| ** Researchers please note: Applications to all Operating Grants committees for the competition whose registration deadline is August 15, 2007 will be done through ResearchNet. Applicants will be able to begin their registrations on ResearchNet in late June, 2007. ResearchNet will allow you to transfer information from previous applications, however, there is no transfer mechanism in place for the CIHR WebForms system. |
ResearchNet is a tool available on the Internet which allows the research community to electronically submit grant registrations and applications, to obtain funding-related information, and to actively share, collaborate on, and complete administrative tasks. The applicant will be able to submit their information electronically and will be acknowledged electronically. This allows CIHR to receive and begin processing the data and documents which comprise the application almost immediately.
It also serves as a tool for the processing and submission of peer reviews. ResearchNet is used throughout the peer review process to enable the input of electronic peer reviews, access to submitted reviews, posting of decision results, and subsequent access to these results. Applicants access their Notices of Decision, Review and Scientific Officer notes on-line via a single site. E-Submission committees have on-line access to application information. All documents remain available on ResearchNet for future reference.
ResearchNet is structured as a secure internet portal which provides a virtual meeting place for the research community, and it utilizes existing form utilities such as the Common CV system. The portal has been designed to ensure data integrity, security and privacy while providing faster access to information. ResearchNet is still in its pilot phase and regularly introduces new functionality to increase the efficiency of the peer review and application processes.
Portions of its workflow have been used by multiple organizations. For example, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) are currently conducting pilots of the peer review using ResearchNet to support their peer review processes, either in part or in full.
CIHR continues to broaden the uses for ResearchNet by introducing new peer review committees and funding opportunities to its various tasks and by collecting valuable user feedback to direct future enhancements.
Anyone can register on ResearchNet after providing some basic profile information including their email address and a secure password. Simply go to the web site: http://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca/.
ResearchNet is a virtual meeting place for the research community which provides the following benefits:
This vision is being achieved through incremental releases which enhance and streamline existing functionality.
All applications to the Operating Grants competition whose registration deadline is August 15, 2007, will be required to submit their registrations and full applications electronically using ResearchNet.
For more details on the mandates of these committees refer to Peer Review Committees and Mandates.
This release will enable applicants to enter data on ResearchNet that was previously collected with the Research Module and Operating Budget Module. This will reduce the number of websites that applicants have to use to complete their application and streamline the application process in general.
Note: The Operating Grants committee selections have been removed from the CIHR WebForms system. Information entered into this system cannot be transferred to ResearchNet. Please wait until the end of June to start completing your registration and application information on ResearchNet.
1. Upcoming Changes for Applicants to New Investigators and Doctoral Research Awards Programs
Applicants to the New Investigators and the Doctoral Research Awards programs will also be required to use ResearchNet to electronically submit their applications. The system will be available for applicants to begin completing their information by the end of June 2007 for the Fall 2007 competitions. Note that although some data from previous competitions will be available on ResearchNet, applicants who start their new applications on the existing CIHR Web Forms will not be able to transfer this information to ResearchNet.
2. Awardees will complete their Confirmation of Commencement on-line
ResearchNet now provides the functionality for awardees to complete the Confirmation of Commencement (CFC) information online. Awardees are asked to complete and sign the Confirmation of Commencement form prior to release of funding. The CFC activity will now be available on ResearchNet once a response to an offer of award has been submitted by successful applicants from the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 Training Programs two months prior to their requested start date. Awardees will be able to fill in their information electronically and print the form for their supervisor's signature. Once the CFC form is completed with signatures, it must be mailed to CIHR.
3. Complete Special Attentions
The purpose of this task in ResearchNet is to allow successful applicants to complete and submit additional information in response to their conditional funding. The Special Attention task provides the functionality to upload PDF files or enter specific information on-line, as requested by CIHR.
4. Posting Competition Results for Organizations
Since 2001, CIHR has been posting its March and September Operating Grant competition results on NSERC's secure site for use by organization officials such as the Research Administration offices. Commencing this June 2007, the March 2007 Operating Grant competition results will be posted on ResearchNet and will no longer be made available on NSERC's secure site.
ResearchNet is a secure internet portal which allows the research community to perform application and peer review activities, and eventually, all competition and funding activities. This tool is used by CIHR, and portions of its functionality have serviced multiple organizations. ResearchNet is still in its pilot phase and regularly introduces new functionality to increase the efficiency of the peer review and application processes. As part of this pilot project, CIHR will be providing organizations secure access to the decision results on ResearchNet. This data will be made available to only those universities previously established through the NSERC site and hard copies of the competition results will be sent through the mail in accordance with usual CIHR practice.
Results from the September 2007 Operating Grants competition are scheduled to be posted on ResearchNet in January 2008, at which time, it will include all organizations and their affiliates having a CIHR common account.
In the future, this pilot may expand to include other competition results.
We want your feedback and suggestions! Fill out the online Survey on ResearchNet or send your suggestions to support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your ResearchNet account contact:
ResearchNet Technical Support
Tel: 613-941-9080
support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca
CIHR Content Support
If you have questions or difficulties in completing the CIHR specific content on ResearchNet, contact the Information Desk at 1-888-603-4178 (select option 1) or 613-954-1968, or by e-mail at info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
