Agile Seed Funding

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The aim of the CIRMMT Agile Seed Funding is to foster the exploration of new and innovative topics, or to carry out pilot studies, amongst members across the Centre’s four research axes that could potentially lead to external funding opportunities. Priority will be given to interdisciplinary, inter-institutional collaborative research projects.

ELIGIBILITY & INFORMATION

    • Applications can be in the form of either exploratory projects or pilot studies/projects in preparation of grant applications.
    • The Principal Investigator must be a CIRMMT Regular member or CIRMMT Post-Doctoral student for projects to be eligible.
    • Applications must be relevant to CIRMMT’s mission. The selection of proposals will be based on the following criteria:
      1. Originality/Innovation,
      2. Scientific/Artistic merit,
      3. Interdisciplinarity: preference will be given to inter-institutional projects,
      4. Potential beneficial outcomes for CIRMMT and its community, such as, but not limited to:
        • Evidence that the project will lead to a publication or outreach strategies, etc.,
        • Application for a full-fledged grant (e.g., from Provincial or Federal funding sources) to support the continuation of the work, with user fee contribution to the Centre (when applicable*), 
        • Organization of a conference or symposium;
        • An agreement with an industrial partner for further funding, with user fee contribution to the Centre (when applicable*).
            * For instance, if the Centre's facilities usage and/or technical staff support is expected in the future project.
      5. Budget justification:
        • At least 70% of the funds to be spent on the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) with priority given to CIRMMT students,
        • The remaining funds can be spent on small equipment purchases and/or rentals.
    • Proposals must indicate whether ethics approval is required or not, and whether it has been obtained or is pending. Please note that if ethics approval is not received and funding cannot be utilized by the end of the award period, the funding will be forfeited.
    • The proposals will be assessed by the Executive Committee.
      • The funds will be available for general research activities relating to the project, including salaries for casual research assistants and minor equipment purchases. Travel to conferences to present projects will be ineligible. 
        • As for all CIRMMT funding opportunities, expenses claimed for this award must follow the FRQ general rules that can be found here: FRQSC Common General Rules
        • Funding received through this initiative should not go towards students involved in the project as part of their thesis, and who already receive funding from elsewhere for this exact project.
      • N.B.: Funds awarded will have to be spent within one year from confirmation of award, otherwise they will be forefeited.
      • Recipients of Agile Seed awards are required to provide:
        • a mid-point and end-of award presentation to the CIRMMT community on progress and next steps, as well as
        • a summary report by one month after the end of the award that will be posted on the website.
      • Renewals will not be accepted.

        AVAILABLE FUNDING

        • Successful applications will be eligible for a maximum of $5,000.
        • A maximum total of three awards will be given each year. 
        • Note: Applicants will only be awarded ONE award per year as the Principal Investigator. 
        • There is no limit on the number of applications members can be a part of as a co-applicant.

        APPLICATION PROCESS

        Agile Seed Funding application form

        • DEADLINE: April 5th, 4pm. If the deadline falls on a weekend/holiday, applications will be accepted through the following business day at 4pm.
        • Step 1: Apply: One complete electronic copy of the form must be submitted via MS Forms by the deadline.
          • CIRMMT values concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and therefore strongly encourages applicants to consider and reflect upon such concepts when preparing their application for this award. When appropriate, CIRMMT recommends that applicants incorporate these concepts directly into their application text. While CIRMMT will not specifically define EDI, if applicants require some guidance, it is suggested to review the statement and also the past CIRMMT sponsored research & presentations linked to EDI topics, both found on the CIRMMT EDI webpage.
          • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
        • Step 2: Presentation: Applicants will be required to give a live presentation of a maximum time of six minutes. Presentations may be by the PI only, or by the group as a whole. The presence of all group applicants at the presentation is encouraged.
          • Presentations must demonstrate that all criteria have been considered, ensuring that:
            • one or two slides show the budget justification explaining the planned expenses, plus
            • CLEAR evidence of planned future steps and benefits for CIRMMT including a timeline of potential outcomes (e.g., website visbility with the CIRMMT logo, grant applications, etc.).
            • The quality of the presentations will also be considered by the panel.
        • The Executive Committee will assess all proposals and presentations based on the selection criteria mentioned above.

        SELECTION CRITERIA

        • Scientific/Artistic merit
        • Originality/Innovation
        • Interdisciplinarity of the proposal: interdisciplinarity is mandatory - preference will be given to inter-institutional projects
        • Potential of training highly qualified personnel (HQP) – priority to CIRMMT students
        • Budget appropriateness with the proposed research 
        • Potential beneficial outcomes for CIRMMT and its community, such as, but not limited to:
          • Evidence that the project will lead to a publication or outreach strategies, etc.,
          • Application for a full-fledged grant (e.g., from Provincial or Federal funding sources) to support the continuation of the work, with user fee contribution to the Centre (when applicable), 
          • Organization of a conference or symposium;
          • An agreement with an industrial partner for further funding, with user fee contribution to the Centre (when applicable).

        Additional information regarding hiring of Casual Research Assistant

        • This process is contingent on the PI’s university rules.
        • The process of hiring students/paying out stipends is the responsibility of the PI, but, for McGill hires, can be done in conjunction with CIRMMT’s Research Centre Administrator.
        • All hiring of McGill Casual Research Assistant or Postdoctoral Fellows must be done in accordance with the relative AMURE Collective Agreements.
        • Funding received through this initiative should not go towards students involved in the project as part of their thesis, and who already receive funding from elsewhere for this exact project.

        PAST AGILE SEED RECIPIENTS