Grants

Eligibility Process

Eligibility

SETS grants are available to individuals or groups affiliated with institutions eligible to administer Agency funds or those affiliated with Canadian non-governmental or not-for-profit organizations (including community or charitable organizations) with a research ethics or RCR education mandate. A list of eligible institutions is available online on the CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC websites.

Activities must engage one or more of the following: researchers, research ethics board members and/or administrators, institutional RCR contacts, or other communities or groups involved in the application of the TCPS and/or the RCR Framework to their activities.

The SETS Grant program does not endorse or provide financial support for the development or deployment of training tools or training programs, or for planning meetings in preparation for a future conference or activity.

Process

Applications will be considered final upon submission and will be assessed for eligibility following their submission. Applications without appropriate supporting documentation will be deemed incomplete and ineligible. If an application is deemed ineligible by SRCR at the intake phase, the application will be withdrawn from the competition and the Applicant will be notified. Applicants that were unsuccessful in previous submission(s) may resubmit their application to a subsequent SETS Grant deadline.

Eligible Expenses

All expenses related to the proposed activity or activities must be in accordance with the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration. Applicants are encouraged to review this guide for a complete listing and description of eligible costs and activities.

Application Process

Application Submission Deadlines

Applications are accepted and are reviewed for eligibility on a monthly basis. For an application to be considered, the application must be submitted,

1. by the first business day of the month; and
2. a minimum of four (4) months prior to the proposed activity date.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the application form [ PDF (263 KB) ] and submit it as a PDF with all relevant supporting documentation to SRCR at secretariat@srcr-scrr.gc.ca. A final decision will be made based solely on the information and supporting documentation provided at the time of submission. By submitting an application, Applicants attest that their application package is complete, and that all required supporting documentation has been attached and clearly identified.

Value

The SETS Grant program provides grants up to a maximum of $25,000 per application. Applications requesting amounts in excess of $25,000 may be considered if well justified. For example, activities with potential for significant participation and impact beyond the activity itself.

Notification of Decision

Applicants will receive written notification of the decision following the evaluation of their application.

Please note that for transparency in the activities funded through the SETS Grant program, each successful Applicant will have their name, the title of their application, the administering institution, and the amount funded posted on the program's website.

Evaluation Process

All eligible applications will be subject to a review process based on the evaluation criteria below. Applications will be evaluated based solely on the information provided at the time of submission. Reviewers will evaluate all eligible applications and make funding recommendations to the Executive Director of SRCR.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated according to the quality of the proposed activity, its feasibility, and the probability for the activity to succeed. The reviewers apply the following criteria in reviewing applications.

1. Relevance

1. The proposed activity is relevant to the objective of the SETS Grant program.
2. The Applicant has demonstrated how the proposed activity will promote research ethics and/or the responsible conduct of research by providing a clear link to the TCPS and/or RCR Framework.
3. The proposed activity and logistics details are clearly outlined.
4. The draft agenda and/or timeline have been provided for the proposed activity.
5. The expected outcomes and how they will be achieved are clearly stated.

2. Impact

1. The proposed activity will attract significant participation and create impact beyond the activity (i.e., the diversity of disciplines involved, engagement of relevant participants/attendees, and geographical scope of the activity have been considered).
2. The Applicant has demonstrated that efforts have been made to make the proposed activity accessible and inclusive.
3. There is a clear plan for how the proposed activity will be promoted to the target audience.
4. There is a clear plan for how the results of the proposed activity will be evaluated, including how the evaluation will be used.
5. There is a clear plan to disseminate knowledge generated by the proposed activity to the relevant communities, and broader audience, as appropriate.

3. Knowledge and experience

Clearly demonstrate the following with examples:

1. The Applicant has the necessary experience and/or expertise to plan and deliver the proposed activity.
2. All individuals involved with the proposed activity have the necessary experience and/or expertise to ensure a successful activity.
3. Experts and/or speakers have been identified and have the necessary experience and/or expertise to contribute to the content of the proposed activity.

4. Feasibility

1. The budget is clear and all items are justified.
2. All budget items are eligible expenses according to the Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration.
3. Supporting documentation for each budget item has been provided (e.g., quotes or estimates to support the proposed costs).
4. The Applicant has considered options and/or identified other sources of financial or in-kind support to reduce the cost of the proposed activity.

Funding Decisions

2025