Request for Applications: Team Research Project 2027-2028 (Canada)

Deadline: 15-Sep-26

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) is inviting applications from research teams in the nature and technologies sector for grants supporting innovative collaborative research projects and student training in Québec. The Team Research Project Program aims to encourage collaboration among researchers with complementary expertise, support the development of emerging research areas, and strengthen the competitiveness of Québec researchers in federal and international funding competitions. The programme also seeks to create high-quality research environments where students and postdoctoral fellows can receive training, mentoring, and opportunities to develop research skills.

About the Team Research Project Program

The Team Research Project Program is an initiative of the Fonds de recherche du Québec designed to strengthen collaborative research in the nature and technologies sector.

The programme aims to:

- Foster the emergence of new research areas. - Encourage collaboration among researchers with complementary expertise. - Strengthen the competitiveness of Québec researchers. - Support preparation for federal and international funding competitions. - Provide high-quality environments for student training. - Promote mentoring and research skill development. - Support innovative collaborative research projects. How Much Funding Is Available? Selected research teams can receive up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of three years. This means a team can receive up to $150,000 over the full three-year grant period. In addition to the grant amount, Indirect Costs of Research (ICR) are paid to managing institutions at a rate of 27%. The programme is non-renewable. Additional Financial Support The programme provides additional support in specific circumstances.

Additional provisions include:

- Salary support for eligible college researchers. - A maternity allowance for female students and postdoctoral fellows funded through the grant. - Indirect Costs of Research at 27% paid to managing institutions. These provisions are intended to strengthen research capacity and support students, postdoctoral fellows, and eligible researchers involved in funded projects. What Research Projects Are Eligible? The proposed research project must fall within the nature and technologies sector as defined by the Fonds de recherche du Québec. The programme is intended for innovative collaborative research that can contribute to the emergence of new research areas and strengthen Québec’s research capacity. Projects should bring together researchers with complementary expertise and demonstrate the potential for meaningful scientific development and collaboration. Who Can Apply? Applications must be submitted by eligible research teams meeting the programme’s team composition requirements.

Each team must include:

- One eligible Principal Investigator (PI). - At least two eligible co-investigators. The Principal Investigator must meet the programme’s experience or status requirements. Principal Investigator Eligibility

The Principal Investigator must have:

- At least six years of experience as a professor, or - A status meeting the Status 3 definition under the Common General Rules (CGR). The PI is responsible for leading the research project and coordinating the research team. Co-Investigator Requirements Each eligible team must include at least two co-investigators in addition to the Principal Investigator. The team should demonstrate complementary expertise among its members and show how the researchers’ combined experience strengthens the proposed project. The programme also establishes specific participation limits for Principal Investigators and co-investigators within the programme continuum. Applicants should therefore review the applicable participation rules when forming their research teams. Collaborators From Outside Québec The programme allows collaboration with researchers from outside Québec. External collaborators can contribute complementary expertise and strengthen the collaborative nature of the proposed research. However, the core eligibility requirements for the Principal Investigator and co-investigators must still be met. Student and Postdoctoral Training Training is an important component of the Team Research Project Program. Funded projects should provide high-quality environments for students and postdoctoral fellows to develop their research skills.

The programme encourages:

- Student training. - Mentoring. - Skill development. - Research experience. - Collaboration with experienced researchers. - Professional and academic development for students and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants should clearly explain how students and postdoctoral fellows will benefit from participation in the research project. Research Team Complementarity The programme places importance on the complementarity and achievements of team members. A strong team should bring together researchers with different but complementary areas of expertise that are relevant to the proposed research project. Applicants should demonstrate how the experience, expertise, and previous achievements of the team members collectively strengthen the research programme.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated according to several criteria.

The assessment considers:

- Scientific quality of the research project. - Expected benefits and impact. - Complementarity of team members. - Achievements of team members. - Quality of the training environment for students and postdoctoral fellows. The evaluation therefore considers both the scientific strength of the proposed research and the ability of the team to provide a strong collaborative and training environment. Minimum Evaluation Score Only applications receiving a score of 80% or higher in the evaluation will be considered for funding. Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposals address each evaluation criterion clearly and provide strong evidence of scientific qu