Collaborative Research and Training Experience

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:

• raise the standards in graduate training;
• encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and
• 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.

Visit the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) website for more information on the Collaborative Research and Training Experience program.

Please note that the literature on the NSERC website has not been updated with the 2025 changes to the CREATE program.

Value and Duration

CREATEs are funded for six years at 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.

Eligibility

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. Read the program description for more information on eligibility.

Deadlines

• Letter of Intent (LOI): May 1 (annually)
• Full Proposal: September 22 (annually)

Genomics Stream (new this year)

NSERC will fund four CREATE initiatives in genomics this round as part of the Canadian Genomics Strategy. Each institution is allowed to submit up to two LOIs to the genomics stream; these must be identified in the title.

Special Requirements

CREATEs require institutional commitments from multiple units across Canada. The research facilitators assigned to support the LOIs selected through the internal review process will support the teams to secure these commitments.

Institutional Quotas

All LOIs submitted to NSERC must be included in Carleton’s quota.

Carleton is allowed to submit an unlimited number of LOIs, but only two regular stream LOIs will be invited forward to full proposal. Carleton is only allowed to submit two genomics stream LOIs.

Information Sessions

Both NSERC and Carleton hold information sessions annually. Please contact Kate Swan (kate.swan@carleton.ca) to request access to the slides and recordings from past sessions.

How to Apply

Internal Process

There is a mandatory multi-phase process. Proposals going forward as a part of Carleton’s quota for the 2024 round have already been selected. The anticipated timeline for the 2025 round is as follows:

1. Internal Expression of Interest (EOI): February 24, 2025
   Please complete the online form.
   
2. Carleton-adjudicated NSERC CREATE LOI: March 17, 2025
   Please submit a six-page proposal to Kate Swan (kate.swan@carleton.ca).
   • Three pages covering the outline of training program:
     • Value-added opportunities for highly qualified personnel (HQP)
     • Opportunities for mentorship, mobility, internships, etc.
     • Description of potential employers and how this program positions HQP for transition to workforce
     • Novel and interesting approaches to training HQP
     • Focus and clarity of the research program and how they relate to literature
     • Fosters studies at the natural sciences and engineering (NSE)/non-NSE interface, where applicable
   • Three pages covering the excellence of proposed team
     • Quality and impact of team’s past contributions
     • Complementarity of team
     • Considerations of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
     • Past contributions to HQP training
   • Form 100 of Lead Applicant

Internal Evaluation

A multidisciplinary internal review committee is established each year to review the internal LOIs submitted for consideration. Committee members will review each LOI in accordance with the NSERC evaluation criteria, then meet to discuss the merits of each proposal and advise the teams on how the LOIs might be strengthened. If more than two LOIs are received for consideration in the genomics stream, the review committee will advise the Vice-President (Research and International) on which two should be submitted to NSERC.

Submitting Your Application

1. Submit an internal Carleton Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch.
2. Submit LOI through the NSERC online portal. Please note: it is not a two-stage submission at the LOI phase; when you submit, it proceeds directly to NSERC rather than through CORIS.

Contact Us

Kate Swan: kate.swan@carleton.ca