CALLS FOR PROPOSALS

KHEOPS launches calls for proposals related to sustainable governance and to valuation of large infrastructure projects. The research covers three areas: energy and natural resources, transportation and built environment.

KHEOPS KNOWLEDGE SYNTHESIS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Call for Proposal

Summary
Deadline for submitting applications	November 21, 2021, 5 p.m.
Amount	$25,000
Duration of funding	1 year
Announcement of results	Week of December 6, 2021

KHEOPS is an international research consortium that supports the development of knowledge on the governance and management of large infrastructure projects within a broader conceptual framework. By suggesting that we think differently about the value of large projects, KHEOPS seeks to combine multidisciplinary, multisector expertise in order to attach a social dimension to research carried out in this field. Its mission includes supporting decision-making by key infrastructure development stakeholders in Quebec and Canada.

1. Program description and objectives

This program is open to KHEOPS researchers in all disciplines of humanities and social sciences, arts and letters, health sciences, natural sciences and engineering.

The program will fund the execution of a knowledge synthesis carried out in partnership between academia and the world of practice. In so doing, the program is intended to stimulate research, ideally by enabling collaborations among researchers in different disciplines. It is also designed to support decision-making and the definition of new practices. Ultimately, the knowledge attained will be used to develop effective tools, solid policies and sustainable practices in response to the needs of players in the large infrastructure project ecosystem in Quebec and Canada.

More specifically, the program’s objectives are to:

Stimulate interdisciplinary research on large infrastructure project governance, highlighting the main gaps in current knowledge and contributing to the definition of future research priorities;
Foster partnership research in order to define the needs of non-academic partners in Quebec and Canada, mobilize knowledge and facilitate knowledge transfer to the practice environment;
Promote the use of solid evidence in decision-making and the application of best practices;
Contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel by allowing for the recruitment of students and postdoctoral fellows.

2. Value and duration of the grant

Duration of project: 1 year

Value of the grant: maximum $25,000

3. Eligibility

In order to be eligible, an application must be complete:

The application form must be duly completed, including acceptance of the explanation of the conditions regarding intellectual property by the principal investigator. All the requested documentation must be attached with the form and the entire package must be sent to the email address indicated.

The synthesis project must:

Be directed by a principal or associate researcher of KHEOPS. Note: co-investigators may be members of other research units;
Work on one of the KHEOPS research program’s two main areas;
Investigate one of the KHEOPS research program’s three areas of interest: built environment, transportation, and energy and natural resources;
Include at least one non-academic partner from a public-sector, private-sector, third-sector or non-governmental organization in Quebec or another Canadian province. The partner will participate in all stages of the project through relevant activities;
Report on knowledge emerging from research work conducted over the last ten years:
- Assessing the quality, rigour and relevance of the work and identifying strengths, weaknesses and controversies;
- Identifying the most promising policies and practices;
- Defining research avenues to be explored.

The synthesis project may:

Take different forms or approaches (systematic review, realist synthesis, narrative synthesis, meta-analysis, metasynthesis, etc.);
Include qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies;
Include international comparisons and case studies, while shedding light on the strategic issues facing Quebec and Canada;
Allow for collaboration with one or more non-academic partners located outside Canada, provided that one or more non-academic partners in Quebec or another Canadian province participate in the project.

4. Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee based on the following criteria.

Criteria and indicators	Weighting
I. Scientific quality of the project
The passing score for this criterion is 80%
Clarity of the research question, relevance of the theoretical approach and precision of the objectives pursued	15 points
Relevance, rigour and justification of the methodological approach	15 points
Realism of the budget and schedule	10 points
Originality and contribution to the advancement of knowledge	10 points
Total	50 points
II. Team
Quality of the scientific team’s experience and achievements (transfer activities, communications, conferences, student supervision, publications, grants, etc.)	10 points
Team’s complementarity and added value (multidisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, international collaboration, partnership, parity, inclusion, equity, etc.)	5 points
Discussions, collaboration, co-construction and level of involvement of non-academic partners	5 points
Total	20 points
III. Anticipated benefits and knowledge mobilization strategy
Quality and relevance of the knowledge mobilization plan including dissemination and transfer for knowledge appropriation by different user audiences (proposed tools, target audiences)	10 points
Potential benefits for non-academic partners	5 points
Expected benefits for policies and practices	5 points
Total	20 points
IV. Training
Integration of students and postdoctoral fellows in the project	5 points
Diversity of proposed project activities to train students in research and variety of anticipated duties and responsibilities	5 points
Total	10 points

5. Submitting an application

To submit an application, please complete the form and attach the necessary documents in PDF format.

To access the form and list of documents

Send your complete package (form and documentation in PDF format) to

concours@kheops.ca

By November 21, 2021, 5 p.m.

6. Expected post-financing deliverables

All researchers who receive a grant must:

Write a progress report – maximum 2 pages:

This report will be sent to KHEOPS six months after the start of the project (as indicated in the proposed schedule). The report will describe the progression of the work (what remains to be done in relation to the anticipated estimates) and any changes in the initial estimates. It will also report on the use of the funds granted (expenditures and commitments).

Write a research report using the KHEOPS report template, which will be provided:

This report must present the highlights, background, theoretical approach and method, a discussion of results, a reference list and a set of recommendations. A copy of this report will be sent to KHEOPS, which will make it accessible to the public on its website.

Issue a short administrative report:

This report must be sent to KHEOPS a maximum of two months after the end of the project (as indicated in the proposed schedule). It will include:

A justification of the budget expenditures;

Note: Unused funds from the grant will be returned to KHEOPS.

A list of all outputs related to the grant (provide KHEOPS with a copy):
- Publications and scientific communications (completed and planned)
- Knowledge mobilization and transfer activities to the practice world (completed and planned)
A list of students and postdoctoral fellows hired, their involvement or their mandate;
The anticipated next steps related to the funded project, if applicable.
Participate (in person or virtually, if applicable) in one seminar, conference or other knowledge mobilization activity organized by KHEOPS following the awarding of the grant:

The activity will promote the results of the research with the KHEOPS community and more broadly among other knowledge users. The format of the activity remains to be determined; however, candidates for a grant must include travel expenses for a half-day activity in Montreal in the budget submitted with their application. If the activity ultimately takes place virtually, the money reserved for travel may be reallocated.

7. Payments of financial assistance

The financial assistance will be paid in three instalments:

$15,000 following acceptance of the project;
$5,000 following receipt of the progress report;
$5,000 following acceptance of the research report and the administrative report.

8. Mention of financial assistance received

Any report, article, publication or communication resulting from the financial assistance granted must mention the financial support from KHEOPS – International Research Consortium on the Governance of Large Infrastructure Projects.

Download the call for proposals

For more information about this program, please contact Alexandra Prohet prohet.alexandra@kheops.ca