SSHRC Connection Grants
Last Update: January 24, 2025
Canada
The Connection Grants support short-term knowledge mobilization events and outreach activities to facilitate research exchanges and collaborations across the social sciences and humanities.
SSHRC Connection Grants at a glance
Eligible Funding
- From $7,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : November 1, 2024
- Closing date : January 1, 2025
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Grant Providers
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Status
Closed
Overview of the SSHRC Connection Grants program
The Connection Grant supports short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives, including events like workshops, conferences, or summer institutes, and outreach activities such as policy briefs, media events, and public debates. Eligible projects must be geared towards facilitating scholarly exchanges and can receive funding ranging from $7,000 to $50,000 over one year. Only Canadian institutions with institutional eligibility can administer these funds.
Financing terms and conditions
This grant offers specific financing conditions to ensure projects are adequately supported while promoting collaborative funding partnerships. The modalities require matching funds and clearly defined budget allocation practices.
- Connection Grants support events with funding ranging from $7,000 to $25,000 for one year.
- Outreach activities may receive funding from $7,000 to $50,000 for one year, with consideration for higher amounts if justified.
- A minimum request of $7,000 is required for any grant application.
- SSHRC does not cover the full cost of the project; applicants must secure matching funds equal to at least 50% of the requested amount from eligible sponsoring organizations.
- Eligible cash and/or in-kind contributions from sponsoring organizations are required to meet the matching funds requirement, excluding registration fees.
- Sponsoring organizations need to provide letters of support confirming their contributions, signed by an authorized signatory.
- Funding from other SSHRC grants or agencies can support projects but cannot be counted towards the 50% matching funds requirement.
- The grant cannot cover salaries or stipends for applicants, co-applicants, or Canadian faculty members.
- Stipends or wages for students, postdoctoral researchers, or collaborators are not allowable expenses under the grant.
- The grant funds must be used within one year of the start date indicated on the notice of award.
Eligible projects & activities
SSHRC Connection Grants support events and outreach activities that enhance knowledge mobilization and foster exchanges within the social sciences and humanities. These activities are designed to facilitate interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, engaging diverse participants in research dialogue.
- Workshops, colloquiums, conferences, and forums facilitating disciplinary and interdisciplinary exchanges.
- Scholarly exchanges involving the social sciences, humanities, and other research fields.
- Intersectoral exchanges between academics and practitioners from public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
- International research collaboration with researchers, students, and non-academic partners globally.
- Outreach activities designed to engage broader audiences in social sciences and humanities knowledge.
- Knowledge dissemination and translation activities to reach diverse audiences.
- Development of policy briefs, knowledge syntheses, and scoping reviews for stakeholder engagement.
- Artistic exhibits, performances, or festivals that communicate research findings.
- Use of interactive technologies and media for knowledge sharing and engagement.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 20,000
Organizing a public debate on climate change policy
$ 40,000
Creating an art exhibit focusing on migration narratives
$ 50,000
Developing an interactive platform for remote learning
$ 35,000
Hosting a series of media events on healthcare innovation
$ 45,000
Organizing a bilingual conference on sustainable urban development
$ 30,000
Hosting a workshop on Indigenous economic development
Eligibility criteria of the SSHRC Connection Grants program
Eligibility for the Connection Grant is determined by specific criteria related to the applicants and their affiliations.
- Applications can be submitted by institutions or individual applicants and teams consisting of one applicant or project director and one or more co-applicants and/or collaborators.
- Institutional Connection Grant applications must be submitted by a Canadian institution holding institutional eligibility.
- Individual Connection Grant applicants (except postdoctoral researchers) must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution that holds institutional eligibility at the time of application.
- Researchers whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution are not eligible for applicant or project director status.
- Applicants or project directors must not have any outstanding achievement reports for a previous SSHRC grant.
- Postdoctoral researchers must establish an affiliation with an eligible institution within three months of the grant start date.
- Students enrolled in a program of study are not eligible to apply.
- Students can be collaborators on a project but not co-applicants, and cannot receive stipends or wages from the grant.
- Federal scientists affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution must demonstrate that their proposed research activity is not related to the mandate or normal duties of their employer.
- Institutions administering the grant must hold or obtain institutional eligibility with SSHRC.
- For teams, all members must meet eligibility criteria specific to their role.
Who is eligible?
The evaluation and selection criteria for projects under this grant focus on the aim and importance of the endeavor, the feasibility of the project plan, and the capability of the team to succeed. Each criterion has a specific weighting that contributes to the final score.
- Challenge—The aim and importance of the endeavor (40%):
- Originality, significance, and expected contribution to the mobilization of research knowledge.
- Quality and significance of the research being mobilized.
- Quality of training and mentoring provided to students and other personnel.
- Potential impact within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.
- Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (30%):
- Appropriateness of the timeline and probability of meeting objectives.
- Appropriateness and justification of the requested budget.
- Indications of other planned resources including cash and in-kind support.
- Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%):
- Quality and significance of past experience and outputs of the applicant and team members relative to their roles.
- Evidence of past knowledge mobilization activities and their impacts.
- Quality and quantity of past contributions to the training and mentoring of students and researchers.
Who is not eligible
This grant application does not specify which companies or industries are explicitly ineligible to apply. However, the grant is primarily intended for not-for-profit organizations and institutions involved in the social sciences and humanities.
Eligible expenses
Connection Grants support a variety of short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization activities in the social sciences and humanities. These activities aim to enhance knowledge exchange and collaborative learning between different sectors both locally and internationally.
- Organization of workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, or summer institutes.
- Development of artistic exhibits, performances, or festivals for knowledge dissemination.
- Virtual or face-to-face networking and media events to engage diverse audiences.
- Creation of policy briefs, knowledge syntheses, and scoping reviews to influence decision-makers.
- Adaptation of texts and presentations for broader audiences, including translation into multiple languages.
- Development and use of interactive technologies, audiovisual products, or educational materials for knowledge mobilization.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is available to Canadian institutions that hold institutional eligibility. Only these institutions can administer the funds for Connection Grants.
- Canadian eligible postsecondary institutions.
- Canadian not-for-profit organizations holding institutional eligibility.
Eligibility criteria of the SSHRC Connection Grants program
The evaluation and selection of projects for the Connection Grants are based on a merit review process, focusing on three main criteria with specific weighting scores.
- Challenge—The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%):
- Originality, significance, and expected contribution to the mobilization of research knowledge.
- Quality and significance of the research being mobilized.
- Quality of training and mentoring provided to participants and opportunities for contribution.
- Potential influence and impact of project results within and beyond the social sciences and humanities.
- Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (30%):
- Appropriateness of the proposed timeline and likelihood of achieving objectives.
- Appropriateness and justification of the requested budget and planned resources.
- Leveraging of cash and in-kind support from other sources.
- Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%):
- Quality, quantity, and significance of the applicant's past experience and outputs.
- Evidence of past knowledge mobilization activities and their impacts.
- Quality and quantity of contributions to training and mentoring of involved personnel.
How to apply to the SSHRC Connection Grants program
1
Preliminary Registration
- Ensure your institution has institutional eligibility to administer funds.
- Contact SSHRC if you need to verify or initiate the eligibility process for not-for-profit institutions at least five business days prior to the deadline.
2
Prepare Application
- Compile the project proposal including objectives and budget.
- Gather supporting documents such as letters of support indicating matching funds.
- Ensure all team members meet the eligibility criteria specific to their roles.
- Select if you wish to be considered for any SSHRC joint initiatives.
3
Complete Application Form
- Fill out the application form according to the instructions provided by SSHRC.
- Ensure the application aligns with SSHRC’s guidelines and scoring criteria.
4
Submit Application
- Submit the completed application electronically by an authorized research grants officer or equivalent.
- Ensure submission is before the respective deadline (February 1, May 1, June 20, or November 1 at 8 p.m. eastern).
5
Confirmation of Submission
Receive confirmation of submission from SSHRC, which is typically available through their respective portals.
6
Follow-up and Communication
- Monitor SSHRC’s platform for updates on the application status.
- Engage with SSHRC representatives if additional information or clarification is requested.
Additional information
Here is some additional information pertinent to Connection Grants:
- SSHRC will not fund past events and outreach activities retroactively.
- Applications must be submitted electronically by an authorized research grants officer or equivalent from the applicant’s institution.
- Grant funds cannot be used to provide salaries or stipends to applicants, co-applicants, collaborators, or Canadian faculty members.
- Grant funds cannot be used to pay for research activities, conference registration fees, or to fund both a contractor and a sponsoring organization in the same project.
- SSHRC's Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research are used to judge applications involving Indigenous research.
- Competition results are available through the SSHRC Extranet for Applicants and the Grants and Scholarships Administration Portal.
Contact Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
connection@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
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