2026 Exploration: Merit Indicators for the Review Process


Using the matrices

For each criterion, the reviewer is asked to consider relevant elements, which may include a few, several or all of the elements as outlined in the matrices, as well as some not listed. The matrices are intended to be used as a guide. A proposal does not have to be rated Exceptional against all elements to receive an Exceptional rating for the criterion overall. Unless stated otherwise, it is left to the discretion of the reviewer to balance assessments of individual elements to provide an overall rating per criterion.

For the High Risk, High Reward and Feasibility evaluation criteria, the matrices indicate four ratings: Exceptional, Very Good, Fair and Poor. However, members can use a seven-point scale in their assessments, selecting ratings that fall between the four described. The seven-point rating scale for the High Risk, High Reward and Feasibility evaluation criteria is as follows:

  • Exceptional (described)
  • Excellent (between Exceptional and Very Good)
  • Very Good (described)
  • Good (between Very Good and Fair)
  • Fair (described)
  • Inferior (between Fair and Poor)
  • Poor (described)

Criterion: Interdisciplinarity

For a project to meet the New Frontiers in Research fund (NFRF) program’s expectations for interdisciplinarity, it must meet expectations for a majority of elements described below and meet expectations for the fit to program sub-criterion. You cannot score the application as “Meets expectations” for Interdisciplinarity if it does not satisfy the fit to program sub-criterion.

Meets expectations Does not meet expectations
Novelty of perspective Pushes the boundaries in terms of interdisciplinarity, integrating two or more disciplines that are not commonly combined.

Proposes an interdisciplinary approach where there is a long tradition and/or established co-operation/collaboration/interaction between the disciplines.
Novelty of approach Proposes the application or adaptation of frameworks/tools/methods/techniques from one discipline to solve a problem in another discipline. The proposed frameworks/tools/methods/techniques are already in use in, or easily applied to, the second disciplinary area, requiring little adaptation or development.
Project design The project is designed from an interdisciplinary perspective, with the various disciplinary knowledge and methods integrated in a synthesized approach by the project team.

The project has an interdisciplinary component “added on” to a more conventional project or program of research.

or

The project is designed from a multidisciplinary perspective, where work in several disciplines will be conducted separately rather than through an integrated approach.

Team The interdisciplinary approach is reflected in the team composition, with expertise in all relevant disciplinary areas.

The team does not reflect the expertise required to execute the interdisciplinary approach.
Other - The application did not adequately establish the interdisciplinary nature of the project.

Interdisciplinarity subcriterion: Fit to Program

An application must be assessed as “Meets expectations” for the Fit to Program subcriterion to be assessed as “Meets expectations” for the Interdisciplinarity criterion.

Meets expectations Does not meet expectations
Fit to Program Proposes a project that pushes the boundaries of what can be funded through the agencies, according to their mandates and existing suites of programs, as a result of its high-risk nature and interdisciplinary approach. The scope of the proposed project (subject and approach) fits within the parameters of the mandate and existing suite of programs of one or more of the agencies.

Criterion: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Practice

For a project to meet the New Frontiers in Research fund (NFRF) program’s expectations for equity, diversity and inclusion in research practice (EDI in research practice), it must be assessed as “Meets expectations” for every element (row) below. If the application “Does not meet expectations” for one or more elements, the criterion must be scored “Does not meet expectations”.

Meets expectations Does not meet expectations
Analysis of context

The application shows understanding of EDI considerations/systemic barriers* in the context of the research team

  • This can include details such as: historical underrepresentation of certain population groups in the field or institution, or systemic barriers in academia and the research ecosystem
  • The application identifies at least one specific systemic barrier
  • Data and/or references are used to support the analysis

Within the analysis, concrete and specific examples are identified (as opposed to generic statements)

*Systemic barriers: attitudes, policies, practices or systems that result in individuals from certain population groups receiving unequal access to or being excluded from participation in employment, services or programs (e.g. through discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.).

Limited understanding of systemic barriers or EDI considerations in the context of the research team is demonstrated in the application.
Generic statements are used rather than specific examples or data points.
Concrete practice for each area

The application lists at least one concrete practice for each area (team composition and recruitment processes, development opportunities, and inclusion)

The concrete practices described target the specific context identified, and to the specific area.

The concrete practice is detailed and specific (not generic and not copied from institutional policy)

The application fails to list a detailed and specific concrete practice for one or more of the areas.
The concrete practice(s) listed are copied from institutional policy and not specific to the research team. They do not relate to the context described (i.e. fail to address the identified barriers).
Implementation

For each area,  the application provides an explanation of how the concrete practice has been or will be realistically implemented

An intersectional lens has been applied with objectives and measures based on the needs of team members, and an understanding of the institution’s and the research team’s environment and specific context or challenges in each area.

There is accountability built into the plan. There is a mechanism for confidential feedback from team members.

Team composition and recruitment processes

  • It is clear that there have been or are appropriate efforts to establish a diverse team, inclusive working environment and equitable opportunities for all team members.
  • Hiring processes designed to reduce barriers
    • Examples: team members involved in hiring processes received training on unconscious bias or other relevant training; job postings reviewed to avoid biased, gendered language and stereotypes

Training and development opportunities

  • All team members have equal access to training and mentoring opportunities. The planned approach avoids the “equity tax”.

Inclusion in the research environment

  • The described strategies demonstrate an understanding of the systemic inequalities and barriers that exist
  • The approach suggests that team members’ individual needs and circumstances will be considered, to ensure full participation and potential for robust contributions from each person.

Insufficient detail is provided as to how the concrete practice will be implemented.
The implementation is unrealistic and does not consider the research team’s context.
There is no accountability built into the plan to ensure implementation and to allow for feedback.
Impact

The application explains how the concrete practice will impact EDI, and expected outcomes are clearly articulated.

The application describes an appropriate methodology for measuring success of each practice implemented, including concrete tools and indicators to measure impact.

There is a plan for on-going monitoring.

The application fails to clearly explain the anticipated impact of the concrete practice.
The application does not adequately describe how the impact of the concrete practice will be measured or monitored.

Criterion: High Risk

For information on how the rating scale is used in assessments, refer to Using the matrices.

Exploration grants are intended to fund high-risk research. Researchers are encouraged to think “outside of the box,” undertake research that defies current paradigms, and bring disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives. It is recognized that innovation carries risk and, consequently, it is expected that a number of funded projects will fail to meet their objectives.

How high risk a project is can be defined by elements including, but not limited to, the following:

Exceptional Very Good Fair Poor
Unique directions Develops a completely new theory or paradigm. Develops a novel concept that bridges established theories or paradigms in different fields. Develops a novel concept closely linked to established theories or paradigms. Represents an incremental or “logical next step” approach.
Challenging current paradigms Aims to radically challenge accepted theories or paradigms. Aims to challenge accepted theories or paradigms. Aims to test established theories or paradigms. Aims to reinforce established theories or paradigms.
Enhancing our understanding Aims to extraordinarily enhance our understanding of a complex and challenging issue and/or significantly enhance our understanding of multiple complex and challenging issues. Aims to significantly enhance our understanding of a complex and challenging issue and/or notably enhance our understanding of multiple complex and challenging issues. Aims to notably enhance our understanding of a complex and challenging issue. Aims to incrementally advance our understanding of a complex and challenging issue.
Novel interdisciplinary approaches

Is at the interface between disciplines, requiring a novel interdisciplinary approach (i.e., two or more disciplines that are not commonly combined).

Goes beyond established approaches of any single discipline, bringing together disparate disciplines in new ways.

 Crosses disciplinary boundaries and integrates approaches from two or more disciplines. Crosses disciplinary boundaries using approaches from two or more disciplines but the approaches are not fully integrated. Crosses disciplinary boundaries, involving two (or more) disciplines that are closely related or commonly crossed. (The interdisciplinary approach is established.)
Development or adaptation of methods and techniques Will develop novel methods or techniques. Will adapt existing methods or techniques to a new field. Will apply proven methods and techniques in a new context. Will use proven methods or techniques in an established context or field.
Other - - - The application does not adequately establish the high-risk nature of the project.

Criterion: High Reward

For information on how the rating scale is used in assessments, see Using the matrices.

Projects that are high reward are those with the potential for outcomes that can be defined by elements including, but not limited to, the below.

For the “broad impact” and “reach” elements, projects that take place in a single or limited number of geographic communities; with a particular subpopulation or subpopulations; or that focus on a rare disease, can receive Very Good or Exceptional ratings when the potential impact on those affected is significantly high, or if the project team identifies potential applicability/transferability of research results to other contexts.

Examples include research undertaken with a single Indigenous community on entrepreneurship and health; with rural, coastal communities on climate change and governance; or with individuals who have a rare chronic illness. In these cases, the size of the community or communities or populations impacted may be small, but the extent of the potential impact is great. As such, this kind of project could be rated favourably by reviewers under the broad impact section. Reach could also be considered Exceptional or Very Good if the proposal clearly articulates how these findings may be applicable to other contexts.

Exceptional Very Good Fair Poor
If successful, the project is likely to result in:
Broad impact Significant economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, health or environmental impact. Notable economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, health or environmental impact. Minor economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, health or environmental impact. No economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, health or environmental impact.
Reach Strong impact on a single or small number of unique communities or subpopulations, with lessons for other contexts, or strong impact on large or multiple communities. Impact on a single or small number or unique communities or subpopulations, with lessons for others, or impact on large or multiple communities. Limited impact on a single or small number of unique communities or subpopulations, with either limited or no lessons for others, or limited impact on multiple communities. No meaningful impact on any unique communities, with limited or no lessons for others, and no potential for impact on multiple communities.

Significantly impacts numerous fields or applications.

Developed techniques/methodology will improve research in all integrated disciplines.

Impacts numerous fields or applications.

Developed techniques/methodology will improve research in several integrated disciplines.

Impacts primarily one field or application.

Developed techniques/methodology will improve research primarily in one discipline.

 Has limited impact on a field or application.
Impact on research or the research community Resolves a long-standing issue, debate or critical question or questions. Contributes to resolving a long-standing issue, debate or critical question or questions. May contribute to resolving a long-standing issue or debate. Unlikely to affect a long-standing issue or debate.
Opens a new area of discovery or changes the direction of thought in a discipline or disciplines. Identifies a new area for discovery or challenges the direction of thought in a discipline or disciplines. May identify a new area for discovery or a direction to pursue to challenge the direction of thought in a discipline or disciplines. Unlikely to identify a new area for discovery or challenge the direction of thought in a discipline.
Could lead to ground-breaking advancements in the area and/or significant advancements in current knowledge, methods and/or technologies. Could lead to significant advancements in the area and/or advancements in current knowledge, methods and/or technologies. Is less likely to lead to advancements in the area and/or advancements of current knowledge, methods and/or technologies. Unlikely to lead to significant advancements in the area or in current knowledge, methods and/or technologies.
Other - - - The application did not adequately explain the value of the potential outcomes of the project.

Criterion: Feasibility

For information on how the rating scale is used in assessments, see Using the matrices.

While a focus on high risk may seem at odds with feasibility, risk must be related to the idea being proposed, and not to a lack of a concrete plan or inability to execute the activities. For the Feasibility criterion, the focus is not on the likelihood of success, but on the quality of the project plan and the team’s ability to execute it and to adapt to challenges inherent in high-risk research.

Note: The overall rating for the Feasibility criterion cannot be higher than the project’s rating in the EDI in research design and/or Indigenous research element, if applicable. For example, if a reviewer considers most of a project’s elements Very Good, but either its Indigenous research or EDI in research design Poor, the project’s overall rating for Feasibility cannot be higher than Poor.

A project’s feasibility can be defined by elements including, but not limited to, the following:

Exceptional Very Good Fair Poor
Objectives The proposed research project is clearly presented and its objectives are clearly defined. The proposed research project is presented adequately and its objectives are sufficiently described. The proposed research project lacks clarity. Objectives are minimally described. The proposed research project, as presented, lacks clarity. Objectives are not clearly described and/or there are concerns about the likelihood of being able to achieve them.
Building on current knowledge or prior art

The application demonstrates that the research team is aware of current and relevant research and prior art or knowledge.

The proposed research may challenge paradigms, but is built on sound principles.

The application demonstrates that the research team is aware of most current and relevant research, and prior art or knowledge.

Knowledge of some developments might be lacking, but this does not impact the feasibility of the proposed research.

 The application demonstrates that the research team lacks awareness of relevant research or prior art or knowledge in one aspect/discipline related to the project. The proposed project does not seem to take into account current and relevant research and prior art or knowledge (for example, proposing approaches that have been tested and failed).
Work plan The proposed work plan, including the methodological approach, is well described, reasonable and likely to be achievable within the proposed time frame. The proposed work plan, including the methodological approach, is described, reasonable and likely to be mostly achievable within the proposed time frame. The proposed work plan is reasonable. The methodological approach is lacking detail. The project objectives might be met within the proposed time frame. The proposed work plan is not reasonable/feasible. The methodological approach is missing or flawed. It is unlikely that the project objectives will be met within the proposed time frame.
Research team The application clearly demonstrates that the research team has the required expertise in all relevant disciplines to meet the objectives. The application demonstrates that the research team likely has the required expertise in all relevant disciplines to help meet the objectives. The application demonstrates that the research team has most of the required expertise to meet the objectives, although some aspects may be missing or insufficiently described. The application does not clearly demonstrate that the research team has all the required expertise to meet the objectives.
Resources The research team has acquired or has concrete plans to acquire the necessary resources to complete the work. All aspects have been described. The research team has acquired or has concrete plans to acquire the necessary resources to complete the work. Some aspects have not been well described. The application demonstrates that the research team has acquired or has concrete plans to acquire most of the resources to complete the work. Some aspects may be missing or insufficiently described. The application does not clearly demonstrate that the research team has acquired or has concrete plans to acquire the necessary resources to complete the work.
Equity, diversity and inclusion in research design (if applicable)* EDI in research design considerations have been integrated into the methodological approach (if applicable). The impact on the methodological approach and/or design has been clearly described. EDI in research design considerations have been integrated into the methodological approach (if applicable). The impact on the methodological approach and/or design has been described. EDI in research design considerations have been integrated (if applicable). The impact on the methodological approach or design has been described at a high level.

EDI in research design considerations apply to the project, although the applicant indicated that they do not.

EDI in research design considerations have not been integrated into methodological approach or design.

Indigenous research (if applicable)*

Refer to the SSHRC Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research

Co-creation, co-leadership and co-ownership with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals are clearly integrated in the project’s design. The project builds on established relationships.

The methodological approach and/or theoretical framework successfully incorporate(s) key considerations of SSHRC’s Merit Review of Indigenous Research. Attention to equitable processes and procedures for fair and respectful inclusion of Indigenous communities and their perspectives is evident.

 - -

Engagement and reciprocity with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals appear to be lacking or have not been described.

There is a lack of evidence that relationships have been established with the nations, communities, societies or individuals that are key to the proposed research, or that the research builds on those relationships.

Key considerations of SSHRC’s Merit Review of Indigenous Research have not been incorporated into the methodological approach and/or theoretical framework of the project.

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