Deadline: 3-Sep-2020
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has announced a call for proposals for Knowledge Synthesis Grants Program for Skills and Work in the Digital Economy.
Digital technologies are transforming the economy and revolutionizing the nature of work. Workers, employers and policy-makers are confronting new challenges and opportunities as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), block chain, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and 3D printing are disrupting value chains and global markets.
Working in the Digital Economy is one of the 16 global future challenges identified through SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative. These complex issues were identified following an extensive foresight exercise and reflect key challenges that Canada is likely to face over the coming decades. All of the challenges cross multiple sectors and research disciplines, and require broad collaboration to address. Working in the Digital Economy is also a major focus for Canada’s new Future Skills Centre, a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to preparing Canadians for employment success and meeting the emerging talent needs of employers.
Knowledge Synthesis Grants support researchers in producing knowledge synthesis reports and evidence briefs that:
- support the use of evidence in decision-making and the application of best practices; and
- assist in developing future research agendas.
Applicants must address the following three objectives in their proposals:
- State of knowledge, strengths and gaps
- critically assess the state of knowledge of the future challenge theme under consideration from a variety of sources, as appropriate;
- identify knowledge strengths and gaps within the theme; and
- identify the most promising policies and practices related to the theme.
- Research data
- assess the quality, accuracy and rigour (i.e., methodological approaches) of current work in the field; and
- identify strengths and gaps in the quantitative and qualitative data available.
- Knowledge mobilization
- engage cross-sectoral stakeholders (academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors) and/or First Nations, Métis and Inuit rights-holders throughout the project to mobilize knowledge related to promising policies and practices; and
- use effective knowledge mobilization methods to facilitate the sharing of research findings with cross-sectoral stakeholders and Indigenous rights-holders.
Funding Information
- Knowledge Synthesis Grants are valued at $30,000 for one year. Knowledge mobilization activities (that is, conference presentations and outreach activities) can take place throughout the year. All synthesis reports must be completed by June 2021 prior to the one-day forum. Up to 35 grants may be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria
- Grant funds may only be administered by an eligible Canadian institution.
- An individual (including postdoctoral researchers) is eligible to be a co-applicant if they are formally affiliated with any of the following:
- Canadian: Eligible postsecondary institution; not-for-profit organization; philanthropic foundation; think tank; or municipal, territorial or provincial government.
- International: Postsecondary institution.
- Any individual who makes a significant contribution to the project is eligible to be a collaborator. Collaborators do not need to be affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution.
- Individuals from the private sector or federal government can only participate as collaborators.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3fUKLUQ
