The NSERC CREATE website can be found HERE.
About
The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:
- encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities
- facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce
These innovative programs must foster the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills, and improve their job readiness for careers in industry, government, non-governmental organizations and/or academia.
Value and Duration
CREATEs are funded for six years at up to $150,000 in the first year and up to $300,000 for up to five subsequent years, for a maximum of $1.65M over six years.
Eligibility
CREATE grants are tenable only at NSERC-eligible Canadian universities, and the applicant must hold an eligible position at that university. Researchers at non-eligible organizations may participate as collaborators. More information regarding eligibility can be found in the program description HERE.
External Deadline
Letter of Intent deadline – May 1, Annually
Full Proposal deadline – September 22, Annually
Special Requirements
All Letters of Intent submitted to NSERC must be included in Carleton’s quota (see below). CREATEs require institutional commitments from multiple units across Canada. The research facilitators assigned to support the LOIs selected through the internal review process will support the teams to secure these commitments.
Institutional Quota
Carleton is allowed to submit up to 6 Letters of Intent.
Information Sessions
An information session was held for interested Carleton applicants on March 4, 2024. Please contact your research facilitator if you would like a copy of the slide deck or for the video recording. .
NSERC held an information session in early February. Please contact Kate Swan to request the slides and recording.
How to Apply
Internal Process:
There is a mandatory multi-phase process. Proposals going forward as a part of Carleton’s quota for the 2024 round have already been selected. The anticipated timeline for the 2025 round is as follows:
Phase 1: Internal Expression of Interest – Mid February 2025
Please complete this online form.
Phase 2: Carleton-adjudicated NSERC CREATE Letter of Intent (LOI) – Mid March 2025
An online form is being developed for the internal Letter of Intent. All LOIs must include the following components:
- Summary of training program – 300 words (new requirement from NSERC at LOI stage)
- Training Program Proposal (4-6 pages)
- Rationale
- Training program objectives
- Include HQP table from Form 102 instructions
- Include summary table of program deliverables
- Professional skills
- Future career possibilities
- Research objectives
- Interdisciplinary research
- Mobility
*Considerations of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) should be integrated throughout the training program description, where appropriate.
- References (1 page)
- Proposed program participants (2-3 pages)
- Table summarizing team members
- Description of co-applicants and collaborators expertise and role in the program
- How EDI has been considered in the team composition, recruitment, mentoring, etc.
- CVs
- Form 100 or CV with similar content from PI (N.B., Form 100 is required by NSERC at submission of LOI for those invited forward)
- CV of any format for co-applicants
Internal Evaluation
A multi-disciplinary internal review committee is established each year to review the internal Letters of Intent submitted for consideration. Committee members will review each LOI against the NSERC evaluation criteria described related to Merit of the Training Program (60%) and Excellence of the Team (40%) described in the NSERC program guide found HERE and then meet to discuss the merits of each proposal. The Vice-President (Research and International) receives the recommendations of the internal committee and determines which LOIs should be submitted to NSERC as a part of the institutional quota.
External Submission Steps
Step 1) Submit an internal Carleton Approval Form
Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database CUResearch:
Step 2) Submit an external application to the granting agency
Letters of Intent are submitted through the NSERC online portal. N.B., It is not a two-stage submission at the LOI phase, i.e., when you hit submit proceeds directly to NSERC rather than through CORIS.
VPRI Contact
Kate Swan, Research Facilitator, Institutional Initiatives