NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program

The NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that 

• encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities 
• facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce 

The program also supports industrial stream applications and offers opportunity to collaborate with the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in Germany. 

NSERC will provide funding of up to $150,000 in the first year and up to $300,000 for up to five subsequent years, for a maximum of $1.65M over six years. Collaborators may contribute additional funds. CREATE initiatives are expected to be self-sustaining by the end of six years.  

Submission Process and Deadlines 

NSERC’s deadline for receipt of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is May 2, 2022. The CREATE program is highly selective, with pre-screening based on the LOI. Only applicants successful at the LOI stage will be invited by NSERC to submit a full application. 

UPEI is limited to submitting two (2) LOI submissions for the CREATE Program.  To facilitate the identification and selection of LOI applicants, there will be an internal selection process.    

UPEI Internal Notice of Intent (NOI) – Deadline March 7, 2022 by 4pm     

Prepare a maximum two-page document with the following information: 

• Title of the project 
• Names of the principal investigator and co-applicants (minimum of one and maximum of 10 co-applicants). Explain the rationale for the team composition and how it has the necessary expertise for the successful execution of the training program.  
  • Note: NSERC limits the participation of an individual researcher in a maximum of two CREATE initiatives as either an applicant or co-applicant (active or applied for). 
  • Note to multi-university applicants: All universities who will be involved in the application must have at least one co-applicant listed in the proposal. 

• A description of the project that includes the following:  

• • the objectives, approach, originality and novelty, and expected significance of the proposed research training program, 
  • the type of research that the trainees will be involved in during the program,  
  • how the proposed approach would better prepare students for their future careers, 
  • approximate number of students and postdoctoral fellows that you are planning to train on an annual basis, 
  • name of industrial collaborator, if applicable (if applying to the industrial stream), and 
  • anticipated annual budget for the program (indicating other sources of funding, if applicable). 

Provide a CV for the principal investigator (Canadian Common CV or NSERC Form 100 format is acceptable for the UPEI NOI, but the LOI as submitted to NSERC will require completion of Form 100).

Submit these documents to Leslie Cudmore, Research Grants Coordinator, via email at lcudmore@upei.ca by March 7, 2022.  NOIs will be reviewed by an internal committee and applicants will be selected for submission to the NSERC LOI Competition.  Successful applicants will then complete the online LOI application process, as described on the NSERC website at http://nserc.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/CREATE-FONCER_eng.asp 

Webinars 

NSERC will hold an information session via MS Teams webinar to provide an overview of the CREATE program and application process. The dates of the sessions are as follows: 

English session:  February 10^th  2022, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (AT) 

French session:  February 11^th  2022, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (AT) 

Registration is not necessary – anyone can connect using the link provided below. 

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Microsoft Teams meeting 

Join on your computer or mobile app 

Click here to join the meeting 

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The webinar will be recorded. Following the presentation, a link to that recording will be emailed so that those who are unable to attend may watch the recorded webinar later at their convenience. Please contact Leslie Cudmore (lcudmore@upei.ca) to receive the link.  

Please send any questions regarding the CREATE program and/or the application process in advance to CREATE@NSERC-CRSNG.gc.ca.