The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada offers Connection Grants to support short-term, targeted initiatives that promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of research in the social sciences and humanities. These grants are designed to bring together researchers, students, and non-academic partners—such as community organizations, policymakers, and industry leaders—to create meaningful exchanges that amplify the impact of research. By funding events and outreach activities, Connection Grants aim to make research accessible, foster interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships, and encourage innovative approaches to knowledge mobilization.
Program Objectives
Connection Grants serve as a catalyst for building networks and sharing research insights within and beyond academia. The program’s key objectives include:
- Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate the multidirectional flow of research knowledge among academic researchers, students, practitioners, and the public to ensure research is relevant and impactful.
- Collaboration: Encourage partnerships across disciplines, institutions, and sectors, including international and Indigenous communities, to address complex societal challenges.
- Research Impact: Enhance the visibility and application of social sciences and humanities research through accessible, inclusive, and creative dissemination methods.
- Innovation: Support novel formats for events and outreach, such as virtual or hybrid platforms, to broaden participation and reduce barriers to access.
Funding Scope and Eligible Activities
Connection Grants provide flexible funding to support a range of activities, with a focus on events and outreach initiatives. The funding structure is tailored to the scale and scope of the proposed project:
- Funding Amounts:
- Events: Grants range from $7,000 to $25,000 to cover costs associated with organizing workshops, conferences, colloquiums, public lectures, or forums.
- Outreach Activities: Up to $50,000 to develop tools and resources that share research findings, such as policy briefs, videos, podcasts, websites, apps, or open-access publications.
- Exceptional Partnerships: In cases involving significant collaboration—such as with Indigenous communities, international researchers, or cross-sectoral stakeholders—additional funding beyond $50,000 may be considered, subject to rigorous justification.
- Project Duration: All funded activities must be completed within one year, ensuring a focused and timely impact.
- Eligible Activities:
- Events: These can include small-scale workshops to discuss emerging research, large conferences bringing together global experts, or public forums to engage communities. Events should prioritize inclusivity, involving diverse participants such as students, early-career researchers, and non-academic stakeholders.
- Outreach: Projects might involve creating accessible resources to communicate research findings to broader audiences. Examples include multimedia tools, exhibitions, or reports tailored for policymakers or community groups. Outreach activities should emphasize open access and practical applications of research.
- Ineligible Costs: Connection Grants do not fund core research activities, salaries, administrative overhead, or ongoing operational expenses. However, they can cover direct costs such as travel, venue rentals, catering, translation services, or the production of dissemination materials.
Special Considerations for Partnerships
SSHRC encourages projects that involve meaningful partnerships, particularly those with underrepresented or underserved communities. Applicants can request additional funding for initiatives that:
- Engage Indigenous communities in culturally sensitive and collaborative ways, respecting Indigenous knowledge systems and priorities.
- Foster international partnerships to share Canadian research globally or bring global perspectives to Canada.
- Involve cross-sectoral collaboration, such as between academia, government, industry, or non-profits, to address pressing societal issues.
These partnerships must demonstrate clear mutual benefits and a commitment to co-creation, ensuring all parties contribute to and gain from the project.
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure equitable access and rigorous standards, SSHRC outlines specific eligibility requirements for applicants, institutions, and participants:
- Applicants:
- The principal applicant must be a researcher affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution, such as a university, college, or non-profit organization with a research mandate.
- Co-applicants can include researchers from Canada or abroad, as well as non-academic partners like community leaders or industry representatives.
- Students and postdoctoral researchers are not eligible to be principal applicants but can serve as co-applicants or participants.
- Institutions:
- The administering institution must be a Canadian organization that meets SSHRC’s eligibility guidelines, ensuring proper financial oversight and accountability.
- International or non-academic partners can participate but cannot administer funds.
- Participants:
- Events and outreach activities must engage diverse groups, including students, emerging scholars, practitioners, policymakers, or community members.
- Priority is given to projects that promote inclusivity, such as by involving underrepresented groups (e.g., women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, or persons with disabilities).
Application Process
Applying for a Connection Grant involves a streamlined yet rigorous process to ensure proposals are feasible, impactful, and aligned with program goals:
- Deadlines: Applications are accepted four times per year—February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1—at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it shifts to the next business day.
- Submission: Proposals must be submitted online through the SSHRC application portal, accessible via the SSHRC website.
- Required Components:
- Project Description: A detailed narrative outlining the initiative’s objectives, anticipated outcomes, target audience, and engagement strategies. Applicants should explain how the project advances knowledge mobilization and fosters collaboration.
- Budget Justification: A clear breakdown of costs, demonstrating how funds will be used efficiently. Eligible expenses include travel, materials, event logistics, or dissemination tools.
- Team and Partnerships: Information on the applicant’s expertise, the roles of co-applicants or collaborators, and the value of any partnerships.
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): A statement on how the project promotes inclusivity, such as through diverse participation or accessible formats.
- Evaluation Process: Applications undergo peer review by a multidisciplinary committee, which assesses proposals based on three core criteria:
- Challenge: The relevance, originality, and potential impact of the initiative in advancing knowledge exchange.
- Feasibility: The clarity of the plan, appropriateness of the budget, and capacity of the team to deliver the project.
- Capability: The inclusivity of the approach, diversity of participants, and alignment with SSHRC’s commitment to EDI.
Additional Program Features
SSHRC emphasizes flexibility and accessibility in the Connection Grants program to meet contemporary needs:
- Virtual and Hybrid Formats: To reduce costs and environmental impact, applicants are encouraged to consider online or hybrid events, which also broaden participation for remote or international audiences.
- Open Access: Outreach activities should prioritize open-access outputs to ensure research is freely available to the public, aligning with global trends in knowledge sharing.
- Sustainability: While projects are short-term, applicants should consider how their initiatives can have lasting impacts, such as through archived resources or ongoing partnerships.
Conclusion
Connection Grants offer a dynamic opportunity for researchers and their partners to share social sciences and humanities knowledge in innovative and inclusive ways. By supporting events and outreach activities, the program strengthens collaborations, engages diverse audiences, and ensures research contributes to societal progress. Applicants are encouraged to think creatively, prioritize accessibility, and leverage partnerships to maximize the reach and impact of their work.