Annex II: Early career researcher data for flagship investigator-initiated research grant competitions

Each agency has provided an update to last year’s report, providing data from the 2018 and 2019 competition years from their flagship Investigator-Initiated Research Programs based on grant amounts committed at the time of offer.

CIHR has included data from the Open Operating Grant Program (OOGP), which ran from 2000 to 2015, and the Project Grant Program (PJT), which began in 2016.

NSERC has included data from the Discovery Grant (DG) Program. The Discovery Launch Supplement, which began in 2018, is included for 2018 and 2019.

SSHRC has included data from two funding opportunities separately. The first table includes data for the Insight Development Grants (IDG) program, which began in 2011; the second table includes data for the Insight Grants (IG) program, which began in 2012.

CFI has included data from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF).

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Project Grants are designed to support researchers at any career stage to build and conduct health-related research and knowledge translation projects. There are two Project Grant competitions per year (spring and fall), and researchers can submit up to two applications per competition. Researchers can serve as the nominated principal investigator on more than one Project Grant at a time as these awards support research projects rather than programs of research. In addition to the nominated principal investigators, other principal investigators, co-applicants and collaborators can participate in a Project Grant. Grant values and durations are proportionate to the requirements of the research proposed and vary depending on the research field, research approach and scope of project activities, but are not explicitly capped.

At CIHR, an ECR has historically been one who, at the time of application, has held a full-time, independent research appointment for a period of up to five years (60 months), excluding leaves of absence. ECR status was validated only for project competitions from 2016 to 2017. ECRs in OOGP competitions (2013 to 2015) are considered those within five years of the date of their last degree. Within the overall competition budget, there is a specific funding envelope to support ECRs and ensure that success rates for them are equal to those of established researchers. Competition processes and peer review for this cohort are fully integrated in the entire competition, with no additional steps required on the part of the applicant.

Figure 1: CIHR success rates (lines) and average grant sizes (bars) for ECRs and non-ECRs for OOGP and Project Grants from 2013-2019

Description of Figure 1

Using a line graph and a vertical bar graph, this figure shows CIHR’s success rates and average grant sizes for early career researchers (ECRs) and established researchers. for the Open Operating Grant Program (OOGP) and Project Grants Program, from 2013 to 2019. The y-axis on the left-hand side shows the success rate in percentages, from 0% to 18%. The second y-axis on the right-hand side shows the average grant size in dollars, from $0 to $900,000. The x-axis lists each year from 2013 to 2019.

CIHR’s success rates and average grant sizes for ECRs and for established researchers, for OOGP and PJT, from 2013-2019, are as follows:

  • In 2013, the success rate was 15% for ECRs and 17% for established researchers. The average grant size was $484,560 for ECRs and $619,235 for established researchers.
  • In 2014, the success rate was 12% for ECRs and 14% for established researchers. The average grant size was $499,585 for ECRs and $649,479 for established researchers.
  • In 2015, the success rate was 10% for ECRs and 15% for established researchers. The average grant size was $501,453 for ECRs and $675,264 for established researchers.
  • In 2016, the success rate was 14% for ECRs and 15% for established researchers. The average grant size was $649,423 for ECRs and $759,156 for established researchers.
  • In 2017, the success rate was 15% for both early career and established researchers. The average grant size was $606,909 for ECRs and $756,462 for established researchers.
  • In 2018, the success rate was 14.5% for early career researchers and 14.4% for established researchers. The average grant size was $641,404 for early career researchers and $765,262 for established researchers.
  • In 2019, the success rate was 16.6% for both early career and established researchers. The average grant size was $581,139 for early career researchers and $750,253 for established researchers.
CIHR table
OOGP & Project Grants 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Application pressure (number of applications) ― Total

4781

2862

2682

6697

3415

5117

4629

Application pressure (number of applications) ― ECRs

789

445

403

1,515

821

1130

1016

% of all applications

17%

16%

15%

23%

24%

22.1%

21.9%

Success rate ― ECRs

15%

12%

10%

14%

15%

14.5%

16.6%

Success rate ― Established researchers

17%

14%

15%

15%

15%

14.4%

16.6%

Average grant ― ECRs

$484,560

$499,585

$501,453

$649,423

$606,909

$641,404

$581,139

Average grant ― Established researchers

$619,235

$649,479

$675,264

$759,156

$756,462

$765,262

$750,253

Total OOGP/PJT funds awarded to ECRs

$56,209,004

$27,477,201

$21,061,029

$134,430,504

$74,649,750

$105,190,260

$98,212,527

Total OOGP/PJT funds awarded

$478,527,130

$251,547,297

$251,326,181

$711,389,291

$368,913,660

$545,981,020

$547,613,842

% of funds to ECR

12%

11%

8%

19%

20%

19.3%

17.9%

 

Average grant (per year of grant) ― ECRs

$122,595

$122,025

$122,894

$151,524

$142,565

$145,751

$140,158

Average grant (per year of grant) ― Established researchers

$141,520

$145,307

$146,186

$167,376

$169,043

$169,984

$166,980

Total OOGP/PJT funds awarded to ECRs (per year of grant)

$14,221,059

$6,711,363

$5,161,554

$31,365,461

$17,535,442

$23,903,223

$23,686,639

Total OOGP/PJT funds awarded (per year of grant)

$110,737,735

$56,842,202

$55,010,876

$158,571,008

$83,293,027

$121,814,153

$123,707,806

% of funds to ECRs

13%

12%

9%

20%

21%

19.6%

19.1%

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Discovery Grants (DG) support ongoing programs of research with long-term goals rather than a single short-term project or collection of projects. DGs are awarded to individual researchers only, and the duration is normally five years. There is one DG competition per year. Researchers can apply for and hold only one DG at a time. DG holders cannot reapply for another DG until the last year of their current award.

Applicants are categorized as either early career or established researchers. From 2013 to 2016, ECRs were defined as applicants who were within two years of the start date of their first eligible position at a university and had no prior academic or non-academic independent research experience. From 2017 to 2018, the ECR eligibility window was increased to three years; in 2019, it was increased to five years. In all years reported, the window for being considered an ECR could be adjusted to include instances where a researcher had an acceptable delay in research (illness, parental leave, etc.).

While applications from ECRs are evaluated against the same three selection criteria as established researchers, it is recognized that early career applicants may not have had the opportunity to make the same level of contributions to research or training as established researchers. For this reason, NSERC implements a different quality cut-off for funding ECRs, ensures that the overall ECR success rate is at least 50%, and offers additional sources of support to those awarded a DG. These include:

Note that the increases in funds awarded to ECRs in 2018 and 2019 in comparison to previous years reflect the DLS and the additional year of funding.

Besides DGs, NSERC also devotes Discovery Research funds to a number of supplemental programs for Discovery Grants, many of which provide support to ECRs.

Figure 2: NSERC success rates (lines) and average grant sizes (bars) for ECRs and non-ECRs for Discovery Grants from 2013-2019

Description of Figure 2

Using a line graph and a vertical bar graph, this figure shows NSERC’s Discovery grants’ (DG) success rates and average grant sizes for early career researchers (ECRs) and established researchers, from 2013 to 2019. The y-axis on the left-hand side shows the success rate in percentages, from 0% to 80%. The second y-axis on the right-hand side shows the average grant size in dollars, from $0 to $250,000. The x-axis lists each year from 2013 to 2019.

NSERC’s Discovery grants’ success rates and average grant sizes from 2013-2019 for ECRs and for established researchers are as follows:

  • In 2013, the success rate was 60% for ECRs and 59% for established researchers. The average grant size was $136,111 for ECRs and $163,271 for established researchers.
  • In 2014, the success rate was 66% for ECRs and 64% for established researchers. The average grant size was $138,073 for ECRs and $168,017 for established researchers.
  • In 2015, the success rate was 65% for both early career and established researchers. The average grant size was $130,553 for ECRs and $157,924 for established researchers.
  • In 2016, the success rate was 75% for ECRs and 65% for established researchers. The average grant size was $143,855 for ECRs and $179,571 for established researchers.
  • In 2017, the success rate was 69% for ECRs and 66% for established researchers. The average grant size was $127,043 for ECRs and $169,937 for established researchers.
  • In 2018, the success rate was 64% for ECRs and 67% for established researchers. The average grant size was $190,094 for ECRs and $195,366 for established researchers.
  • In 2019, the success rate was 57% for ECRs and 71% for established researchers. The average grant size was $192,549 for ECRs and $194,672 for established researchers.
NSERC table
Discovery Grants 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Application pressure (number of applications) ― Total

3398

3134

3159

3167

3240

3213

3404

Application pressure (number of applications) ― ECRs

471

427

489

494

562

677

882

% of all applications

14%

13%

15%

16%

17%

21%

26%

Success rate ― ECRs

60%

66%

65%

75%

69%

64%

57%

Success rate ― Established researchers

59%

64%

65%

65%

66%

67%

71%

Average grant ― ECRs

$136,111

$138,073

$130,553

$143,855

$127,043

$190,094

$192,549

Average grant ― Established researchers

$163,271

$168,017

$157,924

$179,571

$169,937

$195,366

$194,672

Total DG funds awarded to ECRs

$38,247,145

$38,660,539

$41,385,170

$53,082,500

$48,911,515

$82,310,534

$96,081,926

Total DG funds awarded

$318,419,710

$328,489,387

$316,489,081

$362,842,820

$349,530,120

$412,869,600

$442,598,291

% of funds to ECR

12%

12%

13%

15%

14%

20%

22%

 

Average grant (per year of grant) ― ECRs

$27,438

$27,723

$26,120

$28,771

$25,409

$32,099

$32,508

Average grant (per year of grant) ― Established researchers

$34,323

$35,513

$32,903

$37,135

$34,948

$40,355

$40,071

Total DG funds awarded to ECRs (per year of grant)

$7,709,941

$8,137,508

$8,280,084

$10,616,500

$9,782,303

$13,898,839

$16,221,571

Total DG funds awarded (per year of grant)

$67,021,454

$70,208,877

$65,870,975

$74,674,964

$71,605,024

$82,179,749

$87,547,244

% of funds to ECRs

12%

12%

13%

14%

14%

17%

19%

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Insight Development Grants (IDG) enable the development of new research in its initial stages. They are project-based: funding is provided for short-term research development projects. IDGs are valued at up to $75,000 over one to two years. A minimum budget of $7,000 in at least one of the years is required. The application deadline is set in February.

Within the IDG funding opportunity, funding is available for two distinct categories of scholars:

Emerging scholar status is validated for IDG and at least 50% of funds are reserved for applications from emerging scholars.

Insight Grants (IG) support research excellence. They are project-based. IGs are valued at $7,000 to $100,000 per year over two to five years, up to a total of $400,000. Applicants choose from one of two funding streams, depending on the scale of their project:

The application deadline is set in October. There is no reserved budget envelope for emerging scholars as all applicants compete in the same pool. As a result, ECR status is not validated within the scope of the Insight Grants.

The following applies to both IGs and IDGs:

Figure 3: SSHRC success rates (lines) and average grant sizes (bars) for ECRs and non-ECRs for Insight Development Grants from 2013-2019

Description of Figure 3

Using a line graph and a vertical bar graph, this figure shows SSHRC’s Insight Development grants’ (IDG) success rates and average grant sizes for early career researchers (ECRs) and established researchers, from 2013 to 2019. The y-axis on the left-hand side shows the success rate in percentages, from 0% to 70%. The second y-axis on the right-hand side shows the average grant size in dollars, from $0 to $100,000. The x-axis lists each year from 2013 to 2019.

SSHRC’s 2013-19 success rates and average grant sizes for IDG for ECRs and for established researchers are as follows:

  • In 2013, the success rate was 30.3% for ECRs and 28.7% for established researchers. The average grant size was $59,113 for ECRs and $61,762 for established researchers.
  • In 2014, the success rate was 25.7% for ECRs and 24.3% for established researchers. The average grant size was $60,643 for ECRs and $62,048 for established researchers.
  • In 2015, the success rate was 23.7% for ECRs and 22.1% for established researchers. The average grant size was $59,123 for ECRs and $60,869 for established researchers.
  • In 2016, the success rate was 45.5% for ECRs and 45.1% for established researchers. The average grant size was $55,604 for ECRs and $55,862 for established researchers.
  • In 2017, the success rate was 32.6% for ECRs and 31.1% for established researchers. The average grant size was $54,372 for ECRs and $56,476 for established researchers.
  • In 2018, the success rate was 60.3% for ECRs and 57.5% for established researchers. The average grant size was $55,434 for ECRs and $58,087 for established researchers.
  • In 2019, the success rate was 50.9% for ECRs and 48.6% for established researchers. The average grant size was $55,694 for ECRs and $56,849 for established researchers.
SSHRC table
Overall 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Application pressure (number of applications) ― Total

3211

3271

3225

2912

2749

2675

2493

Application pressure (number of applications) ― ECRs

1066

1055

1026

970

1013

1000

884

% of all applications

33%

32%

32%

33%

37%

37.4%

35.5%

Total IDG/IG funds awarded to ECRs

$23,529,427

$22,633,881

$19,972,111

$27,464,866

$23,579,015

$39,941,520

$29,049,725

Total IDG/IG funds awarded

$109,040,307

$115,651,421

$98,888,444

$110,634,127

$114,577,848

$139,711,962

$122,615,958

% of funds to ECRs

22%

20%

20%

25%

21%

28.6%

23.7%

Insight Development Grants
Application pressure (number of applications) ― Total

1028

1128

1237

1211

1236

1139

1128

Application pressure (number of applications) ― ECRs

700

762

799

803

853

798

739

% of all applications

68.1%

67.6%

64.6%

66.3%

69.0%

70.1%

65.5%

Success rate ― ECRs

30.3%

25.7%

23.7%

45.5%

32.6%

60.3%

50.9%

Success rate ― Established researchers

28.7%

24.3%

22.1%

45.1%

31.1%

57.5%

48.6%

Average grant ― ECRs

$59,113

$60,643

$59,123

$55,604

$54,372

$55,434

$55,694

Average grant ― Established researchers

$61,762

$62,048

$60,869

$55,862

$56,476

$58,087

$56,849

Total funds awarded to ECRs

$12,532,005

$11,886,052

$11,174,264

$20,295,306

$15,115,320

$26,663,844

$20,940,988

Total IDG funds awarded

$18,337,608

$17,408,342

$17,078,587

$30,573,895

$21,835,969

$38,048,922

$31,685,401

% of funds to ECRs

68.3%

68.3%

65.4%

66.4%

69.2%

70.1%

66.1%

 
Average grant (per year of grant) ― ECRs

$30,106

$30,629

$29,695

$27,872

$27,180

$28,016

$27,950

Average grant (per year of grant) ― Established researchers

$31,212

$31,649

$30,592

$28,101

$28,599

$29,419

$29,482

Total funds awarded to ECRs (per average duration of grant)

$6,231,879

$5,926,653

$5,538,089

$10,103,675

$7,542,462

$13,543,093

$10,512,432

Total IDG funds awarded (per average duration of grant)

$9,168,804

$8,680,117

$8,490,250

$15,232,059

$10,902,787

$19,324,171

$15,984,153

% of funds to ECRs

68.0%

68.3%

65.2%

66.3%

69.2%

70.1%

66.1%

Insight Grants
Application pressure (number of applications) ― Total

2183

2143

1988

1701

1513

1536

1365

Application pressure (number of applications) ― ECRs

366

293

227

167

160

202

145

% of all applications

16.8%

13.7%

11.4%

9.8%

10.6%

13.2%

10.6%

Success rate ― ECRs

14.5%

18.4%

20.7%

28.7%

31.3%

47.5%

43.4%

Success rate ― Established researchers

22.9%

23.8%

23.7%

31.4%

40.9%

47.3%

46.1%

Average grant ― ECRs

$207,499

$199,034

$187,188

$149,366

$169,274

$138,309

$128,710

Average grant ― Established researchers

$191,599

$198,853

$174,670

$151,540

$152,127

$140,072

$147,108

 
Total IG funds awarded

$90,702,699

$98,243,079

$81,809,857

$80,060,232

$92,741,879

$101,663,040

$90,930,557

% of funds to ECRs

12.1%

10.9%

10.8%

9.0%

9.1%

13.1%

8.9%

 
Average grant (per year of grant) ― ECRs

$50,066

$50,625

$45,437

$37,895

$39,220

$36,524

$34,498

Average grant (per year of grant) ― Established researchers

$47,252

$48,947

$42,830

$37,925

$37,349

$36,316

$37,422

Total funds awarded to ECRs (per average duration of grant)

$2,686,006

$2,712,069

$2,164,915

$1,820,841

$1,941,214

$3,521,152

$2,155,487

Total IG funds awarded (per average duration of grant)

$22,507,707

$24,145,314

$19,969,335

$19,818,373

$22,460,343

$26,605,122

$23,338,470

% of funds to ECRs

11.9%

11.2%

10.8%

9.2%

8.6%

12.8%

8.7%

Canada Foundation for Innovation

The John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) is designed to help institutions attract and retain the best researchers by providing them with the foundational research infrastructure needed to be or become leaders in their field. The JELF also offers institutions the opportunity to create competitive research support packages in the form of infrastructure and a portion of the operating and maintenance costs, coupled with direct research costs from partner organizations (CRCP, Canada Excellence Research Chair Program, NSERC and SSHRC).

Canadian universities, affiliated research hospitals and research institutions recognized as eligible by the CFI can apply for the JELF if they have received a minimum annual average of $200,000 in research funding over the last three years from the three federal research funding agencies. The researchers listed on the proposal must be:

Figure 4: CFI success rates (lines) and average grant sizes (bars) for ECRs and non-ECRs from 2013-2019 for the John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Description of Figure 4

Using a line graph and a vertical bar graph, this figure shows CFI’s success rates and average grant sizes from 2013 to 2019 for early career researchers (ECRs) and established researchers for the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). The y-axis on the left-hand side shows the success rate in percentages, from 0% to 100%. The second y-axis on the right-hand side shows the average grant size in dollars, from $0 to $300,000. The x-axis lists each year from 2013 to 2019.

CFI’s 2013-19 JELF success rates and average grant sizes for ECRs and for established researchers are as follows:

  • In 2013, the success rate was 80% for both early career researchers and established researchers. The average grant size was $147,778 for ECRs and $206,551 for established researchers.
  • In 2014, the success rate was 76% for ECRs and 75% for established researchers. The average grant size was $161,031 for ECRs and $179,824 for established researchers.
  • In 2015, the success rate was 81% for ECRs and 79% for established researchers. The average grant size was $145,845 for ECRs and $198,789 for established researchers.
  • In 2016, the success rate was 78% for ECRs and 82% for established researchers. The average grant size was $141,662 for ECRs and $214,060 for established researchers.
  • In 2017, the success rate was 77% for ECRs and 83% for established researchers. The average grant size was $137,362 for ECRs and $211,657 for established researchers.
  • In 2018, the success rate was 81% for ECRs and 75% for established researchers. The average grant size was $151,741 for ECRs and $200,740 for established researchers.
  • In 2019, the success rate was 78% for both early career and established researchers. The average grant size was $146,113 for ECRs and $229,649 for established researchers.
CFI table
John R. Evans Leaders Fund 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Application pressure (number of applications) ― TotalFootnote *

573

382

439

575

402

444

657

Application pressure (number of applications) ECRsFootnote **

296

216

259

291

223

277

327

% of all applications

52%

57%

59%

51%

55%

62%

50%

Success rate ― ECRs

80%

76%

81%

78%

77%

81%

78%

Success rate ― Established researchers

80%

75%

79%

82%

83%

75%

78%

Average grant ― ECRs

$147,778

$161,031

$145,845

$141,662

$137,362

$151,741

$146,113

Average grant ― Established researchers

$206,551

$179,824

$198,789

$214,060

$211,657

$200,740

$229,649

 
Total JELF funds awarded to ECRs

$35,023,363

$26,409,068

$30,481,504

$32,298,857

$23,488,855

$33,989,888

$37,112,709

Total JELF funds awarded

$80,877,746

$48,887,096

$58,709,489

$82,388,854

$54,814,058

$59,082,408

$96,132,582

% of funds to ECRs

43%

54%

52%

39%

43%

58%

39%

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