system-wide changes in Energy Systems and Networks. As digitalisation advances, a highly and cross-sectoral interconnected system of energy systems and infrastructures can emerge, with increasing opportunities for integration of renewables and efficient energy management. Electricity is likely to be the first energy sector impacted, digitisation enabling stronger connections to the heating and cooling sector, in particular in buildings and the mobility sector. Digitalisation can also foster enhanced the participation of stakeholders in local, regional and European value chains. Local communities and prosumers may gradually begin to leverage the opportunities for their involvement in energy communities and energy transactions and boost European innovation and businesses. In order to achieve this, energy stakeholders must work hand in hand with highly innovative newcomers and lateral thinkers that have a “digital mindset” (e.g.: the block chain community) and also integrate the know-how and experience from other sectors. The approach should also engage potential customers such as infrastructure operators, local industries or communities and end-users in value chains from the local and regional up to the European and global levels. Therefore, support is needed for the development of future digital platforms, applications and business which maximize benefits for European citizens while incentivising a sustainable, secure and resilient energy system where data protection is guaranteed. Coordinated transnational Research, Demonstration and Innovation actions has the potential to make a large impact. Proposals should coordinate national (or regional) energy and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research, demonstration and innovation programs and pool the necessary financial resources with a view to implementing joint calls for proposals resulting in grants to third parties with EU co-funding in this area. The scope of activities should include
Proposals should make use of state of the art innovation methodology (such as co-creation, design thinking, policy lab) to the community of solution designers to ensure high quality and highly dynamic communication between involved stakeholder groups. Proposals should include the set-up of a knowledge platform and promote transnational mutual learning. Overall, proposals are expected to enhance the collaboration of regional and national ICT and energy programs and their stakeholder communities, to leverage associated research and innovation / development funds and existing tools and outcomes from former European initiatives like e.g. the Internet of Energy projects FINSENY[2] and FINESCE[3] and contribute to the objectives of SET-Plan Action 4 on 'Increasing the resilience and security of the energy system'[4]. Proposals should also contribute to develop need driven implementation environments on regional and local levels. More specifically, proposals are expected to:
Delegation Exception Footnote: This activity directly aimed at supporting public-public partnerships with Member States and associated countries, technology platforms with industrial partners and earth observation networks is excluded from the delegation to INEA and will be implemented by the Commission services. [1]A living lab is a user-centered, open-innovation ecosystem often operating in a territorial context (e.g. city, agglomeration, region), integrating concurrent research and innovation processes (co-creation), potentially relying on a public-private-people partnership. [2]http://www.fi-ppp-finseny.eu/ [3]http://www.finesce.eu/ [4]https://setis.ec.europa.eu/actions-towards-implementing-integrated-set-plan/implementation-plans Call Website |
Research Support Program (PSR)- Support for International Research and Innovation Initiatives (SIIRI) | Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et l'Innovation Québec
(Please note this call is now closed) Value: Up to $1.5 Million CAD, over five years This program supports international research and innovation projects between higher education, research and industry stakeholders and promotes high-level industrial research partnerships built on strategic international initiatives. Projects must be aligned with the government’s strategic policy directions for research and innovation. Priority will be given to projects touching on prioritized fields, including information and communication technologies. Projects with at least one of the following zones, countries, or groups of countries deemed strategic by the Ministry’s Direction des partenariats internationaux (DPI) will have priority (Brazil, Canada (outside Québec), United States, China, Germany). Eligible organizations: - Québec businesses or subsidiaries of foreign companies that are legally incorporated and carry out R&D activities in Québec, with priority given to those with under 250 employees - Non-profit organizations (NPOs) in a variety of sectors, niches, and industries involved in research, innovation, promotion, and dissemination of science and technology - Québec public-sector research institutions Projects involving Québec and foreign companies with financial ties are not eligible. The Ministry reserves the right to reject any financial aid application from organizations or companies whose ongoing PSR-SIIRI projects are in default or whose projects have already been rejected twice in the past. Eligible projects: 1. Bilateral research projects (between Quebec and a country, or between Quebec and another Canadian province, maximum aid $150,000 over three years). 2. Multilateral research projects (between Quebec and at least two countries or other Canadian provinces, maximum aid $250,000 over three years). 3. Large-scale projects (maximum aid of $1.5 million over three years): projects eligible in the Horizon 2020 EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation. Eligible expenses are those of the Quebec team and cover the production costs of project. No additional financial assistance may be granted for cost overruns approved projects. Financial aid granted generally varies by project type and does not exceed 50% of eligible expenses for Québec activities (part of the budget for activities carried out and paid in Québec). The financing package may include a maximum of 80% assistance from various levels of government. A minimum monetary contribution is expected from the Québec partner’s community (20% of eligible project expenses). The overall project must be balanced among the partners. The portion carried out in Québec may not exceed 70% of the total budget for the international project including Québec and the partner countries and regions. |
Digging Into Data | Trans-Atlantic Platform Social Sciences and Humanities and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NSERC, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council SSHRC, FRQNT/FRQSC Québec
(Please note this call is now closed, but reopens triennually with different ICT themes) Value: for Québec researchers, a total of up to CAD 275 000 per project, for 24-36 months The Challenge will support research projects that explore and apply new “big data” sources and methodologies to address questions in the social sciences and humanities. The funding opportunity is open to projects that address any research question in humanities and/or social sciences disciplines by using new, large-scale, digital data analysis techniques. All projects must show how these techniques can lead to new theoretical insights. Proposed projects can use any data source. Digging into Data is specifically aiming to advance multidisciplinary collaborative projects in digital scholarship that seek new perspectives and insights. Proposals may address any research question in the humanities and/or social sciences, utilising any data source to do so. Examples of research challenges that may be considered in projects include (but are not limited to): - Interpreting data - Novel application of data - Employing multi-form and/or multi-source data in research Research partners will receive funding from their own national funding agencies. Québec-based research teams must submit their proposal in parallel following the instructions in the Joint Canadian Funders Addendum. The program will support collaborative research teams from three continents: Europe (Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom); North America (Canada, Mexico, the United States); and South America (Brazil and Argentina). A "team" is a group of principal investigators from at least three of the participating countries. Because this is a "trans-Atlantic" grant program, your team must have PIs on both sides of the Atlantic. Call Website. Joint Canadian Funders Addendum (French). Joint Canadian Funders Addendum (English). |
Incoming Mobility Funding
Bringing RLS-Sciences counterparts to Québec
Bavaria-Québec Program for Short-Term Research Missions | Bavarian Research Alliance and Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies
Deadline: Ongoing in consultation with BayFOR Value: individual per programme and applicant The objectives of this program for short-term missions are to promote international mobility between Quebec and Bavaria and to foster sustained cooperation between researchers from Bavaria and Quebec in specific research areas, including digital technologies. The bilateral aspect of this program funds research visits from universities and research institutions in Bavaria for a period of one to three months at a university or research institution in Québec. Programme Website. |
São Paulo Researchers in International Cooperation (SPRINT) | São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Deadline: 27 January, 2020 Value: dependant on proposal, please see below The objective of the SPRINT programme is to promote the engagement of researchers affiliated to institutions of higher education and research in the State of São Paulo in partnership with researchers abroad in order to: 1) further develop qualitatively the ongoing research projects; and 2) work cooperatively aiming at the elaboration of joint research projects of medium and long term, for submission to FAPESP, by researchers from the State of São Paulo, and to the research funding agencies in the countries of corresponding partners, by their colleagues. SPRINT provides funding for the initial phase of international research collaborations with clear expectations that the next phase will be a presentation, by the researchers from the State of São Paulo, of research proposals in the regular funding lines of FAPESP aiming to continue the research started under SPRINT and the consequently consolidation of the partnership. Foreign partners must provide their own funding through the appropriate partner agencies. Selected projects must last between 12 and 24 months. Joint petitioners should submit their proposals in both countries, using the appropriate forms supplied by the respective agencies. Each proposal will initially be analyzed by the agency in the country of its origin. Selected proposals will then be evaluated by a panel of FAPESP and representatives of the other partner institution. There are four calls each year. The deadlines for the submission of proposals in each round will be determined annually and will always be on the last Monday of each following month: January, April, July, and October. Regularly, proposals may only be submitted for mobility of researchers from the State of São Paulo and from institutions abroad that hold cooperation agreements with FAPESP. However, in this call FAPESP will also accept proposals from researchers whose partners are from institutions with which FAPESP does not have a current agreement or with which FAPESP has current agreements but whose institutions are not joining the current SPRINT edition. There are no partner institutions from Québec for this call, but researchers may still apply via their institutions. Review the call here. Review the SPRINT Guidelines here (please note you will need to scroll down past the lists of partner institutions). |
Bringing RLS-Sciences students to Québec
International Internships- Digital | Fonds de recherche du Québec- Nature et technologies
(Please note this call is now closed) Value: Maximum 15 000 CAD The objective of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies International Internships Digital program is to promote the international mobility of doctoral students whose research is in an area related to digital technologies or digitalization. Applicants may apply for funding to support internships or training at an institution in Québec university or a Québec College Centre for the Transfer of Technologies (CCTT). Eligible applicants must be registered full-time as graduate students at a university in one of the RLS regions (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) in digital technologies or digitalization. Please note that citizens of the six RLS regions outside of Québec (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) who are registered full-time at a university in Québec are not eligible for this scholarship. Studies must begin no later than 31 March, 2019 and must be continue for a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months. Learn more, and apply here. |
Merit scholarship program for foreign students (PBEEE) | Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)
(Please note this call is now closed, but will reopen in 2020) Value: dependent on program stream- please see below. The objective of the Merit Scholarship Programs for Foreign Students (PBEEE) is to support the internationalization of research activities in Québec's institutions of higher education, to attract the best foreign researchers and students, and to promote Québec universities and College Centers for the Transfer of Technologies (CCTT), abroad. Candidates must be preselected by a university, the Réseau Trans-Tech (a CCTT), TERI University, the SRE or CONACYT. There are three streams within the program: Doctoral research, post-doctoral research, or Short-term research or professional development. Universities can recommend four candidates per year for each of these three components. There are no quotas per country. The Réseau Trans-tech can recommend four candidates for Postdoctoral scholarships and Short-term research or professional development scholarships. Doctoral research component Candidates are eligible for doctoral merit program scholarships from MEESR in the first nine sessions of their doctoral studies. All doctoral sessions, funded or unfunded, completed before the scholarship takes effect, are used in calculating the eligibility period. The maximum duration of the scholarship is three years (nine sessions), with a possible extension of up to 12 months, for up to $25,000 (Canadian) per year Postdoctoral component Postdoctoral scholarships are intended for researchers who have obtained their degree no more than two years before the deadline of the competition or who submitted their dissertation by the deadline for the beginning of scholarship use. Postdoctoral research must be conducted in an institution other than the one that granted the Doctorate. The applicant's doctoral supervisors and co-supervisors may not act as his/her postdoctoral supervisor, even if they have changed institutions. The duration of this scholarship is for up to one year, for $35,000 (Canadian). This scholarship is not renewable. Short-term research or professional development component Short-term research or professional development scholarships are intended for technical and university students (option A) or researchers who have completed a doctorate no more than five years before the deadline for the competition (option B). The research or professional development must be conducted in an institution other than the one at which the student was enrolled when he or she applied. The duration of this scholarship is for up to four months, for $3,000 (Canadian) per month. The scholarship is not renewable. Visit the programme website here. |
Outgoing Mobility Funding
Visiting RLS-Sciences colleagues outside of Québec
Bavaria-Québec Program for Short-Term Research Missions | Bavarian Research Alliance and Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies
(Please note this call is currently closed) Value: Up to $2 500 for transportation plus daily living allowance, for 1-3 months The objectives of this program for short-term missions are to promote international mobility between Quebec and Bavaria and to foster sustained cooperation between researchers from Bavaria and Quebec in specific research areas, including digital technologies. The bilateral aspect of this program funds research visits from universities and research institutions in Québec for a period of one to three months at a university or research institution in Bavaria. This program is open to: - FRQNT researchers: university researchers (CHU and CHUN) or institutional researchers (CE) - FRQS researchers: independent investigators and independent clinical investigators. For a definition of each status, consult the FRQ Common General Rules. The researchers must: - Be affiliated with a Quebec university - Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents as defined in section 2.1 of the FRQ Common General Rules - Be domiciled in Québec - Have received an invitation letter from a researcher from Bavaria affiliated with a university or a university of applied sciences that receives funding from the Bavarian government, or a researcher from KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, ESFH, or KSFH. Visit the program website here. |
São Paulo Researchers in International Cooperation (SPRINT) | São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Deadline: 27 January, 2020 Value: dependant on proposal, please see below The objective of the SPRINT programme is to promote the engagement of researchers affiliated to institutions of higher education and research in the State of São Paulo in partnership with researchers abroad in order to: 1) further develop qualitatively the ongoing research projects; and 2) work cooperatively aiming at the elaboration of joint research projects of medium and long term, for submission to FAPESP, by researchers from the State of São Paulo, and to the research funding agencies in the countries of corresponding partners, by their colleagues. SPRINT provides funding for the initial phase of international research collaborations with clear expectations that the next phase will be a presentation, by the researchers from the State of São Paulo, of research proposals in the regular funding lines of FAPESP aiming to continue the research started under SPRINT and the consequently consolidation of the partnership. Foreign partners must provide their own funding through the appropriate partner agencies. Selected projects must last between 12 and 24 months. Joint petitioners should submit their proposals in both countries, using the appropriate forms supplied by the respective agencies. Each proposal will initially be analyzed by the agency in the country of its origin. Selected proposals will then be evaluated by a panel of FAPESP and representatives of the other partner institution. There are four calls each year. The deadlines for the submission of proposals in each round will be determined annually and will always be on the last Monday of each following month: January, April, July, and October. Regularly, proposals may only be submitted for mobility of researchers from the State of São Paulo and from institutions abroad that hold cooperation agreements with FAPESP. However, in this call FAPESP will also accept proposals from researchers whose partners are from institutions with which FAPESP does not have a current agreement or with which FAPESP has current agreements but whose institutions are not joining the current SPRINT edition. There are no partner institutions from Québec for this call, but researchers may still apply via their institutions. Review the call here. Review the SPRINT Guidelines here (please note you will need to scroll down past the lists of partner institutions). |
PPP Canada Programme for Project-Related Personal Exchange | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Call Open Value: Up to € 15,000 per year Through its PPP programmes DAAD supports joint bi-national research projects of a high academic standard in order to strengthen academic relations between a German institution and an institution abroad and to promote cooperative research activities. The provided project funding is intended to cover mobility costs for German participants arising from the research project, and in particular to enable young academics involved in the project to conduct a research stay at the partner institution abroad, thereby supporting them in their international training. The allowance covers all expenditures within the scope of mobility and the stay. Eligible for funding are short-term stays of academics (up to 30 days) and young academics (up to 50 days). On the German side, DAAD provides funding for members of the German research group for stays at the foreign partner institution if no other arrangement was made with the foreign partner institution. For the purposes of this programme, young academics are defined as junior researchers currently completing their doctorate and academics at the outset of their academic careers who completed their doctorate no more than five years ago. An application must present a specific academic research project of high quality, on which the partners from Germany and the foreign partner country intend to work together in an ideally complementary manner. Proposals involving research into general scientific questions of interest to both research groups are not sufficient. Basic financing of the project (personal and material expenses on both sides) must be ensured. The application will only be considered if written confirmation of the cooperation from the Canadian institution is included. Visit the program website. |
Sending students to RLS-Sciences colleagues outside of Québec
International Internships- Digital | Fonds de recherche du Québec- Nature et technologies
(Please note this call is now closed) Value: Maximum 15 000 CAD *Please note this scholarship is limited to students studying in Québec. The objective of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies International Internships Digital program is to promote the international mobility of doctoral students whose research is in an area related to digital technologies or digitalization. Applicants may apply for funding to support internships or training at an institution in one of the other six RLS regions (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape). Eligible applicants must be registered full-time as graduate students at a university in Québec. Please note that citizens of the six RLS regions outside of Québec (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) who are registered full-time at a university in Québec are not eligible for this scholarship. Studies must begin no later than 31 March, 2019 and must be continue for a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months. Learn more, and apply here. |
Mitacs Accelerate International | Mitacs
Applications accepted at any time. Applicants should submit their applications approximately 16 weeks prior to the start of the project to ensure enough time for adjudication, filing of appropriate documentation, and travel and accommodation arrangements. Value: $15,000 CAD for 16-24 weeks The Mitacs Globalink Partnership Award offers graduate students at Mitacs full and associate partner universities in Canada the opportunity to participate in a 16- to 24-week research project with an international industry partner located in any country except the United States. The Partnership Award is open to all academic disciplines including both the social sciences and humanities and STEM. The Partnership Award provides an opportunity for faculty at Canadian universities to strengthen existing international research collaborations and connect with colleagues and industry around the world through the mobility of graduate students. The Partnership Award offers the following benefits to participating universities and students: - Mitacs will award successful applicants $15,000 CAD in funding to cover the direct costs of research. Funding will be in the form of a research grant to the home university academic supervisor; - All academic disciplines are eligible; - Simple and quick application process with results typically announced in six weeks; - Open to international graduate students studying in Canada, Canadian citizens or permanent residents; - Funding is provided to support the student’s research; - Students and faculty gain real-world and international exposure: apply the latest tools and innovations to real issues; and - International research collaborations are strengthened. Student Eligibility In order to be eligible for a Partnership Award, a student must: - Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student (Effective September 30, 2015, students in Canada on a study permit cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship. Students with Canadian citizenship and Permanent Residents can undertake research in any partner country, regardless of additional citizenship status.) - Be registered for full-time graduate studies at a Mitacs full or associate partner university in Canada. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for the Partnership Award. - Demonstrate skills and interest suitable to the project(s) in question - Remain a student of their university; students cannot be employed by their partner organization during their research projects - Have an academic supervisor with a faculty appointment at an eligible Canadian university - Spend a minimum of 25% of the research project at their home university and up to 75% with the industry partner abroad. - Meet all necessary travel requirements for the intended destination The Partnership Award offers the following benefits to participating industry partners: - Applications are peer reviewed to ensure high-quality research - Increased innovation: participants gain novel solutions to research challenges - Mitacs matches the $7,500 CAD industry partner contribution Industry Partner Eligibility The international industry partner for the Partnership Award must be a for-profit company in any country except the United States where the student can undertake the research project. Visit the program website here. |
Globalink Research Award | Mitacs
Applications accepted at any time. For travel in the summer, please submit applications in January. For travel in the autumn, please submit applications in May. For travel in the winter, please submit applications in September. Value: $6,000 CAD for 12-24 weeks The Globalink Research Award provides an opportunity for faculty at Canadian universities to strengthen existing international research collaborations and connect with colleagues around the world through the mobility of senior undergraduate and graduate students. The Mitacs Globalink Research Award provides funding to support senior undergraduate and graduate student research projects abroad. Student recipients of the Globalink Research Award will develop research skills, cultural fluency, and professional networks, becoming part of Canada’s generation of global innovators. The benefits include: - A $6,000 research award to the Canadian supervisor to support student travel and accommodation expenses, research related expenses, and student stipend. - Open to all disciplines - For joint research projects with academic collaborators for a minimum of 12 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks abroad - Partner countries: Brazil and China Student Eligibility In order to be eligible for a Globalink Research Award for research at a university outside of Canada, a student must: - Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student Students cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree or been employed Effective September 30, 2015, students in Canada on a study permit cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship. Students with Canadian citizenship and permanent residents can undertake research in any partner country, regardless of additional citizenship status. - Be registered for full-time studies at a Canadian university as a senior undergraduate student or graduate student. - Be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years or older). - Demonstrate skills and interest suitable to the project(s) in question. - Have identified a faculty member at their home university to supervise the project and administer the funds. - Have identified a host academic supervisor with a faculty appointment at an accredited university in a Mitacs partner country. - Meet all necessary travel requirements for the intended destination. - Have not previously been awarded a Globalink Research Award. Senior undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive ONE Mitacs Globalink Research Award per academic life time. - Undergraduate students must: Have completed their second year of studies prior to departure Be enrolled in full-time studies and remain as such throughout the duration of the Globalink Research Award Maintain a B average or equivalent thereof for the last two semesters of study Program website. |