Research Support Fund

The Research Support Fund (RSF) helps Canadian universities cover a portion of the expenses incurred as a result of conducting Tri-Agency funded research and assists universities in maintaining world-class research environments.  Also known as the indirect costs of research, these expenses are not covered by the research grant itself and are not attributable to a specific research project but rather help to support the institutional research function, for example, the salary and benefits of the Office of Research Services Staff.  The Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) oversees and administers the Research Support Fund.

Value and Duration

The value of Brandon University’s Research Support Fund allocation varies from year to year and is based on a percentage of our total federal research funding received from the Tri-Agency (Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)) over three years. For example, 2021-2022 RSF funds received were based on a percentage of Tri-Agency funding received in fiscal years 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020. Research Support funding is awarded annually and must be spent in the fiscal year (April 1st to March 31st) that they are awarded. No carryover or deferral of funds is permitted.

Expenditure Areas

Institutions are able to spend their RSF allocations in a variety of ways within five major expenditure categories.  Below are the categories along with examples of how the institution uses the funding:

  1. Research Facilities:  utilities
  2. Research Resources:  Institutional memberships such as Community-Based Research Canada (CBR Can) and Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC)
  3. Management and Administration of the Institution’s Research Enterprise:  salary of members of Office of the Vice-President (Research & Graduate Studies) research administrative team, grants management software
  4. Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation:  regulatory committee support, biosafety cabinet certification, veterinary fees
  5. Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization:  Knowledge Mobilization Suite, contract administration

Brandon University Allocation of RSF Funds

The RSF is committed to ongoing institutional initiatives that support the research function on campus.  In any given year, where funding is available in excess of the ongoing commitments, the Vice-President (Research & graduate Studies) may seek requests for RSF from the Deans and Directors. Requests of this nature are made via the Deans and Directors to the Provost. Currently, Brandon University’s RSF support is allocated in the following ways:

  • ongoing initiatives supported annually; and
  • one-time initiatives.

Please note that RSF support is used strategically by the University to offset the indirect costs of maintaining and supporting the institutional research function. The University is at liberty to change the funding model or re-direct RSF support as it sees fit.

Brandon University Affiliated Institutions

  • Brandon University Centre for Applied Research and Education in Indigenous, Rural, and Remote Settings (BU CARES)
  • Brandon University Centre for Critical Studies of Rural Mental Health (CCSRMH)
  • Brandon University Rural Development Institute (RDI)