About the program
The Government of Canada introduced the Research Support Fund (RSF) (formerly known as the Indirect Costs Program) in 2003 as part of its strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development. It reinforces the federal government's research investment by helping institutions cover a portion of the indirect costs associated with managing the research funded by its three granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC), collectively known as the Tri-Agency.
Indirect costs are defined as any expenditure that cannot be traced to a specific research project but is a cost incurred by the University to provide the resources and infrastructure required to allow a research project to proceed. Indirect costs can include, but are not limited to:
- Provision of space
- Administration
- Maintenance of buildings
- Utilities
- Accounting
- Payroll
- Human resources and information technology services
- Grants and contract administration
- Provision for equipment replacement
RSF grants are allocated annually based on a 3-year rolling average of the University's Tri-Agency revenue.
How is the RSF allocated at uLethbridge?
uLethbridge has flexibility in determining how best to allocate the grant, provided the funds are used to defray indirect costs in the five expenditure categories:
|
CATEGORY |
ALLOCATION |
|
Research Facilities |
$170,000 |
|
Research Resources |
$152,000 |
|
Management & Administration |
$701,786 |
|
Regulatory Requirements & Accreditation |
$914,512 |
|
Intellectual Property & Commercialization |
$92,020 |
|
Total |
$2,030,318 |
In 2020/21 the University of Lethbridge will invest the RSF in:
- Funding tanks for storage of liquid nitrogen and partial coverage of facilities management to defray the cost of heat, lighting and electricity for the research space.
- Funding to partially offset the cost Canadian Research Knowledge Network access to digital content for the academic research enterprise and annual license for a Curriculum Vitae (CV) management tool.
- Maintaining the support infrastructure required for the research enterprise. The staff support the researchers in all aspects of research administration including grant applications, grant administration, and reporting.
- Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Providing administrative support to increase collaborative research with external partners.
Institutional Performance Objectives
View uLethbridge's Institutional Performance Objectives relative to the RSF.
Report on 2018-2019 Objectives and Outcomes
|
Expenditure Category |
Institutional performance objectives |
Indicator |
Output |
Outcomes reported at year end |
|
Research facilities |
Increase research capacity by maintaining existing research facilities |
Equipment and facilities that support research. |
RSF will fund technical support required for maintaining the research facilities and for purchases of material associated with operating research equipment such as liquid nitrogen |
Number of researchers who benefit from the purchase of liquid nitrogen used to support research equipment. 2019: 16 (2018: 16) Academics 2019: 21 (2018: 24) students |
|
Research resources |
Maintain library holdings needed by researchers |
Dollars spent on electronic databases through the university budget |
Database for use by researchers to map their research activities. |
Access to Canadian Research Knowledge Network. Number of active researcher profiles for mapping research and creative excellence. 2019: 284 profiles (2018: 208) |
|
Management and administration of an institution’s research enterprise |
Continued support by Office of Research Services in the review and submission of grant applications |
Number and quality of Tri-Council grant applications processed |
RSF will fund a portion of the salaries of staff in Research Services, Financial Services, Human Resources and Information Technology that directly support researchers. |
Number of workshops and forums to mentor, train and assist faculty in preparing research proposals 2019: 12 events + online tutorials (2018: 63 events) Number of research centres and institutes 2019: 16 (2018: 15) Number of research funds administered by Financial Services 2019: 334 funds (2018: 400) |
|
Regulatory requirements and accreditation |
Continued vigilance and oversight of regulatory requirements |
Processing of animal or human ethics protocols. Level of animal care training. |
RSF will fund staff infrastructure required for animal care, ethics and safety. |
Number of research ethics protocols 2019: 143 (2018: 97) animal and 274 (2018: 255) human research approved protocols Maintained compliance with regulatory standards. |
|
Intellectual property (IP) and knowledge mobilization |
Continue to provide service and support to researchers and external partners in knowledge mobilization. |
Number of staff supporting intellectual property |
Broader research partnerships that facilitate greater engagement with community associations and industrial partners |
Number of new research partnerships 2019: 10 (2018: 17) |
Historical allocations
Learn more about previous RSF grant allocations and outcomes
Impact of the RSF at uLethbridge
Canadian Research Knowledge Network brings top library resources to the U of L
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