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Research Support Fund

About the Program

The cost of research includes both direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs include maintaining the research space and libraries; cost of utilities for that space; management and administration of research, finances, regulatory requirements and compliance; and liability insurance amongst other costs. It is difficult to assign these indirect costs to specific projects since the costs are shared across projects.

The Research Support Fund (RSF) replaced the Indirect Cost Program (ICP) in April 2015. The transition of the Indirect Costs Program to the Research Support Fund is in response to the Economic Action Plan 2013, in which the government committed to examining the Indirect Costs Program, in consultation with the postsecondary sector, to ensure that the program was meeting its objective of reinforcing excellence in postsecondary research.

The Research Support Fund (RSF) is a Government of Canada funding program to assist Canadian post-secondary institutions in offsetting some of the indirect costs involved in administering the research funded by the three granting agencies:

The funds provided are to assist with expenses in five major categories:

  1. Research Facilities,
  2. Management & Administration,
  3. Research Resources,
  4. Regulatory Requirements and
  5. Intellectual Property.

For more information about the program and eligible expenses, please click on the links below.

RSF at Nipissing University

The value of Nipissing University’s Indirect Costs allocation varies from year to year and is based on a percentage of the university’s total funding received from the Federal Granting Agencies; SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR. The allocation is calculated using a three-year rolling average formula. For example, the 2013-2014 allocation is calculated by using the average of the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Federal funding awards for Nipissing University. The funds must be used between the period of April 1 and March 31 of every year. No carryover or deferral of funds is permitted.

Impact of the Research Support Fund at Nipissing University

The Research Support Fund is important to Nipissing University as it provides base level support for research activities conducted at the university. The following are examples of how funds from the program are used:

  • Support of Nipissing University’s regulatory compliance bodies such as the Research Ethics Board and Biosafety.
  • Support for research accounting services including financial audit costs, financial reporting and purchasing activities.
  • Contributions to operating costs for custodial, security, maintenance, utilities and other expenses required to maintain research facilities.
  • Support for grant management and administration including regulatory compliance.
  • Contributions to support the Technology Transfer office for effort in bringing research to commercialization and protection of Intellectual property.
  • Contributions to the management and administration of research services and facilities.

Investment story: Research film showcasing peatland restoration and carbon cycling in Northern Ontario

In 2024-25, Nipissing University directed a portion of its Research Support Fund (RSF) base grant toward enhancing research visibility and knowledge mobilization through professional storytelling. This investment supported production of a short documentary profiling Dr. Colin McCarter, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Climate and Environmental Change, whose work focuses on peatland restoration and carbon cycling in Northern Ontario.

Dr. McCarter was invited by the American Geophysical Union (AGU)—the world’s largest organization of Earth and space scientists—to feature his work in a five-minute documentary to be screened at its annual Fall Meeting, which attracts over 25,000 delegates worldwide. The opportunity offered global exposure for Nipissing’s environmental research strengths but came with a significant production cost. Recognizing the value of this high-profile platform, Nipissing used RSF funds to cover the cost and coordinate the project, aligning directly with RSF objectives related to the management and administration of the institution’s research enterprise.

The resulting film highlights Dr. McCarter and his team’s innovative approach to restoring contaminated peatlands in the Sudbury region, long impacted by metal pollution. His research team is adapting and testing the moss-layer transfer technique—a globally recognized Canadian restoration method—to rehabilitate peatlands damaged by industrial activity. The documentary weaves together field footage, lab work, and interviews with collaborators and industry partners, translating complex science into an accessible, visually compelling story.

This RSF-supported initiative produced multiple institutional benefits:

  • Enhanced research visibility: The film positioned NU on an international stage, reinforcing its role as a regional and national leader in environmental restoration research.
  • Administrative capacity-building: Managing the project strengthened the Office of Research and Innovation’s experience in coordinating externally produced media and knowledge mobilization initiatives, skills now transferable to future projects.
  • Researcher recognition and engagement: For an early-career researcher, this exposure was transformative—expanding professional networks, supporting future grant applications, and showcasing the societal relevance of his work.
  • Knowledge mobilization and outreach: Beyond the AGU conference, the film is now used in community events, teaching, and student recruitment, demonstrating the tangible impact of RSF investment on research communication.

This project exemplifies how the RSF sustains and strengthens research environments at smaller institutions. By providing flexible resources to manage and promote research activity, RSF funding enables universities like Nipissing to amplify their research profile, seize high-impact opportunities, and ensure that Canadian research is seen, understood, and valued both locally and globally.

Institutional Objectives

The institutional objectives represent the expected use of the Research Support Fund for the forthcoming year. The actual expenses may vary from expectation due to the inherent variability in forecasting future expenses.

 

Annual Statements of Account

Each annual statement of account provides a final breakdown of the indirect costs covered by the Research Support Fund for that fiscal year. The external administrators of the Research Support Fund use these reports to assess Nipissing University's ongoing compliance with their funding guidelines. The five prior years are provided below.

 

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