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Call for Proposals - Science and Research Activities
- How do I know if I am eligible to apply?
- How do I know if the research that I am proposing is eligible for funding?
- When are proposals due? Can I submit my application by fax?
- Can I go beyond the page limit for the free-form project description?
- Are there page limits for the "Budget justification" (Section 6) or the "Relationship to other research support (Section 9)"
- How should I list and explain "anticipated sources of funding" within my application? Do I need to include a letter of support?
- I'm having difficulty filling out the form. Can I get a copy of the application form in Microsoft Word?
- Should we submit a single funding proposal for the entire Canadian component of an internationally endorsed IPY full proposal, or should investigators submit separate funding proposals for different components?
- Is there a minimum or maximum amount of funding I can request?
- Is it true that larger proposals, with more people involved in the project team stand a greater chance of being funded?
- Does my proposed research fit within the Call for Proposals' definition of the North?
- Is a proposed project in Antarctica eligible for funding?
- Why do I need endorsement of my proposal, or need to be linked to a project endorsed by the International IPY Joint Committee? How do I obtain this endorsement? Do we need this endorsement by March 31st?
- Can I request funding for infrastructure projects?
- Does my project require a research licence or permit, an environmental assessment, or other approvals?
- Can international collaborators receive funding through this program?
- What is the difference between an applicant, a co-applicant, and a collaborator?
- Are fax signatures acceptable? Can these be submitted on separate sheets?
- When will applicants be notified of the status of their application?
Call for Proposals - Science and Research Activities
How do I know if I am eligible to apply?
Each applicant and co-applicant must be employed by or be part of the organizational structure of a Canadian organization that:
- is a recognized legal entity in Canada;
- has acceptable accounting systems and financial controls in place to administer the funds as demonstrated by the annual conducting of financial audits; and
- supports the proposal as indicated by a signature from an authorized officer.
Applicants and co-applicants must be willing to adhere to guidelines, regulations and policies relevant to the subject matter and region(s) in which project activities will take place. See page 7 of the Call for Proposals - Program Description 
for further eligibility criteria.
To read the electronic version of a document in PDF format, you will need to use Acrobat Reader. You can download
and install the free reader from the Internet Website of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Please visit Access Adobe to help make PDF files accessible to screen reading utilities. These tools convert Adobe PDF documents into HTML or ASCII text which can then be read by a number of common screen reading programs that synthesize text as audible speech.
How do I know if the research that I am proposing is eligible for funding?
Proposals must:
- address the priority areas of (1) science for climate change impacts and adaptation and/or (2) health and well being of Northern communities;
- be endorsed by the international IPY Joint Committee, or be linked with an internationally endorsed project;
- focus on the Earth's polar regions;
- include one or more years during the IPY timeframe (March 1, 2007 to March 1, 2009); and
- involve cross-sectoral partnerships. (See page #7 of the Call for Proposals - Program Description for further information).
To read the electronic version of a document in PDF format, you will need to use Acrobat Reader. You can download and install the free reader from the Internet Website of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Please visit Access Adobe to help make PDF files accessible to screen reading utilities. These tools convert Adobe PDF documents into HTML or ASCII text which can then be read by a number of common screen reading programs that synthesize text as audible speech.
When are proposals due? Can I submit my application by fax?
In recognition of the need for further consultations to facilitate northern involvement in the science and research projects for the International Polar Year (IPY), the application deadline for science and research proposals under the Government of Canada Program will be extended until March 31, 2006.
We appreciate the efforts that many individuals and organizations have made to meet the original deadline. The IPY Federal Program Office would be pleased to receive complete applications in advance of the extended deadline so that processing of the applications can begin.
Completed applications must be submitted in electronic copy (email or disk/CD) and hard copy by mail. Faxed applications are not acceptable. Applications submitted by mail or courier must be postmarked by the deadline date.
Please mail or courier the IPY Funding Proposals to:
International Polar Year Federal Program Office
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
10 Wellington Street, Room 745
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
K1A 0H4
Attention: Cathy Smith
Can I go beyond the page limit for the free-form project description?
In recognition of the broad scope and scale of activities under IPY, the 10-page limit for the free form description of the proposed research projects (section 20) will be amended as follows:
The 10-page limit will continue to apply to proposals that involve up to 10 applicants and co-applicants who are seeking funding (not including Post Doctoral Fellows, technicians, clerks, administrative assistants, or collaborators).
Three pages may be added for proposals that involve 11-15 applicants and co-applicants, for a total of 13 pages.
A further 3 pages may be added for proposals that involve more than 15 applicants and co-applicants, for a total of 16 pages.
Additional pages, beyond these limits, will automatically be removed.
Are there page limits for the "Budget justification" (Section 6) or the "Relationship to other research support" (Section 9)?
No, there are no page limits to these two sections.
How should I list and explain "anticipated sources of funding" within my application? Do I need to include a letter of support?
If these "anticipated funds" are to support specific aspects of the Canadian IPY project, then these funds should be indicated as "contributions" and Budget Table 3 must be filled out. The impact on the project if the funds are not secured should be explained within the budget justification section. A letter of support would not be required initially for funds that are in the "applied for" stage. However, written confirmation that the funds have been secured would need to be provided to the Federal Program Office prior to the release of the IPY award. These "anticipated funds" should be listed in Section 9 (Relationship to other sources of support).
If "cash" or "anticipated sources of funds" are not directly to support a specific portion of the Canadian IPY project, then it is not required to indicate these amounts within Budget Table 3. Instead, these type of funds can be listed within Section 9 (Relationship to other sources of funding).
Secured "cash" contributions from organization(s) that are directly related to a specific portion of the Canadian IPY project must be indicated within Budget Table 3. Letters of support should also be included from the supporting organization(s).
I'm having difficulty filling out the form. Can I get a copy of the application form in Microsoft Word?
Yes. Please send a request to api-ipy@ainc-inac.gc.ca
Should we submit a single funding proposal for the entire Canadian component of an internationally endorsed IPY full proposal, or should investigators submit separate funding proposals for different components?
Investigators are strongly encouraged to work together on projects that are part of the same international IPY full proposal (please see the IPY - International Program Office for information on IPY full proposals). However; it is NOT required that the entire Canadian component of an internationally endorsed IPY full proposal be submitted as a single funding proposal. It is up to the applicant and co-applicants to decide what their approach will be. There is no advantage or disadvantage, in terms of the funding decisions, in submitting one or more than one proposal for funding for those research components that are linked through an international full proposal.
If one proposal is submitted, all aspects of the project will need to be described in sufficient detail, within the given page restrictions, to adequately inform the reviewers. If more than one proposal is submitted, the linkages between components, as well the contribution of each component to the overall project, will need to be described. Some federal departments may require that their components are captured together.
Is there a minimum or maximum amount of funding I can request?
No, there is no minimum or maximum amount identified. This is in recognition of the extremely wide range of projects that are being developed for IPY 2007-2008, from smalle-scale community-based projects, to large-scale logistics-intensive projects.
Is it true that larger proposals, with more people involved in the project team stand a greater chance of being funded?
No. All proposals will be reviewed and evaluated against the same criteria and following the same peer review process.
Does my proposed research fit within the Call for Proposals' definition of the North?
For the purposes of the Call for Proposals under the Government of Canada Program for IPY, Canada's North is defined as the land and ocean based territory that lies north of the southern limit of discontinuous permafrost from northern British Columbia to northern Labrador.
Studies in any part of Canada or the world will be considered as long as a clear and convincing connection with the objectives of the Government of Canada Program for IPY, and benefits to Canada's North, are demonstrated. All proposals must address the objectives of the Call for Proposals and meet the criteria.
Is a proposed project in Antarctica eligible for funding?
The focus of this funding program is to enable Canadian participation in IPY, and to address some key questions for Canada related to science for climate change impacts and adaptation, and the health and well-being of northern communities. While the Call for Proposals does not specify a geographic area in which the research must take place, it must support Canada's priorities in the North, as defined in the IPY Program Description (see also: Does my proposed work fit within the Call for Proposals' definition of the North?)
Given the priorities for the Government of Canada science and research program, proposals that focus only on the Antarctic are unlikely to be funded. Researchers that are seeking to participate in antarctic research programs may wish to contact the Canadian IPY Secretariat to explore other opportunities and collaborations.
Why do I need endorsement of my proposal, or need to be linked to a project endorsed by the International IPY Joint Committee? How do I obtain this endorsement? Do we need this endorsement by March 31st?
As dedicated funding is available for Canada's participation in IPY, proposed projects will need to be linked to an internationally endorsed IPY project full proposal . See the IPY - International Program Office or contact the Canadian IPY Secretariat for information on how to obtain endorsement as an IPY project or link to an internationally endorsed project. The endorsement will be required before final funding decisions are made.
Can I request funding for infrastructure projects?
Within the Government of Canada Program for IPY, there have been no funds specifically identified for physical infrastructure, and there is no intention to allocate funds to build new facilities or infrastructure that would require new and ongoing support. There is some flexibility under the Call for Proposals for science and research projects, and there is a separate Program component associated with emergency preparedness / logistics for the health and safety of IPY researchers in the North that could enable some improvements to existing facilities / infrastructure but only if they are tied in with a specific project, or would be required to ensure the health or safety of researchers during IPY and would not require ongoing support.
Does my project require a research licence or permit, an environmental assessment, or other approvals?
All research activity taking place within the three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) requires, at a minimum, a territorial research licence, and outside of the territories, your research activity may also require a licence or permit. Requirements vary by location and jurisdiction, and the best and most appropriate advice will come from officials who are responsible for administering the licences and permits. As a first step, please consult the guide: "Research Licensing in Northern Canada: an Overview" , and/or contact the Canadian IPY Secretariat , or the relevant Northern Node coordinator.
The onus is on the applicant to determine what certification, licensing, environmental assessment or other approvals may be required for the proposed research to proceed. While not all permits, etc. are required to be in place by the submission deadline, you should indicate the steps you have taken so far to secure these permits, etc.
Can international collaborators receive funding through this program?
It is expected that proposed projects will involve international collaborators. This funding Program is designed to assist with Canadian participation in IPY. Collaborators from other countries are expected to seek financing from other sources. Funding decisions will take into account the status of all additional sources of funding for the IPY project and the level of funding from these sources.
What is the difference between an applicant, a co-applicant, and a collaborator?
The applicant is the principle researcher or lead for the project. The applicant will be responsible for the overall management of the project, and is accountable for how the project funds are spent. The applicant is also commonly known in research circles as the Principal Investigator.
A co-applicant is a member of the applicant's research team. Co-applicants will be conducting work on the project and will receive Government of Canada IPY funds as members of the successful research team.
A collaborator is a member of the research team who is not eligible or who will not be receiving Government of Canada IPY Program support. A collaborator is expected to contribute to the overall intellectual direction of the research project or program of research and to bring his/her own resources to the collaboration. Examples of collaborators are investigators from other countries.
Are fax signatures acceptable? Can these be submitted on separate sheets?
As part of the complete application that is submitted by mail, fax signatures are acceptable for co-applicants and supporting organizations (Section 1, page 2), and these can be submitted on separate sheets. The front page (Section1, page 1) must be submitted with original signatures.
When will applicants be notified of the status of their application?
Successful applicants will be notified as soon as the final decisions are made. All applicants will be notified as to the outcome of the review process.
