2025 Strategic Initiatives Research Grant
The theme of the 2025 Strategic Initiatives Research Grant competition is “Imagining Canada’s Future: 16 Global Challenges,” which was established in 2018 in a collaborative effort between the Tri-agency and Policy Horizons Canada. This call seeks responses to any of the 16 Global Challenges and is open to faculty researchers in all disciplines.
Trent University has a strategic commitment to the intensification of research activity and impact. The purpose of this call is to inspire researchers to foster new and steward existing relationships and partnerships in pursuit of solutions to challenges that are of national significance. The successful application will have the potential to lead to further research with the likelihood of significant impact and demonstrate a clear pathway to external funding (Tri-Agency, industry, non-profit partnerships) in the near future.
It is strongly recommended that each application strengthen existing partnerships, or foster new partnerships, with one or more external partners. Interdisciplinary teams composed of researchers from varying career levels and decanal units are strongly encouraged.
Applications may be submitted by “emerging researchers” (those within 5 years of their first full-time academic appointment requiring independent research and student supervision) or “established researchers” (those who have held full-time academic appointments for more than 5 years).
For the 2025 competition, partnership development will be an eligible expense. Up to 25% of the total budget request may be spent on developing or stewarding partnerships that are demonstrably essential to completing the proposed work successfully.
With the exception of researcher and expense eligibility outlined above, the general Terms of Reference for this grant will be applied (see below).
For the 2025 competition, the maximum award is $20,000 for a project of 12-18 months in duration. One grant will be awarded for 2025.
The deadline for the 2025 Research Development Grant application is December 10, 2024, at 4:30 PM EST.
Online Application Process
Applications to the Internal Research Grants Program are to be submitted via the myTrent portal: sign in to myTrent and then click "Services" and then "Learning and Research." Open the “Internal Research Grants” folder beside the eFin and Romeo logos and follow directions there to submit the application.
Winter 2024 Strategic Initiative Research Grant Recipients
- Dr. Quazi Rahman & Dr. Kira Borden, Computer Science and School of Environment, “Machine Learning Methods for Guiding Plant-mediated Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Diversified Agroecosystems”
Terms of Reference
Purpose
The objective of the Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research Grant is to support the development of research that addresses strategic themes, focusing on specific areas of identified need, Tri-Agency priorities or institutional areas of focus. This Grant is part of the Trent University Internal Research Grants program.
Each year a new theme will be announced and the researcher career stage will be identified. The program will provide researchers with modest funding to develop proof-of-concept research projects or pilot programs that will support future funding applications.
A project proposal will include the following:
- Rationale for the project
- Research question(s)
- Description of the partner(s) as applicable
- Project activities and timelines
- Impacts of the project
- Budget justification
Note: A priority for employing Trent students will be considered in the review of Strategic Initiatives Research Grant applications.
Eligibility
The applicant must be:
- A tenure-stream academic faculty member or academic librarian, or professor emeritus; or
- A Limited Term Appointment (LTA) provided their contract end-date falls after the grant end-date.
Applicants may only submit one application as Primary Investigator to one internal grant competition per calendar year. Researchers currently holding other Trent University internal research grants, and researchers who have not yet submitted a final report to the Office of Research and Innovation for a completed internal grant, are not eligible to apply.
Duration and Value
Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research projects are 12 months to 18 months in duration. The maximum award available for this grant is $20,000.
Allowable Expenses
The Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research Grant provides support for the direct costs of research for proof-of-concept research projects or pilot projects that will lead to a Tri-Agency application within one year of the end of the grant. The program has been designed to be flexible and support a wide range of activities, provided these activities are in line with the objectives of the program:
- To develop research projects or pilot programs aligned with the identified research theme; and
- To develop and submit a research proposal to an external funder (Tri-Agency).
Support is provided for the direct costs of research. Direct costs can include, but are not limited to:
- The hiring and training of research assistants;
- The hiring of technical personnel;
- Actual costs of use of specialized research equipment;
- Costs of developing new, or stewarding existing, partnerships (2024 and 2025)
- Research related travel (e.g., field work, meetings with co-investigators, travel to libraries and archives); and
- Supplies not normally provided to researchers by the University.
The program does not provide funding for:
- Conference travel (apply to the Trent University Knowledge Mobilization grant also available within the internal research grants program);
- Purchasing of specialized research equipment (with an exception made for the 2024 competition);
- Equipment servicing;
- Publication or page charges;
- Visiting professorships/lectureships;
- Travel costs for leaves, including research and study leaves.
All research funded through this program should incorporate the appropriate dimensions of the Guidelines for Effective Research Training.
All items must be essential to the conduct of the proposed research and must be carefully justified. Retroactive expenses and/or previously committed expenses are not to be included in budget proposals.
Budget items must comply with Tri-Agency research expenses eligibility guidelines. Please see the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration for complete details.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation criteria for each year will be established in the circulated annual call for applications. Applications for research support are reviewed and adjudicated by members of the Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research Grant Committee. This Committee is comprised of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (Chair), two Deans, and the Senior Director, Office of Research and Innovation (Consultant, non-voting).
Conditions of the Award
The maximum length of a Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research Grant is 12 - 18 months. Successful applicants can hold just one internal research grant at a given time and larger projects may not be simultaneously funded by several small grants from the internal research grants program. The Strategic Initiatives Research Grant can only be used for the approved project. Any variance to the approved budget must be approved in advance by the Office of Research and Innovation.
Research supported by the Trent University Strategic Initiatives Research Grant must comply with all relevant University policies as they relate to the conduct of research, specifically research involving animals, human participants, or biohazardous materials or agents. Researchers are responsible for submitting applications for the appropriate approvals prior to beginning the work, and within six (6) months of the award notice.
The funds must be used for the project and purposes described in the application. The award recipient is responsible for the use of the funds and for any over-expenditure of research accounts. Expenditures must comply with Trent University regulations concerning the use of research funds and must be made in accordance with standard University financial procedures.
Following completion of the research project, the successful applicant must submit an end of grant report to the Office of Research and Innovation. The report is due no later than three (3) months following the end of the grant date. Please submit the report to researchprograms@trentu.ca.
Following completion of the research project, or at the termination date of the award, any remaining funds will be returned for the next competition. An extension of up to six months may be granted by the Office of Research and Innovation should justification detailing reasons for the delay be approved.
Appeals
The committee will not consider appeals of its decision.
Internal Research Grant Budget Template
Please use this template for all three internal research grant applications.