Research Tools and Instruments grants program

Overview Duration 1 year Value Up to $150,000 Application deadline October 25 How to apply Application

Canadian Common CV To create an application, select Research portal.



To create a Canadian Common CV, select Canadian Common CV.



To view instructions, select Instructions. For more information Consult the Contact list.

For information relating to Research Tools and Instruments grants specific to subatomic physics, please refer to the Subatomic Physics Research Tools and Instruments grants program.

This program is intended for university researchers. College researchers should apply to the College and Community Innovation Program – Applied Research Tools and Instruments grants.

Objectives

Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) grants foster and enhance the discovery, innovation and training capability of university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering by supporting the purchase of research equipment.

Description

The RTI grants program provides the primary avenue for university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering to obtain up to $150,000 in support for research tools and instruments with a net cost between $7,001 and $250,000. Net cost is defined as the purchase cost of the equipment after any discount from the vendor and before taxes, customs and importation fees, transportation and shipping charges, and assembly and installation costs. The vendor discount must be free of conditions, restrictions or limitations (e.g., cannot be offered in exchange for services from users benefiting the vendor company). The research community is also encouraged to explore other avenues for funding research tools and instruments, including NSERC’s other programs that allow the purchase of equipment as eligible expenses.

NSERC will only accept the following requests:

for tools and instruments that form a comprehensive system intended to support NSERC-funded research in the natural sciences and engineering. A comprehensive system is one in which each tool or instrument forms part of an integrated system of operation to support the research program(s) requests that bundle unrelated tools and instruments together will not be accepted

for the purchase of new, used or refurbished equipment, for the repair, upgrade or rental of equipment, or for the fabrication of equipment that is not readily available off the shelf

for equipment that is purchased or rented after the application deadline

Note: Equipment and items that are part of laboratory infrastructure or intended to render other equipment compliant with health and safety standards are ineligible for RTI support.

For more information on eligible expenses under the RTI program, see the instructions on how to complete an RTI application.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering community and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Increasing diversity and gender equity in the research enterprise are key priorities in our current strategic plan, NSERC 2020, and are highlighted in the strategic goal, “Build a diversified and competitive research base.”

Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. Where applicable, consideration of sex, gender and diversity in the research design should be addressed in the proposal. Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations should be developed into the rationale of the composition of research teams and trainees.

For more information, applicants should refer to the Guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application.

Use of funds

RTI grants must be used only for the specific type of equipment for which the grant was awarded through the peer review process. Grantees who wish to purchase equipment different from that specified in the application must obtain written permission from NSERC Finance prior to its purchase. Grantees may, however, buy a model different from that requested in the application without prior NSERC approval (e.g., newer or upgraded model).

Eligibility to apply for and hold funds

To be eligible to apply for and to hold RTI funds, applicants and co-applicants must each:

meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty

hold at least one of the following NSERC research grants:*

Discovery Grant



Discovery Development Grant



Alliance grant



Strategic Partnerships Grant



Collaborative Research and Development grant



Industrial Research Chairs grant



Canada Research Chairs



Canada Excellence Research Chairs



Canada 150 Research Chairs

*Applicants and co-applicants may apply for any of the above grants while concurrently applying to the RTI program. However, if any applicant or co-applicant does not hold one of the above grants by the RTI award start date, or is not successful in obtaining one of these grants while concurrently applying to the RTI program, the applicant and/or co-applicant will be deemed ineligible and removed from the application.

Application procedures

Researchers can submit one RTI application per competition, either as an applicant or a co‑applicant but not both.

To apply, applicants must submit an application for RTI grants through the research portal by the deadline date. Each applicant and co-applicant must also complete a Canadian Common CV (CCV) and link it to the application.

Teams should strive for a diverse group of co-applicants and major users, including balanced gender representation. Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations should be reflected in the rationale of the team composition and, where applicable, in the designated roles within the team. For more information, refer to the Guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application (questions 1 to 4).

If applicable, applicants should include two (2) recent quotations for any individual item(s) over $25,000 (before taxes) or for any system(s) to be purchased from a single supplier and costing more than $25,000 (before taxes).

Attachments that do not adhere to the guidelines should not be included and may be removed.

Review procedures and selection criteria

Applications for RTI grants submitted to NSERC are reviewed by experts on a competitive basis. Experts on NSERC RTI selection committees follow the guidelines in the Research Tools and Instruments peer review manual.

Applications to the RTI program are assessed on the basis of the three following weighted selection criteria. The onus is on the applicant to thoroughly address each criterion in the application and to provide detailed information.

need, urgency and suitability of equipment for the research programs (40%):1

demonstration that the equipment is essential for the research and that there are no other more cost-effective ways of obtaining the results

availability of similar equipment/facilities/services in the vicinity

impact of a delay in acquisition of equipment on the research and the pace of research progress

need to upgrade or replace obsolete or failed equipment

degree of utilization of the equipment by the applicant(s) and other users

merit of the research programs supported by the equipment and excellence of the applicant(s) (40%):

quality and significance of research programs, including potential for major advances and impact in the discipline as a result of the equipment

feasibility of the plan to use the equipment

excellence of the applicant(s), including scientific or engineering calibre of the applicant(s) and extent to which the applicant(s) has relevant experience and demonstrated ability to fully use the equipment

consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the rationale of the team composition (applicant, co-applicant(s) and major users)

importance of the equipment for the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) (20%):

quality and extent of training

opportunity for hands-on training

potential to provide marketable skills for students trained on the equipment

consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the training of HQP

1If you anticipate use by or benefit to other sectors, describe the support secured from these sources or demonstrate the efforts made to obtain such support.

Resources