Research Support Fund
The Government of Canada's Research Support Fund (RSF) assists Canadian post-secondary institutions and affiliated research hospitals/institutes with indirect costs associated with federally funded research, helps them in achieving research excellence and maintaining world-class research environments.
RSF is administered by the Tri-Agencies:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
-
$8.5 M
RSF funds received in 2022-2023
-
$176.5 M
Total RSF funds received since 2001
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$8.9 M
RSF funds received in 2023-2024
RSF supports activities/expenses not directly traceable to specific research programs/projects, such as:
- Maintaining, repairing and upgrading research infrastructure, i.e. modernizing labs, equipment and libraries
- IT and operating costs (internet, custodial, heat, water, electricity)
- Research and central administration (grants and contracts administration, regulatory and legislated reporting requirements, communications, payroll and accounting, research audit, environmental and occupational health, legal and insurance costs)
- Intellectual property and technology transfer costs associated with transferring discoveries and innovations from academia to the private, public and not-for-profit sectors
RSF Criteria & Reporting
How UM defines indirect costs of research
Central and departmental costs incurred by the university to support research which are not attributable to specific research projects.
These costs may be related to research facilities, research proposal development, information systems to track grant applications, payroll costs for research administration and promotion, management and administration, regulatory requirements and accreditation, and intellectual property.
How RSF is calculated
UM must apply annually for the federal RSF. The amount awarded is based on averaged Tri-Agency funding received by UM (and its affiliated research hospitals and institutes) in the previous three years.
Organizations are considered an affiliate if federally funded research conducted there contributes to the applicant institution's research excellence and/or the applicant institution incurs indirect costs for federally funded research conducted at the affiliate institution.
2023/2024 RSF distribution
UM received $8,913,092 in federal RSF support.
The following chart provides an overview of how the funds are allocated under each of the five expenditure categories (including the affiliated institutions).
| Research Facilities |
Research Resources |
Management & Administration |
Regulatory Requirements & Accreditation |
Intellectual Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,551,218 | $934,603 | $2,186,259 | $1,756,012 | $485,000 |
Affiliated Institutions
UM and the network of affiliated institutions have a mutual interest in achieving excellence in research activities.
This integration establishes the basic principles and objectives of an affiliation regarding the administration, regulation and accountability of research carried out by various groups of individuals with university appointments and by others associated with UM, including students.
A comprehensive list of affiliated institutions includes:
- Hospital Affiliates:
- St. Boniface General Hospital
- Shared Health Manitoba
- Other Affiliated Organizations:
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- St. Andrew’s College (MB)
- St. Paul’s College
- St. John’s College
- University College (UM)
Performance indicators and target outcomes
| Eligible Expense Category |
Performance Objectives |
Performance Indicators |
Target Outcomes |
Outcomes Report at Year End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research facilities |
Strengthen researcher retention and quality of research by upgrading and maintaining research facilities and equipment Ongoing technical support for laboratories, offices and other facilities |
Specific lab renovations to attracted potential research funding Annual research equipment maintenance and service contracts |
Modern and dependable research facilities and equipment Attraction of potential research funding |
Completed lab and research space renovations Continuation of technical support for laboratories, research offices and facilities Upgraded research equipment |
|
Research resources |
Improve and manage research data information and analysis by upgrading databases and access to electronic resources |
Percentage change of data usage and downloads for research purposes Purchase of electronic resources, databases, online access to journals and upgrades to cables and wireless technologies |
Enhance research with up-to-date data management systems and information |
Annual data usage, page views and users Upgraded IT projects in research areas |
|
Management & administration |
Provide research administrative support for processing new grants and contracts Monitor expenses and review processes to ensure research compliances are meeting external agency guidelines |
Number of grants Number of contracts Number of industry partners |
Maintain success rates in research grants, contracts and industry partners |
Data pertaining to the number of grants and contracts awarded Continuation of research administration support |
|
Regulatory requirements & accreditation |
Comply with regulatory requirements:
|
Improved compliance with regulatory requirements as measured by laboratory inspections, incident investigations and regulator’s audits. Number of certificates issued to trained faculty and research personnel |
Research facilities and equipment meet regulatory requirements Trained faculty and research personnel Fewer incident investigations |
Data pertaining to new protocols and renewals Maintain compliance with CCAC |
|
Intellectual property |
Sustain the Partnerships & Innovation (formerly Technology Transfer) Office Increase the institution’s research base by identifying collaborative research opportunities |
Number of patents filed Percentage change in disclosures Percentage change in licenses Percentage change in startups Amount of royalty revenue |
Value-added growth of new research partnerships Continued support to researchers in their commercial endeavours and industry linkages |
Data pertaining to disclosures, patents, licenses, royal revenue and start-ups Status of new initiatives |
Public Acknowledgement, Objectives & Outcomes
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Research and International
Office of the Vice-President (Research and International)
Room 410/406 Administration Building
66 Chancellor's Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
204-474-6915