About CRCEF
The Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF) is a Tri-Agency program announced in May 2020 as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. This temporary program has been established to help sustain the research enterprise at Canadian universities and health research institutions that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program, which has a total budget of $450 million, has two objectives:
The program includes four funding stages. Three of the stages (Stages 1, 2 and 4) exclusively provide wage support for eligible research-related personnel who are paid in part or in whole by non-governmental sources. The remaining stage (Stage 3) supports incurred costs associated with maintenance and ramp-up of research activities. For all stages, institutions must demonstrate the need to access the emergency funds.
For more detailed information on the CRCEF program, please visit https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/crcef-fucrc/index-eng.aspx
Affiliated health research institutions
Not applicable
CRCEF Governance
The senior level university authorized official who is ensuring that the requirements of the CRCEF program are followed is Dr Anna Redden, Dean of Research & Graduate Studies (anna.redden@acadiau.ca).
Decisions are made by a CRCEF Working Group at Acadia, and included representation from three research support administrators, and included under-represented EDI groups. All Working Group members undertook unconscious bias training as per the CRC online training module.
Support staff in the Research Office, Business Office, Human Resources Office and the Office of Advancement (re: funding from foundations) assist in identifying, preparing, verifying and validating the records used to determine eligibility under each stage.
Specific processes by stage can be viewed under the appropriate stage heading.
EDI Decision-Making Strategy
Acadia University is a signatory to the Dimensions Charter, and in doing so, we publicly show our academic community’s commitment to further embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles in our policies, processes, and practices. Acadia is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within its research enterprise, removing systemic barriers and biases, and ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in its management of CRCEF funds.
All members of Acadia’s CRCEF Working Group completed unconscious bias training and are committed to EDI principles. Research Office staff are engaging in considerable contact and follow-up with faculty, and with each other, to ensure to the greatest extent possible the full range of eligible cases are captured, including those addressing EDI principles. We recognize the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on equity-seeking groups. In the event that support needs exceeded CRCEF Funds allocated to Acadia, support will be prioritized for underrepresented groups, disproportionally affected individuals (e.g., child/family care responsibilities, personnel with increased risk of exposure in the workplace) and early career researchers. The decision-making process prioritizes research that is non-traditional or unconventional, based in Indigenous ways of knowing, outside the mainstream of the discipline, or focuses on issues of gender, race, or minority status.
CLOSED: Stage 1- Wage support for research-related personnel
OVERVIEW
Stage 1 focuses on the provision of wage/stipend support for eligible research personnel who were/are paid by non-governmental sources. It can cover up to 75% of salaries paid to research personnel or trainees through research projects funded by sources such as industry, foundations, etc.
To qualify for payment, salaries must have been associated with projects that have either lost industry, NGO or foundation funding or have been interrupted due to the impacts of research curtailment, between March 15 and August 29, 2020. CRCEF Stage 1 can fund salaries for a maximum of 12 weeks per individual within the eligibility period.
There are two main conditions for eligibility of research personnel for CRCEF Stage 1 support:
PROCESS
A final report on distributed funds will be submitted at the end of the 2020/2021 financial year, as required.
Acadia will maintain detailed information on individuals supported by the program’s wage subsidy stages (e.g., full name, contact information, amount received) for a period of at least five years (until 2025-26), for financial monitoring and auditing purposes.
CLOSED: Stage 2 - Supplemental wage support for research-related personnel
Stage 1 was not fully allocated, no residual need for Stage 2 support.
CLOSED: Stage 3 – Research maintenance/ramp-up costs
OVERVIEW
Stage 3 is designed to support direct costs of research that have been incurred to: 1) maintain essential research-related commitments during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) support ramping-up to full research activities as physical distancing measures are eased and research activities can resume. Only direct costs of research that are extraordinary and incremental to those already covered by existing sources of funds and have been incurred between March 15 and November 15, 2020 will be reimbursed, at up to 75%.
Extraordinary incremental costs incurred for research projects funded by either governmental or non-governmental sources are eligible for Stage 3 support. Extraordinary incremental costs are defined as unanticipated additional costs that would not normally have been incurred in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot be funded by existing sources of funds.
Eligible expenses include costs associated with the following categories:
Costs incurred within the eligible period and associated with maintaining essential research-related activities during the pandemic that are exceptional and incremental to those already covered by existing sources of funds, funded at up to 75%. This includes:
Costs incurred within the eligible period and associated with full ramp-up of research activities, as physical distancing measures are eased, and research activities can resume. Only costs that are exceptional and incremental to those already covered by existing sources of funds will be supported, at up to 75%. Eligible expenses include those incurred at the project level and associated with:
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES CRITERIA
Please note:
Please review the Eligible Expenses section of the CRCEF Stage 3 Q&A page for additional information - https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/crcef-fucrc/faq/ramp-up_costs-couts_de_reprise-eng.aspx
PROCESS
Application Process
Acadia has been allocated a notional amount of funding for Stage 3 of the CRCEF program.
Administrative Process
CLOSED: Stage 4 – Extension period for wage support for research-related personnel
OVERVIEW
Stage 4 provides additional wage support for eligible research-related personnel by increasing the maximum duration of support from 12 to 24 weeks.
Researchers who did not apply for Stage 1 support should apply using the Application Form.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES CRITERIA
To qualify, salaries must have been associated with projects that have either lost industry, NGO or foundation funding or were interrupted due to the impacts of research curtailment, between March 15 and August 29, 2020.
There are two main conditions for eligibility of research personnel for CRCEF Stage 4 support:
Application Process
Administrative Process
Acadia will maintain detailed information on individuals supported by the program’s wage subsidy stages (e.g., full name, contact information, amount received) for a period of at least five years (until 2025-26), for financial monitoring and auditing purposes.
Contact for CRCEF Program Compliance
Dr. Anna Redden, Dean Research and Graduate Studies
Upcoming SSHRC Webinars
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Manual for SSHRC Adjudication Committee Members
SSHRC Guidelines for Effective Research Training
SSHRC Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research
NSERC Discovery Grant Workshop Notes (July 2018)
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NSERC Merit Indicators
Discovery Grant Peer Review Manual
RTI Peer Review Manual
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ResearchNet FAQ
Overview of CIHR Peer Review Process
Division of Research & Graduate Studies
214 Horton Hall
18 University Avenue
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6
researchoffice@acadiau.ca
902-585-1498