Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that

• encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities
• facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce

These innovative programs must foster the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills, and improve their job readiness for careers in industry, government, non-governmental organizations and/or academia. 

In addition, these programs should encourage the following as appropriate:

• student mobility, nationally or internationally, between individual universities and between universities and other sectors
• interdisciplinary research within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), or at the interface between the NSE and health or between the NSE and the social sciences and humanities—however, the main focus of the training must still lie within the NSE
• increased collaboration between industry and academia
• for the industrial stream, an additional objective is to support improved job readiness within the industrial sector by exposing participants to the specific challenges of this sector and training people with the skills identified by industry

Eligibility: 

Eligibility conditions for applicants, co-applicants and institutions apply. CREATE grants are tenable only at NSERC-eligible Canadian universities, and the applicant must hold an eligible position at that university. Researchers at non-eligible organizations may participate as collaborators. Ensure that you consider the eligibility requirements for applicants, co-applicants and collaborators described on NSERC’s website under Eligibility criteria for faculty.

Note to multi-university applicants: All universities that will be involved in the application must have at least one co-applicant listed in the proposal. This ensures access to CREATE funds for all students/fellows involved at that university. The funds will be administered by the co-applicant on behalf of all the students/fellows whether they are under the co-applicant’s direct supervision or not.

Amount: 

Up to $150,000 in the first year and up to $300,000 for up to five subsequent years, for a maximum of $1.65M over six years

Quota: Universities are a given a quota for how many applicaitons can be submitted each year. For 2023 competition, SFU may submit 6 CREATE applications.

Website: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/professors-professeurs/grants-subs/create-foncer_eng.asp 

The NSERC CREATE LOI competition sets a quota for the number of submissions from SFU. For the 2023 competition, prospective applicants are asked to follow the Limited Submission Process and submit a registration form by Wednesday, February 15 2023 at noon PT. Please notify isa@sfu.ca and your faculty Research Grant Facilitator as soon as possible if you are interested in this opportunity to be kept informed about the internal competition and faculty-specific processes and deadlines.