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April 2010 Competition
Context
Objectives
Description
Value and Duration
Eligibility
Evaluation and Adjudication
Administrative Regulations
More Information
Context
Developing high-quality research depends on establishing and promoting
environments necessary for the generation of new knowledge and for experimentation
in new methods, approaches and ideas. Such development requires theoretical
and methodological experimentation in the early stages of the research
process. Accordingly, the Research Development Initiatives (RDI) program
supports research that both assesses and elicits the changing directions
of research and the evolution of disciplines in the humanities and social
sciences. The program provides short-term support that enables grant holders
to develop their research to a point where they are able to submit fully
developed proposals to other programs with the aim of producing and effectively
disseminating advanced research findings.
Objectives
The overall objective of the RDI program is to support research in its
initial stages by supporting the development of new ways of analyzing,
structuring, integrating and transferring knowledge in the humanities
and the social sciences. The specific objectives of the program are to
help researchers to:
- develop new research questions;
- explore conceptual and methodological perspectives and directions;
- critically analyze and assess research, including its achievements,
impacts, strengths and state of development.
Description
SSHRC invites proposals that meet the program's overall objective of
supporting innovative research in its initial stages that will lead to
the development of mature research projects. Proposals should not be full-fledged,
stand-alone projects that aim at advanced research results, as this type
of research is already supported by Council's Standard Research Grants
and other programs. Nor are RDI grants intended to support ongoing programs
of research. Applicants must clearly distinguish their RDI project from
previous or ongoing research. The proposal should address and develop
a distinct, delimited research issue, present clearly defined plans for
the research, and propose a budget that is fully justified by those plans.
The program supports research activities that can lead to the development of innovative programs of research. These activities may include, but are not limited to, case studies, pilot projects, critical analyses, research collaboration and new ways of producing, structuring, and mobilizing knowledge. Please note that SSHRC has a separate funding program for workshops and conferences. In addition, the RDI program encourages developmental activities that promote interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research.
Value and Duration
The maximum value of an RDI grant is $40,000 over two years. Applicants
may request support for one or two years. Competitions are held twice
a year.
Note: RDI grants are not renewable.
Council expects that the research that the grant supports may lead to
mature research proposals suitable for submission to other funding programs,
whether those of SSHRC or other agencies.
Eligibility
Applicants
Applicants may be individual researchers or groups of researchers affiliated
with Canadian universities or other postsecondary institutions, as well
as scholarly associations in the humanities and social sciences. Foreign
researchers not affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution are
eligible to apply as co-applicants.
Researchers from other organizations, as well as the organizations themselves,
are also eligible to apply, provided that the proposed research requires
significant involvement of researchers affiliated with Canadian postsecondary
institutions.
Institutions
Institutions that propose to administer any grant awarded under this program must meet the requirements for managing SSHRC funds and must hold or obtain institutional eligibility.
Evaluation and Adjudication
An interdisciplinary selection committee with broad expertise will assess
and adjudicate all RDI proposals according to the following criteria:
- significance and originality of the proposed research;
- quality of the plans for the proposed research;
- applicant’s qualifications for carrying out the proposed research;
- feasibility of the proposed research activities to meet the objectives
of the RDI program;
- appropriateness of the budget requested.
All applicants will receive, together with Council’s notice of
decision, a summary of the adjudication committee's comments.
Administrative Regulations
All applicants and grant holders must comply with the Regulations
Governing Grant Applications and with the regulations set out in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (TAFAG). While the TAFAG has precedence, additional information can also be found in the
Grant Holder's
Guide.
More Information
If you have any questions about the Research Development Initiatives
program, please contact:
Eric Bergeron
Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives Division
SSHRC
350 Albert Street
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON K1P 6G4
Tel.: 613-996-1422
Fax: 613-947-0223
E-mail: Eric.Bergeron@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca