SSHRC Insight Development Grants Program

Insight Development Grants (IDG) support research in its initial stages. The grants enable the development of new research questions, as well as experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches and/or ideas. Funding is provided for short-term research development projects, of up to two years, proposed by individuals or teams. 

Insight Development Grants foster research in its early stages, but are not intended to support large-scale initiatives.  Long-term support for research is offered through SSHRC's Insight Grants (IG).

Within the Insight Development Grants funding opportunity, funding is available for two distinct categories of scholars:

  1. Emerging scholars: This funding supports high-quality research projects by emerging scholars to develop new research questions or approaches. Such projects may build on and further the applicant's (or team's) graduate work and/or represent a continuation of their overall research trajectory.
  2. Established scholars: Funding for established scholars provides support to explore new research questions and/or approaches that are distinct from the applicant's previous/ongoing research.  Research projects should be clearly delimited and in the early stages of the research process.  Insight Development Grant funding is not intended to support ongoing research for established scholars.

Value and Duration

The maximum value of an Insight Development Grant is $75,000 over one to two years.  A minimum budget of $7,000 in at least one of the years is required.  For the current competition, at least 50% of funds will be reserved for applications from emerging scholars.

Eligibility

See Eligibility Criteria.

Researchers may not apply, as applicant, for an IDG and an IG within the same calendar year if the IDG application is successful.  A researcher who applied for an IG in October 2023 may apply for an IDG in February 2024, provided that the objectives of the research are significantly different.

Please see SSHRC’s regulations regarding multiple applications and holding multiple awards for more information.

Deadlines

Date Actions required
No later than: January 19, 2024
by/before 10 a.m.
  1. Submit ROLA proposal for approvals
  2. Submit complete application in the Research Portal for internal review

Important: When you ‘Verify and Submit’ in the Research Portal the application will be routed to Western’s Research Services for review. The application will not go directly to SSHRC. On request, applications can be returned to the Applicant for further editing between the internal deadline and the sponsor deadline. Contact researchoffice@uwo.ca for more information.
February 2, 2024
by/before 10 a.m.
Submission of final application in the Research Portal. Research Services is responsible for forwarding the final application to SSHRC before the sponsor deadline.

Application Process Items of Note

  • IDG applications are created in the Research Portal. Instructions are embedded in the Research Portal application form, and available in Resources, below.
  • Submit the application to Research Services (RS) for internal review by verifying and submitting the full application and CCV(s) in the Research Portal. Please do not email the application to RS.
  • IDG applications are not sent to SSHRC when Applicants click "submit". They are routed to Research Services.
  • Co-Applicant and Collaborator responses must be complete to submit the application to Research Services in the Research Portal.
  • Applications will be returned from the Research Portal for updates/modifications prior to the sponsor deadline, as required.
  • A SSHRC Canadian Common CV (CCV) is required for both Applicants and Co-Applicants (not Collaborators).
  • Research Services will not forward an application to SSHRC without a completed ROLA proposal first being submitted and approved. Please plan accordingly.

Research-Creation Applications

  • There is detailed information available to applicants preparing an IDG research-creation application.

Co-Applicant and Collaborator Information

  • Co-Applicants and Collaborators are invited to participate via the Invitations option on the Application Overview page of the application. Ensure invited team members respond early as you will not be able to submit the application to Research Services without their completed participation.
    • Co-applicants: Researchers whose primary affiliation is with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution or with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution (with a clear justification/rationale) are eligible to participate as co-applicants.
    • Collaborators: Any individual who will make a significant contribution to the project is eligible. They do not have to be affiliated with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution. Their use of funds is limited to travel and subsistence expenses related to research planning and exchanging information with the grantee, or for disseminating research results.

Resources

Contact

For more information, or questions relating to the Insights Development Grants program, please contact researchoffice@uwo.ca.