Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

Software is embedded in nearly every aspect of modern research, yet finding dedicated resources to maintain, secure, and sustain it remains one of the biggest challenges facing research teams across Canada. The Research Software Maintenance Fund (RSMF) addresses this gap. It provides targeted funding to help teams keep the research software that Canadian researchers depend on every day reliable, secure, and sustainable for the long term.

There are 2 Phases to apply; invited applicants will be contacted to submit a full proposal.

What RSMF supports

Funded projects will focus on one or more of the following:

• Quality — Reducing technical debt, improving testing, documentation, and architecture

• Security — Strengthening security practices, especially for sensitive data environments

• Sovereignty & Sustainability — Supporting the use of Canadian infrastructure and ensuring long-term viability

• FAIR Practices — Advancing findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability

Funding Streams

Two funding streams are available through the Research Software Maintenance Fund.

• Small Maintenance Grants provide an Alliance contribution of up to $150,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months.

• Large Sustaining Grants provide an Alliance contribution of up to $500,000 for projects lasting up to 24 months.

Who Can Apply

• The lead applicant must be based at an eligible Canadian institution (university, research hospital, or not-for-profit organization)

• The software must be existing, actively used, and have users beyond the originating team

• The team must include at least one software developer with experience in code quality practices

• International collaborators may participate, but the project must demonstrate clear benefit to the Canadian research community

EOI application form

Note that in addition to the required information about the project, EOIs must include an official letter certifying the application and must be signed by the appropriate authorized institutional signatories as defined by the Applicant’s internal policies. The letter must:

• confirm your organization’s interest in participating in the program;

• confirm that the information provided is accurate;

• be submitted with the LOI. LOIs without a letter of certification will not be assessed.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this Intent to Apply (EOI/LOI/NOI) must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. If invited to full application, HSS and RIS reviews will again be mandatory.

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.