Applying for external research funding
The Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) Office is responsible for reviewing, approving and administering all research-related funds at VIU. Our Grant Facilitators are available to identify funding opportunities, discuss research plans, offer advice and review funding applications before submission to external agencies. Connect with a Grant Facilitator to learn more.
Undertaking research projects at a university requires an investment of institutional resources such as employee time, facilities, equipment, IT, and administrative support and services. To fund these supports, VIU charges indirect costs on external research grants and contracts (see VIU research indirect cost guidelines).
All external research grants and contracts require institutional review and approval. The review and approval process for external research funding is outlined below.
VIU SRCA Office internal review process for external grants and contracts
All external research grant or contract applications must be submitted to your Dean and SRCA via ROMEO for institutional review and approval by the Director, Research Services, the Associate Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies and the Provost when a researcher is:
- using their VIU affiliation as a Nominated Principal Applicant, Principal Applicant, Principal Investigator, Principal Knowledge User, Co-Principal Investigator or Co-Applicant, whether or not VIU is receiving or contributing funding, or
- participating in any other application where VIU is receiving or contributing funding.
Most preliminary application documents, such as Registrations, Letters of Intent (LOIs) and Notices of Intent (NOIs) do not require internal approval with the following exceptions:
- Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) NOIs,
- New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) NOIs,
- SSHRC Stage 1 Partnership grant applications,
- those where VIU is committing cash or in-kind resources, or
- those requiring VIU to commit to contract terms.
The deadline for submission of a complete application, including budget, in ROMEO is 10 business days prior to the funder's deadline. Late applications will not be submitted to the funder, and the researcher will need to wait until the competition’s next intake. Longer timelines may apply for:
- SSHRC Connection grant
- SSHRC Partnership grants (both stages),
- Canada Research Chair nominations,
- Canada Foundation for Innovation applications,
- any salary award program (e.g., Health Research Trainee Awards),
- any application with a private sector partner, excluding Mitacs applications.
Please contact Grants and Contracts if you have any questions
Grant
Refers to funds that are awarded to the recipient to enable the performance of self-directed research without contractual obligation for performance.
You are likely applying for a grant if:
- the funding is not tied to specific outcomes
- there is no transfer of results to the funder
- there is no funding for the principal investigator’s time
- intellectual property is treated in accordance with VIU’s policies and practices
Contract
Refers to funds that are assigned for research purposes through a legally enforceable agreement which may include specific terms governing the conduct, direction and scheduling of the tasks to be performed; designating ownership of proprietary rights to the research results; laying out the financial regimen to be followed; and other restrictions required by the funder.
A contract is required if:
- there is a set budget and payment schedule based on deliverables; and/or
- there are discussions around confidentiality, intellectual property ownership, or liability
Institutional approval process
Please reach out to a Grant Facilitator when you decide to apply.
All applications and letters of intent for grants, awards, chairs, honours and research contracts must be submitted in ROMEO at least 10 business days before the funder's deadline and approved by the Faculty Dean, Provost and AVP, Research and Graduate Studies. Late submissions will not be submitted to the funder.
Applying for a research grant
Researcher | SRCA |
|
|
At this stage, we review your proposal, organize support letters and signatures, seek approval if an indirect cost waiver is required, provide you with feedback and highlight any concerns so that there is time to address them.
Researcher | SRCA |
|
|
Researcher | SRCA |
|
|
Once internal approvals to submit are in place, the grant application can be submitted. Depending on the funder, submission to the funding agency will be done by either the researcher or by SRCA. Some funders require both the researcher and the institution to complete submission steps in the agency's online portal.
Developing a research contract
Researcher | SRCA |
|
|
A few days to two weeks.
The Province of British Columbia’s University, College, and Institute Protection Plan (UCIPP) provides VIU’s liability insurance. UCIPP requires that they review and approve most agreements signed by VIU.
All contracts signed by VIU require executive approval. The AVP, Research and Graduate Studies signs all research agreements for VIU. The SRCA will obtain executive approval, arrange signatures internally and with the partner organization and upload the finalized agreement to ROMEO.
Tri-agency funding programs
Our experienced specialists can help you create a research plan that fits your needs and provide advice from the earliest stages of the application process. Please contact our Grants and Contracts team as soon as
possible. This page outlines major Tri-Agency funding programs. Please consult our comprehensive listing of current funding opportunities. To have news about upcoming opportunities delivered to your inbox, subscribe to our e-newsletter.