Competitions and financial support

Support for inter-group projects
Amount: $10,000 ($5,000 per cluster/2 minimum) – Enhanced according to the number of clusters involved
Deadline: October 2, 2023

COPL is joining forces with CQMF, INTRIQ, ReSMiQ, RQMP and STARacom to launch a financial support program designed to stimulate projects involving several strategic clusters.

Two categories of projects can be supported by this program: 1) Application-oriented projects; 2) Fundamental research projects.

Co-Principal Investigators must indicate to which category their project belongs in the application form. The evaluators will take this into account by applying different criteria according to the type of project (see list of evaluation criteria).

Project eligibility criteria

• The principal applicant must be a co-investigator affiliated with one of the strategic cluster participating in this program.
• The official composition of the team presented in the funding application must include at least two (2) co-investigators belonging to distinct strategic cluster, including the principal applicant of one or other of the cluster involved.
• The minimum number of groups represented by the affiliations of the co-investigators working on the project must be two (2).
• Team members may also include collaborators. However, their affiliation cannot be used to calculate the number of strategic cluster represented in the application.
• Co-investigators may only be included in the official composition of a single application.
• Teams receiving funding must submit a detailed breakdown of the amount received, in accordance with FRQNT rules.
• Researchers belonging to several clusters must participate by choosing a single affiliation (the most relevant to the project presented).

Evaluation criteria

1. Project work plan (10/50): the project must have a clear and coherent work plan demonstrating a high probability of achieving the objectives within the proposed timeframe.

2. Team composition and scientific merit (10/50): the composition of the team must include researchers whose affiliation favors the greatest possible diversity in terms of participating group and competence. The project must be scientifically sound and generate new knowledge or apply existing knowledge in an innovative way.

3. Research competence (10/50): the research team must have the necessary expertise to meet the defined objectives and bring the project to fruition. Academic expertise can be complemented by the know-how of potential industrial partners.

4a. Expected spin-offs and impacts (10/50): the proposal should indicate how the research work will benefit the economy, health, the environment or other users within a reasonable timeframe. A tangible impact must be demonstrated, as well as the benefits in terms of the outreach of the participating groups. The participation of industrial partners will be taken into account. The proposal must explain how the support obtained from the clusters will make it possible to apply for an appropriate grant from NSERC, FRQNT or any other funding agency.

4b. Scientific challenge (10/50): the proposal must highlight the fundamental aspect of the research or proof of concept, the scientific advances the project is expected to make and their impact.

5. Contribution to the training of highly qualified personnel (10/50): the proposal should highlight the research training of the students who will be involved in the project.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applied research projects (category 1) will be evaluated according to criteria 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 5; Fundamental research projects (category 2) will be evaluated according to criteria 1, 2, 3, 4b, and 5.

For more information on this support program and to find the application form, visit the official ReSMiQ competition page and contact Eric Legua(eric.legua@resmiq.org).

Student co-supervision scholarships
Amount: $5000
Deadline: No calls for the moment 

Mobility between member institutions of the cluster stimulates interdisciplinary knowledge and cross-disciplinary applications. Co-direction grants are the means favoured by COPL to encourage this complementarity of expertise.

For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, two $5000 scholarships are available.

COPL faculty members have until June 1, 2023 to nominate a student.

How to apply?

To be eligible, the student must be co-supervised by two COPL members from two different academic institutions.

The application must consist of a project description of no more than one page, a CV of no more than two pages and a letter from the principal supervisor.

Evaluation criteria:

• Student excellence: publication record, accomplishments, scholarship
• Leadership, social involvement, professional development activities
• Structuring character of the co-direction within the COPL

To submit your application or if you have any questions, please write to us at copl@copl.ulaval.ca

Support for online training activities
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: No calls for the moment 

The COPL wishes to encourage the development of online training tools and distance learning courses in order to share knowledge and best practices with stakeholders. To this end, COPL members (students, post-doctoral researchers, research professionals or professors) are invited to apply for funding for such training projects. The COPL offers support up to $5000 per project.

2 awards are available for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

How to apply?

The application for support must include a description of the project’s objectives, the pedagogical tools to be developed (deliverables), the target clientele, the team involved, a timeline and a budget. The request can be written in free format in a document not exceeding 5 pages.

Evaluation criteria:

OBJECTIVES
Are the objectives clearly stated? Are they compatible with the development of online learning tools and distance education courses?

DELIVERABLES
Does the project bring a new, original and sustainable contribution?

TARGET GROUP
Can the project’s scope be quantified? Will the learning tools benefit a large number of COPL students?

TEAM
Does the team have the resources to complete the project?

DEADLINE
Is the timetable realistic?

BUDGET
Is the intended use of the COPL contribution clearly explained?

To submit your application or if you have any questions, please write to us at copl@copl.ulaval.ca

Grant to strengthen your international collaborations
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: No calls for the moment

International initiatives aimed at strengthening collaborations are part of COPL’s development priorities. By supporting the networking of its members in international research communities, it contributes to the deployment and consolidation of Quebec’s expertise in optics-photonics beyond its borders.

For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, two scholarships, each of up to $5,000, are available to its members.

To take advantage of the financial support, we invite regular member professors to submit an application for support by June 1, 2023.

Two main evaluation criteria:

• The overall objective and expected impact
• Planned co-publications or participation in conferences or workshops

How to apply?

The application is free-form, but must include the following information:

• First name, last name and home university of the principal applicant
• The first and last name of the student or researcher involved in the application
• The contact information of the international contact person at the institution
• The general objective and expected impact of the international collaboration project
  • Details on planned co-publications or participation in conferences or workshops, if any
  • Information on authors’ names, journals or conference titles, if applicable
• Assessment of expenses, i.e., use of budget (maximum amount awarded is $5,000)

To submit your application or if you have any questions, please write to us at copl@copl.ulaval.ca

2023 Tribute Award 
No calls for applications at this time

Eligibility
• The former student must have completed a master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral program under the direction of a COPL research professor.

Selection criteria
• The former student must have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the field of optics and photonics, either in the research community outside COPL or in the industry.

Submission of an application
• One page presentation of the application by a faculty member
• CV of the candidate
• Deadline: November 1, 2022
• Send to: copl@copl.ulaval.ca

Evaluation
• By the Executive Committee

Honour awarded
• Invitation to the Annual Conference
• Visibility within the network’s media
• Presentation of the honoree’s career
• 5-minute speech by the honoree
• Awarding of a plaque