On this page
Overview
Objective
Eligibility
Grant value and duration
Application form
Application instructions
Grant payment
Use of grant funds
Reporting
Accountability and public acknowledgment
Questions
Overview
The Incremental Project Grants (IPGs) funding opportunity is a stream of the Research Support Fund (RSF) that provides further support for the indirect costs of research, in addition to the RSF grant.
This stream stems from additional funding for the RSF announced in Budget 2018, totalling $231.3 million over five years ($28.75 million in 2018-19) and $58.8 million per year after that.
If your institution is eligible, the IPG provides it with additional support for projects in priority areas that cut across the RSF’s five existing categories of eligible expenses. The five IPG priority areas are:
- innovation and commercialization activities;
- facilities renewal, including deferred maintenance;
- information resources, including digital resources, open access and databases;
- equity, diversity and faculty renewal (in the context of equity, diversity and inclusion); and
- research security.
Objective
The IPG stream is aligned with the RSF’s objective 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, the IPG will help with tracking and reporting, to better demonstrate the impact of these investments.
Eligibility
IPG funding is for institutions eligible for the RSF and are at the highest funding levels in the current RSF formula, receiving $7 million or more in eligible direct research funding. Eligibility for the IPG is assessed against this threshold each year.
Institutions with less than $7 million in eligible direct research funding are not eligible for IPG funding but continue to benefit from the current progressive RSF funding formula.
Grant value and duration
The
IPG
values are determined using the
RSF’s current funding formula. Grants are awarded for one year only. Institutions must re-apply each year and meet all terms and conditions to continue receiving funds.
Application form
Applying for the IPG is part of the RSF application process. If your institution is eligible, you must also complete the IPG application sections. The IPG sections ask for additional information about the proposed use of the IPG funds, including details of one or several projects corresponding to at least one of the IPG priority areas. This includes:
- a description and costing of proposed investments across the
IPG’s eligible priority areas, including any other funds supporting the projects;
- expected timelines;
- expected outcomes; and
- a strategic vision for the use of
IPG
funds.
Policies governing the RSF concerning forfeiture of funds, failure to comply with the deadline and requests for extensions also apply to IPG applications and awards. Refer to the Apply to the program page for more details.
Application instructions
The IPG application is part of the RSF application on the Convergence Portal. If your institution is eligible for IPG, it must complete the IPG portion of the application and submit the full application before the deadline.
Grant payment
Your institution will be paid the IPG amount according to the RSF payment schedule.
Use of grant funds
Your institution must spend the funds in the year of the award and report on the use of these funds annually.
IPG 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
IPG funding is subject to the same reporting requirements as the RSF. Your institution must provide clear, reportable evidence of the results and impacts of its grants.
Your institution is also required to complete a statement of account reporting on the total value of the IPG. See the Statement of account section for instructions on how to complete and submit this required report.
Your institution must also submit an annual outcomes report specific to the IPG funding using the Voxco survey tool. See the Incremental Project Grant outcomes report section for instructions on how to complete and submit this report.
Accountability and public acknowledgment
Institutions receiving IPG funding are subject to accountability and public acknowledgement requirements. See the Incremental Project Grants—Summary of accountability and public acknowledgment requirements section for instructions on these requirements.
Questions
For questions about the IPG application process or reporting requirements, contact information@rsf-fsr.gc.ca.