Research Support Fund
Indirect costs of research
University research involves both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs – which can include equipment, supplies, and travel for a specific project – are typically supported by research grants awarded to individual faculty. Indirect costs include salaries for administrative staff who provide support for faculty researchers, the provision and maintenance of appropriate research facilities (such as laboratories and libraries), research resources (library holdings, databases, and other research tools), safety training, insurance, and other regulatory requirements. These institutional resources are not tied to any one research project but are nevertheless necessary for research to happen.
The Research Support Fund
At CMU, the ongoing indirect costs of research are offset by a grant from the Government of Canada's Research Support Fund. This grant is awarded annually to eligible institutions; the amount is determined as a percentage of all Tri-Council (e.g. SSHRC) research grants that have been awarded to the university and its researchers over the past three years. The university may direct its Research Support grant to the following five areas:
- research facilities
- research resources
- management and administration of an institution's research enterprise
- regulatory requirements and accreditation
- intellectual property
For 2024-25, CMU is receiving a Research Support Fund grant of $102,552. CMU will allocate its Research Support Fund grant as follows:
- research facilities: $0
- research resources: $2,582
- management and administration of an institution's research enterprise: $94,970
- regulatory requirements and accreditation: $5,000
- intellectual property: $0
CMU's Research Support Fund grants for previous years all supported the management and administration of an institution's research enterprise:
2017-18: $35,894
2018-19: $37,527
2019-20: $44,239
2020-21: $60,246
2021-22: $80,029
2022-23: $102,858
2023-24: $108,302
More information about the Research Support Fund can be found at http://www.rsf-fsr.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx
Impacts at CMU
Since 2012, the Indirect Costs Grant/Research Support Fund has allowed CMU to increase its level of support for faculty researchers by establishing a permanent staff position. The Director of Research Grants supports the research environment at CMU, oversees the Strategic Research Plan, monitors regulatory requirements associated with all research, and supports researchers in identifying and obtaining sources of funding. This targeted administrative support is important as CMU continues to develop and expand its research profile. The RSF has also allowed CMU to secure institutional eligibility with all Tri-Council funding agencies and Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Affiliated Organizations
For the purpose of the Research Support Fund, an organization can be considered an affiliate of the applicant institution if:
- the federally funded research undertaken at the affiliate organization contributes to the research excellence of the applicant institution; and/or
- the applicant institution incurs indirect costs for the federally funded research conducted at the affiliate organization.
Menno Simons College is an affiliated organization of Canadian Mennonite University.
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