Blueprint for the GRAND NCE Phase 2 Renewal Process
Download PDF version of the LOI Template.
Note: This template was updated June 11 to correct field errors found in "Part J: GRAND Challenges" (final page). If you have completed the earlier version of the LOI up to Part J, you may download the corrected version of Part J separately here.
Every letter of intent (LOI) must have a short title that will be used to identify the proposal. The title can start with a short acronym, but it must also include a phrase that accurately reflects the research being proposed. In addition, a few sentences that describe the proposal in terms accessible to the general public must be provided. This description will be made available to all researchers and partners who are part of the LOI process to enable them to identify proposals that might be of interest to them. Proposals may either be for full projects or for single subprojects. Check the appropriate box to indicate which type of LOI you are submitting. Both types of LOIs will be subject to recommendations from the Research Management Committee (RMC) that consideration be given to merging with other LOIs to form a single project proposal. For subprojects this will always happen. There is no guarantee that all components of an LOI, or all researchers proposed on an LOI, will be accepted, or that additions, deletions, or modifications will not be requested by the RMC.
These are the two people who have primary responsibility for completing the LOI. The project leader must be a potential PNI, which means the project leader needs to have a solid track record as a researcher comparable to existing PNIs (presumably current PNIs satisfy this requirement, but it is not necessary to currently be a PNI or even to currently be part of GRAND). The co-leader must be a potential PNI or a potential senior CNI (meaning “almost” a PNI). PNIs and CNIs must be eligible for and usually must currently hold Tri-Council grants (the NCE Program expects researchers to have other sources of research funding). The leader and co-leader cannot be from the same university because GRAND expects projects to be significant collaborations across universities and this is not easy to do if the project leadership is concentrated at one university. Form 100s, SSHRC CVs, or Common CVs must be submitted for both the leader and the co-leader. LOIs will be not considered if these requirements are not met. No exceptions will be granted.
GRAND uses the term “project champion” to mean a researcher or practitioner who works in the receptor community and who has an involvement in the planning and execution of a research project. The project champion’s organization does not have to be a project partner, but the organization does have to permit the project champion’s involvement. Involvement in a project by a champion can be as a research collaborator, a potential user of the results of the research, a mentor or advisor to the researchers, or someone who will assess and critique the project from the perspective of the receptor community. If a project is approved, one or more project champions will be expected to provide annual assessments of the project to the RMC.
This is where you have a chance to list potential partners for the proposed research. Partners can be organizations in the receptor community (companies, government agencies, non-profits, international organizations, or non-Canadian university researchers). In each case a short description of the anticipated involvement in the project and the value added this brings to the proposed research must be provided. Every project will be expected to identify cash or in-kind contributions from partners, but this need not be done in the LOI. If the project champion’s organization is expected to be a partner, it should be listed here. At least one potential partner should be identified for every LOI. If the LOI is for a project, multiple potential partners or at least one confirmed partner should be identified. This information is requested because projects will not be funded in Phase 2 unless there is active involvement and support from partners.
If the proposed research evolves from, or amplifies, one or more existing GRAND projects, those should be listed. Similarly, if the applicants are aware of LOIs that are being prepared that might be related, these too should be listed (indicated the title of the LOI or the names of the proposed leader and co-leader). This information is requested because it will help the RMC make recommendations about how the proposed research might fit into the set of projects for Phase 2.
You may list up to nine (9) researchers or champions that are expected to participate in the proposed research. This plus the three people listed on the first page of the LOI would total up to 12. Projects might have three PNIs, six CNIs, and three champions, but less of each or a different mix is possible. Subprojects might have only a single PNI and one or two CNIs and just one champion (the PNI would be the proposed project leader and one of the CNIs the co-leader, leaving only one CNI to be listed in Part C). This information is requested because it will help the RMC evaluate the proposal and also decide if the proposal should be advised to merge with another LOI. People can be listed on more than one LOI, but no one can be a project leader or co-leader on more than one LOI because we expect the leader and co-leader to devote significant effort over the next 12 months to organizing and defining the project or subproject that is being proposed.
This section allows you to describe the problems that are being tackled, what you will do about them, and the relevance or importance of those problems. A good rule of thumb is to use at least half of the space provided in any text box unless the instructions indicate otherwise. This information is requested because the research in Phase 2 will be solution-oriented, so the RMC needs to determine whether the problems being addressed are likely to impact the receptor community.
This section allows you to describe the activities that will make up the research. For subprojects use just the first half page (mark the second page “N/A”). Projects will usually require more space. Discuss the theoretical framework, prior research (either yours or from the literature), and the overall approach that will be taken. For subproject LOIs give sufficient details to allow the RMC to understand the proposed activity, what you will do about them, and how it might contribute to a larger project. For project LOIs, provide an overview of the research activities and how they will relate to each other and then provide additional detail on the anticipated subprojects in Part F sufficient to allow the RMC to understand how the subprojects contribute to the goals of the project.
For project LOIs identify up to six main subprojects that best represent the overall plan for the project and give sufficient details to allow the RMC to understand the proposed activity and how it will contribute to the success of the project. For subproject LOIs just fill in all of the fields with “N/A”. Indicate the expected start/stop dates for each subproject and identify any dependencies among them. Where possible, identify the researchers who will be responsible for each subproject.
An essential component of all NCE research is KTEE: Knowledge & Technology Exchange & Exploitation. Every LOI must indicate the anticipated benefits to Canada, the activities you plan to undertake to facilitate KTEE, and how this might be delivered.
The value added by having a Network of Centres of Excellence is largely the result of collaboration across projects. This is what makes a project in GRAND different from stand-alone projects that are funded from other Tri-Council programs. It is essential that each LOI indicate ways in which the research being proposed can contribute to other research activity within GRAND. It is not necessary to identify specific projects for which collaboration is planned, but there should be a clear indication of the type of benefits that can be expected and how these might be realized.
Provide enough details on the anticipated interactions with one or more partners to allow the RMC to determine whether the proposed research will generate adequate social, economic, or cultural benefits for Canada.
There are seven GRAND Challenges that will be the new themes for Phase 2 of GRAND. Indicate the one (1) challenge that best fits the proposed research as the primary target for expected impact. You may indicate additional challenges for secondary impact, but this is optional. If there is significant impact expected that does not align with any challenge but will provide additional infrastructure for GRAND researchers, describe this in the “Other” category at the end of the section.
