Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative

The Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative helps support the Canadian social sciences and humanities research community better understand data management and incorporate data management considerations into research practices.

Visit the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) website for more information on the Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative.

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss this funding opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.

Value and Duration

Connection Grants supporting events are valued at $7,000 to $25,000 over one year.

Connection Grants supporting outreach activities are valued at $7,000 to $50,000 over one year.

A minimum request of $7,000 is required.

SSHRC is willing to consider amounts higher than $50,000, although such applications must satisfactorily justify the need for the higher amount, as well as provide evidence the entire award can be managed within the one-year timeframe.

Overview

To continue helping the Canadian social sciences and humanities research community better understand data management and incorporate data management considerations into research practices, this initiative will continue to fund at least ten meritorious Connection Grant proposals per competition to support the research community’s development, adoption and dissemination of research data management standards, practices, tools and skills appropriate to their field.

Research data management supports the effective and responsible conduct of research, and increases the ability to store, find and reuse research data. A strong culture of data management will serve Canadian research excellence and support the development of social sciences and humanities insights. It will also benefit Canadian researchers working in international partnerships and collaborations as funders around the globe implement and strengthen data management requirements.

Eligibility

Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative applications are subject to the Connection Grants evaluation criteria and scoring.

In addition, as part of its assessment of the proposal’s relevance to the objectives of the Connection program, under the Connection Grants Challenge criteria, the merit review committee will evaluate the degree to which applications respond to one or more of the following objectives:

• develop and/or adopt data management standards, practices, tools and skills within and across disciplines and institutions, with a focus on the social sciences and humanities;
• connect researchers or students with data management professionals and service providers (e.g., librarians, programmers, specialists in research ethics) and other stakeholders (e.g., research subjects and users) to increase knowledge of data management;
• share and develop knowledge and skills relating to data collection and storage, metadata, preservation, retention, sharing, credit and citation;
• share and develop knowledge and skills related to the responsible ownership, control, access and possession of data used or created in the context of Indigenous research (e.g., the application of OCAP^® principles); and
• through other activities, enable the social sciences and humanities research community to strengthen its ability to fulfill the roles and responsibilities indicated in the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management and the requirements proposed in the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy.

Proposals to conduct data management research, or for projects limited to management of particular datasets or databases, are not eligible. The focus must be on increasing the capacity of a broad group of researchers or students to manage data as a regular research activity.

Deadlines

• Faculty deadline: consult your Faculty Research Facilitator
• Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) (OVPRII) Approval Form deadline:
  • January 27, 2025
  • April 25, 2025
  • July 25, 2025
  • October 27, 2025
• Full application deadline:
  • February 3, 2025
  • May 1, 2025
  • August 1, 2025
  • November 3, 2025

Full applications are due before 8 p.m. (eastern).

How to Apply

1. Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch.
2. Submit an external application to SSHRC.

Contact Us

Please contact your Faculty Research Facilitator to discuss this funding opportunity.