Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative
To continue helping the Canadian social sciences and humanities research community better understand data management and incorporate data management considerations into research practices, SSHRC’s Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative will continue to fund at least 10 meritorious Connection Grants proposals per competition to support the research community’s development, adoption and dissemination of research data management standards, practices, tools and skills appropriate to their field.
Research data management supports the effective and responsible conduct of research, and increases the ability to store, deposit, share, find and reuse research data. A strong culture of data management will strengthen Canadian research excellence and support the development of social sciences and humanities insights. It will also benefit Canadian researchers working in international partnerships and collaborations as funders around the globe implement and strengthen data management requirements.
SSHRC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research released the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy in 2021. The policy builds on the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management (spring 2016), which outlines the granting agencies’ expectations about research data management, and the roles and responsibilities of researchers, research communities, institutions and the granting agencies.
Application process
Applicants must complete the Connection Grants application form, and follow the accompanying instructions, as outlined in the Connection Grants funding opportunity description.
In their application form, initiative applicants must:
- select the “Data Management” option;
- under Keywords, include “Data Management;”
- under Expected outcomes, detail the potential benefits and/or outcomes of the proposed event or outreach activity as they relate to data management; and
- under Description of Connection project, demonstrate how the proposed event or outreach activity will support the initiative’s objectives, listed in Evaluation and adjudication below.
After the competition deadline, SSHRC staff will conduct an administrative review to evaluate proposals’ relevance to this initiative. Proposals to conduct research on data management, or for projects limited to the management of particular datasets or databases, are not eligible. The focus must be on increasing the capacity of a broad group of researchers or trainees to manage data as a regular research activity.
Applications deemed ineligible for the Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative will remain in the Connection Grants competition.
Evaluation and adjudication
Research Data Management Capacity Building Initiative applications are subject to the Connection Grants evaluation criteria and scoring.
In addition, for proposals submitted under this initiative, the merit review committee will consider the degree to which applications respond to one or more of the following objectives, which should be a significant focus of the proposal:
- develop and/or adopt data management standards, practices, tools and skills within and across disciplines and institutions, with a focus on the social sciences and humanities;
- connect researchers and/or trainees with data management professionals and service providers (e.g., librarians, programmers, specialists in research data management and research ethics, etc.), and other stakeholders (e.g., research subjects and users) to increase knowledge of data management;
- share and develop knowledge and skills relating to data collection, curation, security, documentation (e.g., metadata, standards), storage, retention, deposit, sharing, preservation and reuse (credit attribution);
- share and develop knowledge and skills related to the responsible ownership, control, access and possession of data used or created in the context of Indigenous research (e.g., the application of OCAP® principles); and
- through other activities, enable the social sciences and humanities research community to strengthen its ability to fulfill the roles and responsibilities indicated in the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management, and the requirements outlined in the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy.
Contact information
For more information, contact:
- Email: connection@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
- Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861