On this page
Overview
Objective
Eligibility
Value and duration
Application form
Application instructions
Payment
Use of funds
Reporting
Accountability and public acknowledgment
Questions
Overview
The Government of Canada introduced new funding through the Research Support Fund (RSF) in Budget 2022 to further support the activities related to the indirect costs of research security and to support the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships.
The investments in research security will provide $125 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, and $25 million ongoing per year, in addition to the existing investments for the RSF and Incremental Grant Projects (IPGs).
Objective
Research security is categorized as a fifth priority area of the IPGs. These investments are aligned with the RSF’s objectives to help Canadian postsecondary institutions ensure their federally funded research projects are conducted in world-class facilities with the best equipment and administrative support available. By directing funds to specific investments and to annual or multiyear projects initiated by institutions, research security funding will help to build capacity within postsecondary institutions to identify, assess and mitigate the potential risks to research security.
Eligibility
Funding for research security is for eligible institutions receiving $2 million or more in eligible RSF direct research funding. Eligibility for research security funding is assessed against this threshold each year.
Institutions with less than $2 million in eligible direct research funding are not eligible for research security funding, but continue to benefit from the current progressive RSF funding formula.
Value and duration
Research security funding is calculated as a percentage of each institution’s eligible direct research funding amounts above $2 million. Funding is awarded for one year only. Institutions must re-apply each year and meet all terms and conditions to continue receiving funds.
Research security funding will be calculated and dispersed to institutions separately from the RSF and IPG allocations.
Application form
Applying for research security funding is part of the RSF application process. If your institution is eligible, you must also complete the research security application sections. This section asks for additional information about the proposed use of the research security funds, including details of the project(s) for which you are requesting research security support. This includes:
- a description and costing of proposed investments for the research security priority area, including any other funds supporting the projects;
- expected timelines;
- expected outcomes; and
- a strategic vision for the use of research security funds.
Policies governing the RSF concerning forfeiture of funds, failure to comply with the deadline and requests for extensions also apply to research security applications and awards. See the Apply to the program page for more details.
Application instructions
The research security application is part of the RSF application on the Convergence Portal. If your institution is eligible for this funding, it must complete the research security portion of the application and submit the full application before the deadline.
Payment
Eligible institutions will receive funds according to the RSF payment schedule.
Use of funds
The funds granted to institutions should be used to build capacity to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks to research security, in support of the full implementation of the National Security Guidelines on Research Partnerships. Institutions must spend the funds in the year of the award and report on the use of these funds annually.
Research security funds can be used to support multiyear projects whose outcomes will be available only at the end of a longer period of up to three years. The application allows your institution to apply for funding for the next phase of the project, provided the institution continues to meet reporting and eligibility requirements.
Reporting
Research security funding is subject to the same reporting requirements as the RSF. Institutions must provide clear, reportable evidence of the results and impacts of grants awarded.
Institutions are also required to complete a statement of account reporting on the total value of the research security award. See the Statement of account section for instructions on how to complete and submit this required report.
Accountability and public acknowledgment
Institutions will be required to submit accountability and public acknowledgment requirements and/or provide outcomes reporting for research security funds awarded in 2022-23. The program will communicate further on these requirements in the next fiscal year.
Questions
If you have questions about research security funding, contact information@rsf-fsr.gc.ca.
For more information on research security: