Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature and Technology Sector (FRQNT)

Who is eligible?

• Universities and colleges recognized by the Fonds de recherche du Québec
• Research institutions in the public sector located in Quebec
• Public health network establishments with an institutional university affiliation in Quebec
• Centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie (CCTT) in Quebec
• Recognized government research organizations in Quebec

Who is not eligible

• Companies engaged in private research activities, whether fundamental or applied, as direct funding is reserved for public research entities.
• Organizations not based in or conducting relevant activities in Quebec.
• Companies or individuals declared ineligible due to proven breaches of responsible research conduct with public funding agencies, until their eligibility is restored.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for research personnel, research and technical staff, research professionals, and assistants directly linked to the project (excluding regular employees whose salaries are already funded by government budgets).
• Student scholarships, top-up grants, and salary support for college, undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral students participating in the project.
• Professional fees for consultants, invited speakers, experts, and artists engaged in the research, within the limits specified by the managing institution.
• Training and professional development expenses necessary for the research activities.
• Participant compensation and honoraria, as approved by an ethics committee.
• Travel and accommodation expenses for staff, students, and collaborators directly linked to research activities, including registration and participation fees for conferences or workshops, travel insurance, visa fees, and eligible accommodation or meal expenses as per institution rates.
• Purchase or rental costs of research equipment and supply expenses directly required for research, including maintenance, repair, and warranties.
• Costs for acquiring or accessing scientific databases, books, and digital resources necessary for the project.
• Technology and IT expenses required for research, such as computers, software, internet, videoconferencing, or related electronics (when justification is provided and not otherwise supplied by the institution).
• Costs related to the safety of fieldwork or laboratory activities (protective equipment, essential vaccinations, safe waste disposal, etc.).
• Reasonable costs for knowledge dissemination and public communication, including website development for the project, organization of knowledge transfer and public events, translation of research outputs, open-access publication fees (with applicable rules), and media production for broad dissemination.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations, researchers, or students who study, work, or reside in Quebec
• Managing institutions located in Quebec

• Applications are evaluated according to the criteria defined in the rules of each program.
• The adequacy of the budget forecasts with the proposed activities is taken into consideration.
• Files are ranked based on merit by an evaluation committee made up of specialists in the field.

• Step 1: Choose the Appropriate Program
  • Access the FRQnet electronic platform to view all available funding programs from Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ).
  • Select the correct program based on your research sector and objectives.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Materials
  • Download and complete the relevant application form provided in the FRQnet Portfolio.
  • Gather and prepare all required supporting documentation as specified in the individual program rules (e.g., project description, CVs, budgets).
  • Ensure that all documents comply with format and language requirements specified (main forms in French, attached documents may be in French or English).
• Step 3: Submit Application in FRQnet
  • Upload all required forms and supporting documents to your electronic Portfolio in FRQnet.
  • Submit the complete application before the competition deadline.
  • If your program requires institutional approval, transmit the application to your managing institution in time to allow their approval in the FRQnet Establishment Portal (up to 24 hours after the competition deadline where applicable).
• Step 4: Application Receipt Confirmation
  • Receive automated confirmation of receipt both by email and on-screen in the FRQnet portal.
  • Monitor your email (including junk/spam folders) for further correspondence regarding eligibility or application status.
• Step 5: Evaluation Process
  • The FRQ will verify the completeness and eligibility of your application.
  • Your application will be reviewed by a relevant evaluation committee as per program rules and according to published criteria.
• Step 6: Notification of Results
  • Results (acceptance or refusal) are communicated via your FRQnet Portfolio or by email if the application was not submitted electronically.
  • Offers of grant awards and related information are published on the FRQ website.
• Step 7: Acceptance of Offer
  • If granted, accept or refuse the offer in your FRQnet Portfolio (or by email, as applicable) within thirty (30) calendar days of the notification.

• The official French version of rules takes precedence in case of any discrepancy between language versions.
• Any changes to the general rules apply to all programs and ongoing funding as of the specified effective date, except for eligibility criteria, which are governed by the submission year rules.
• The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion within the research ecosystem.
• Confidentiality and protection of personal information are prioritized, with processes in place for access and correction as per applicable laws.