A new program framework was introduced in April 2024, and all applications must meet the new program conditions set out on this page. For applications that were accepted between 2020 and 2024, please refer to the former conditions and use the existing forms for submitting a report.
The Research Support Program (RSP) aims to support the development and dissemination of knowledge to contribute to a better understanding of Québec and its approach to Canadian relations.
More specifically, it is designed to support
The Program has three components:
Each project must target
The Intergovernmental Affairs component primarily supports projects that, in compliance with the Québec government guidelines in the field of Canadian intergovernmental relations, help promote intergovernmental relations based on respect for the Constitution and recognition of Québec’s specificity. The projects may also enrich scrutiny and discussion of these themes in Canada, and focus on
The Québec Studies component primarily supports projects that contribute to an understanding of Québec, its institutions, identity issues, and the reality and future of Québec society in Canada (in fields such as history, political science, law and sociology). The projects must focus on
The Canadian Francophonie component primarily supports projects that, in compliance with the aims and objectives of the Québec Policy on the Canadian Francophonie, contribute to an understanding of the Canadian Francophonie and of the Francophone and Acadian communities, including the realities they face, and the issues relating to public policies and the relationship with Québec as French-speaking communities in Canada. The projects must focus on
For all the components, projects can be single-year or multi-year projects.
Single-year projects take place within a period of twelve months, beginning at the project start date specified by the applicant.
Multi-year projects take place over a period of between one year and three years. A multi-year project must include phased steps that are interdependent, and must take more than one year to complete. The repetition of the same activity from year to year is not a multi-year project.
Financial support for a project is never renewed automatically at the end of the grant period. A new application must be submitted if further support is needed.
Two categories of applicants are eligible:
An applicant must be based at an organization in Québec or in Canada.
When a project is submitted by an applicant and one or more co-applicants, all the co-applicants must meet the eligibility conditions for the program, including the total number of active projects in the category concerned.
The following organizations are not eligible:
Only projects consistent with the defined objectives and themes of the RSP are eligible. The projects must also be consistent with the guidelines and priorities defined by the SQRC.
Organizations receiving a grant under the RSP must meet the following criteria at all times:
Researchers receiving a grant under the RSP must meet the following criteria at all times:
When a project is submitted by an applicant from an organization located in Québec, the application for a grant must be drafted in French.
Applicants connected with a university-level institution, a general and vocational college, a research centre affiliated with a post-secondary institution or an association of researchers located in Québec must submit their application and all related documents in French.
Each project must be described in detail, using the form prescribed for that purpose and available on the SQRC website.
The form must contain all the following elements:
Projects may be submitted at any time during the year, except in the case of projects on a priority research theme for which a call for projects has been issued.
Projects submitted after January 1 of a given year will be considered for the following budget year beginning on April 1.
Applications must be submitted at least 60 business days before the project or activity is scheduled to begin.
A response to each application for funding will be sent within 60 business days after all the documents needed to analyze the application have been provided.
A grant can only be used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred to complete the activities, studies or research planned as part of the project.
The following expenses are eligible:
The following expenses are non-eligible:
Expenses incurred before the application is submitted must be clearly identified as such in the budget.
Under the RSP, indirect research costs for services are eligible, and up to $27 in indirect research costs for services can be levied by Québec universities on each $100 of eligible expenses, provided the costs cannot be reclaimed under another financial assistance program offered by another Québec government department or body.
The costs cannot be levied for research promotion activities (knowledge dissemination).
The costs are recognized only for colleges and universities in Québec.
Projects are evaluated by the SQRC with assistance from outside experts if needed.
Projects are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
The decision on whether or not to award a grant, and the amount of the grant, depend on the result of the evaluation and the funds available for the RSP.
Eligibility for the RSP does not necessarily mean that a project will be granted financial assistance and creates no obligation for the SQRC.
Grants are paid subject to the availability of funds and appropriate or suitable and sufficient appropriations by the National Assembly.
A grant awarded under the RSP cannot exceed 80% of the eligible project expenses. The maximum grant for a single project is $100,000.
In addition, the cumulative total of all financial assistance received directly or indirectly for the project from government departments and bodies, state-owned enterprises of the governments of Québec and Canada, including tax credits, and municipal entities, cannot, with the grant under the RSP, exceed 100% of the eligible expenses. The grant awarded under the RSP may be adjusted to comply with this rule.
For the rules on cumulative funding from public sources, the term “municipal entity” includes all municipal bodies within the meaning of section 5 of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (CQLR, chapter A-2.1).
The asset referred to in subparagraph 1 of the first paragraph of section 89 of the la Act establishing the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government (RLRQ, c. G 1.04) is not taken into account for the rules on cumulative funding under the RSP.
For the purposes of the rules on cumulative funding, all forms of financial assistance granted by a public body must be calculated at 100% value, whether or not they are repayable.
In addition, where the cumulative public funding amounts to less than 100% of the eligible expenses, a minimum contribution by the beneficiary is required to ensure that the government funding does not cover all the eligible expenses for the project.
Financial assistance from the Business Development Bank of Canada, Farm Credit Canada and the Financière agricole du Québec is deemed to be a private contribution if it confers no advantage or is agreed at market rates.
In all cases, the grant is paid to the institution with which the applicant is connected. Where the project is submitted by two or more applicants, the co-applicants must, in the grant application form, designate a principal applicant for payment purposes.
Every beneficiary must make a formal undertaking, as specified by the SQRC, to complete the project as agreed and to accept the grant with its terms and conditions.
Grants of less than $15,000 are paid in a single instalment, according to the terms and conditions specified by the SQRC.
Grants of $15,000 or more are paid in two instalments: 80% of the grant is paid after the beneficiary accepts the terms and conditions, and 20% at the end of the project, after the SQRC accepts the final project report.
Grants for all multi-year projects are paid in annual instalments, based on the terms and conditions for single-year projects. An instalment is only paid after the applicant has submitted a progress report for the previous year, considered to be compliant by the SQRC.
All documents, activities and communications products connected with the projects funded must mention the assistance received from the Québec government and offer it visibility in proportion to the funding granted.
By signing the form, the applicant
The project must be completed as approved. Any substantial change to the project, including its implementation schedule, and any change that adds other activities, must have prior approval from the SQRC. Failure to obtain prior approval may lead to the cancellation of the grant and a requirement to repay it to the SQRC.
A final report must be filed with the SQRC, using the form provided for that purpose, not later than six months after the end date for the project, as approved. The final report must have been filed within the prescribed time and accepted by the SQRC before an application for a new project may be submitted by the same applicant under the financial support programs of the SQRC, subject to the rules on the number of active projects.
The report must contain
For a multi-year project, a progress report (see the form supplied for this purpose) must be filed on the dates determined in the document Formulaire d’acceptation des modalités de versement et engagement du bénéficiaire.
The report must contain
A final report must be filed with the SQRC six months after the end date of the project, or on the date approved in the document Formulaire d’engagement du bénéficiaire et d’acceptation des modalités de versement. The final report must have been filed within the prescribed time and accepted by the SQRC before an application for a new project may be submitted under the financial support programs of the SQRC, subject to the rules on the number of active projets.
All organizations that receive a grant must include a detailed statement with their reports showing the use made of the amounts awarded.
For grants of $50,000 or more, a detailed financial statement for the project must be filed with the SQRC with the final project report.
The SQRC reserves the right to claim supporting documents at any time, which may include invoices, statements of account, and audited financial statements for the organization receiving support, its partners and any related organizations.
If the eligible expenses that have effectively been incurred for the project are lower than the amount of the grant or if the effective revenues are higher than forecast, the unused portion of the grant must be repaid to the SQRC at the end of the project.
In every case, based on the detailed budget in the final report, the total amount initially awarded under the RSP cannot exceed the maximum cumulative percentage allowed for public grants, which is 100% of the eligible expenses.
The SQRC encourages applicants to apply best practices in the area of sustainable development and to include sustainability criteria in their projects.
Application forms for financial assistance must be emailed to: programme.recherche@mce.gouv.qc.ca
