NSERC REALLOCATION EXERCISE

for Civil Engineering

Background

Rationale and Process. The NSERC re-allocation exercise is a process designed to redistribute every four years money among research disciplines which has been set aside by having each of the 19 NSERC disciplines, represented by their Grant Selection Committee (GSC), contribute 10% of their budget to a pool. For several years now, NSERC has used the Exercise to identify, through community input and peer review, the most important initiatives and needs within the Research Grants program. The re-allocations are based on needs of each discipline and the perceived need to keep up with changes in scientific and engineering fields. Winners (receiving more than their 10% contribution) have been such disciplines as computing and information sciences, electrical and computing engineering, and cell biology and molecular genetics. Losers (not recovering their 10% contribution) were civil engineering, mechanical engineering and earth sciences.

In the first two re-allocation exercises in 1994 and 1998, Civil Engineering gave up 20% and 64% respectively. The shortfall could have made a significant impact on funding new applicants, more renewals, increased average grants and increased funding to top researchers. NSERC’s third reallocation exercise has been announced on March 8, 2000. Decisions will be made in June 2002 for implementation in April 2003. To review the announcement Memorandum, Bulletin 1’, and the attached guidelines ‘NSERC’s Third Reallocation Exercise’ in more detail, you may link here to the NSERC website: NSERC-Reallocations News

Key points which are particular relevant to the third reallocation exercise, are summarized in subsequent sections. These were in part reproduced from a NSERC presentation to the Chairs of Reallocation Committees on October 4, 2000.

Goals

	Redistribute a portion of the research grants program budget among the various NSERC disciplines
	Identify changing priorities and pressures and respond to them
	Shift resources to initiatives and needs identified through community input and peer review as the most important to Canada
	Make best use of existing budget
	Make sure support is available for work in new areas

Principles

	Same single criterion as 2nd exercise, i.e. “importance to Canada”
	Similar format and content for submission
	Vision – Strategy – Proposals
	Report on implementation of last exercise’s decision
	Inter/Multidisciplinary research:

- Joint proposals

- AGIR – Advisory Group on Interdisciplinary Research

NSERC’s Mission Statement includes the following:

	NSERC invests in people, discovery, and innovation to build a strong Canadian economy and to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
	The Council promotes excellence in intellectual creativity in both the generation and use of new knowledge.
	The Council works to provide the largest possible number of Canadians with leading-edge knowledge and skills to help Canada flourish in the 21st century.

Format of Submission

	Up to 10 pages (up to 20 pages for two GSC’s)
	Appended bibliography
	Use NSERC’s standard type-size and page margin requirements (January 2002)
	Use plain language
	Include references for data sources

DO NOT include appendices, references to Website or other documents not provided by NSERC

Content of Submission

	Vision for discipline in Canada
	Strategy for future development of discipline
	Specific practical proposals for funding
	Consequences of no allocated funds
	Implementation of last exercise

Strategy for Future Development of Discipline

	How will the discipline achieve its vision?
	What are the priorities, fundamental questions of major interest, and implication?

Specific Practical Proposals

	What needs to be done and how much will it cost?
	Starting point for GSC budget calculation is 90% of the budget envelope for 2002-2003
	$ amount each year and total
	Calculation for each amount
	Contact NSERC for up-to-date forecasts and assistance with calculations

The detailed ‘Report on the Meeting of Steering Committee Chairs’ is located at the NSERC website: NSERC-Reallocations News