Overview
 
Research funding provided through three federal research granting agencies [Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)] is generally limited to direct project costs (e.g., research equipment, research assistant salaries, etc.). Institutions whose researchers receive funding for research also incur costs to manage their research enterprise. These are often called “indirect costs of research.” From 2015-2016, the Research Support Fund (RSF) program replaces the former Indirect Costs Program established in 2003.

 

The RSF assists Canadian postsecondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and institutes with the indirect costs/expenses associated with managing the research funded by the three federal research granting agencies. The RSF grant can be used to:

• maintain modern labs and equipment;
• provide access to up-to-date knowledge resources;
• provide research management and administrative support, including support for equity, diversity and inclusion practices;
• meet regulatory and ethical standards/requirements; and
• transfer research results/knowledge from academia to the knowledge users (private, public and not-for-profit sectors).

 

The RSF grant that UCN receives each year helps to defray a portion of these costs. A full list of RSF eligible expenses is provided at www.rsf-fsr.gc.ca/administer-administrer/expenditures-depenses-eng.aspx. More details about the RSF program is available at http://www.rsf-fsr.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx.

 

 

Affiliated Organizations

 

UCN does not have any affiliated organizations.

 

 

RSF Allocation in 2021-2022

 

The RSF grant assists Canadian postsecondary institutions with the costs associated with managing their research enterprise, helping them to maintain a world-class research environment. In 2021-2022, the notional RSF grant amount allocated to UCN is $69,517. UCN has planned to distribute this RSF grant under the five expenditure categories as listed below:

 

1. Research Facilities ($5,000; 7.2%): Research equipment, furniture, maintenance and operating cost.
2. Research Resources ($20,517; 29.5%): Campus-wide SPSS license, NVivo license, library holdings, telecommunication, IT and databases.
3. Management and Administration ($15,000; 21.6%): Research grant consultancy, grant writing workshops, research planning and promotion, research collaboration, and memberships and conference participations in CARA, CAUBO, CICan and others.
4. Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation ($17,000; 24.4%): Participation in CCAC program, animal user training for students and faculty, and memberships and conference participations in CAREB, CCAC and others.
5. Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization ($12,000; 17.3%): Annual truth and reconciliation conference, and Indigenous knowledge initiatives. 

 

 

RSF Allocations at UCN in Previous Five Years (To be updated after July 2021)

Expenditure Category	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021
Research Facilities	$28,724	$5,790	$0	$0	$4,000
Research Resources	$12,766	$25,595	$19,999	$23,075	$20,157
Management and Administration	$10,213	$6,146	$6	$10,918	$16,000
Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation	$3,191	$10,491	$12,512	$7,424	$12,000
Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization	$13,236	$4,343	$13,388	$1,772	$10,000
Total RSF Amount	$68,130	$52,365	$45,905	$43,189	$62,157

 

 

RSF Communications Strategy for 2021-2022
 
UCN acknowledges and is grateful for the support of the Government of Canada and three federal research granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC), through its RSF.

 

The RSF grant provides financial support to UCN by allowing the University College to achieve its research goals by minimizing the costs in five eligible expenditure areas: research facilities, research resources, management and administration of research enterprise, regulatory requirements and accreditation, intellectual property management and knowledge mobilization.

 

Research at UCN contributes to the achievement of our Strategic Plan, and contributes to the economic well-being of the peoples of Northern Manitoba and beyond.

 

In an effort to provide information about the role of the RSF grant in supporting and building capacity for research at UCN, the following specific communications strategies will be followed through 2021-2022:

1. UCN Website:
   UCN’s website, www.ucn.ca, contains a webpage specifically highlighting the RSF and its impact on research and research capacity building at UCN. The RSF webpage, located at www.ucn.ca/sites/RI/Research/Pages/Research-Support-Fund.aspx, highlights research success stories by faculty, staff and students. Any research related articles, videos and audio clips will acknowledge the impact of RSF. UCN’s RSF webpage will be updated regularly. The webpage of UCN’s Office of Research, Reconciliation and Academic Innovation (https://www.ucn.ca/sites/RI/Research/Pages/Research.aspx) will have a report listing all research-related and scholarly activities.
2. Publications:
   UCN will capitalize on publications created by its faculty, staff, students, and others associated with federally-funded research activities, in order to highlight and share research stories with both internal and external audiences. The RSF will be given a direct reference in publications, emphasizing the value it has brought to strengthening the research environment at UCN.
3. Media Relations:
   Existing local and regional media contacts will be contacted, and relationships will be built with new media sources in order to share UCN’s research stories and successes. Any stories being published through news releases will acknowledge the support of the RSF grant in the release.
4. Social Media:
   Social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) will be utilized to share news and generate conversations about UCN’s research expertise and contributions.
5. Presentations/Lectures:
   All federally-funded research-related presentations will acknowledge contributions from the RSF grant. This could be a verbal acknowledgement and/or acknowledgement through inclusion of the RSF on the ‘Benefactors/Thank You’ page of a slideshow presentation.
6. Annual Truth and Reconciliation Conference:

Recognition for the support of the RSF will be also included in the opening and closing remarks of our annual Truth and Reconciliation academic conference which is well-attended by both academics and the general public.

 

RSF Grant Usage, Performance and Outcomes in 2020-2021 (To be updated after July 2021)

 

Budget Allocated in 2020-2021 RSF

Expenditure Category	Budget Amount	Budget Percentage
Research Facilities	$4,000	6.4%
Research Resources	$20,157	32.4%
Management and Administration	$16,000	25.7%
Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation	$12,000	19.3%
Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization	$10,000	16.1%
TOTAL	$62,157	100.0%

 

Statement of Account / Expenditures Incurred in 2020-2021 RSF

Expenditure Category	Budget Amount	Budget Percentage
Research Facilities
Research Resources
Management and Administration
Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation
Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization
TOTAL	$62,157	100.0%

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, 2020-2021 RSF grant period was extended for 3 months. Therefore, 2020-2021 RSF grant period is from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The performance of UCN and outcomes achieved through the RSF grant in 2020-2021 are summarized below.

 

Research Facilities:

Research Resources:

Management and Administration:

Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation:

Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization:

 

 

Communication Strategies Used in 2020-2021 RSF Grant Year

 

The following communications strategies were used in 2020-2021 to inform about UCN’s RSF grant and its support to the research at UCN.  

• Website: 
• Publications:
• Media Relations:
• Social Media:
• Presentations/Lectures:

 Acknowledgement

 

UCN gratefully acknowledges the support of the Tri-Council Research Granting Agencies (CIHR, NSREC and SSHRC) and Government of Canada through their Research Support Fund.

 

 

Contact

 

For more information, contact:

Guru Chinnasamy, Ph.D.
Manager of Research
Phone: 204-677-6363
Email: gchinnasamy@ucn.ca