Overview
For the purposes of the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP), "renewal of a chair" refers to the one-time continuation of a current chairholder in the same position at the same institution for one additional term.
The following are not considered renewals, but rather new nominations:
- nomination of a Tier 2 chairholder to a Tier 1 Chair;
- nomination of an individual to replace a current or former chairholder;
- nomination of a chairholder who has completed his or her first term at one institution
to a Canada Research Chair at another institution for a second term; and
- nomination of a current chairholder who has missed their final renewal submission
date.
Institutions can request to renew both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Chairs.
Tier 1 Chairs:
- can be renewed only once, for a maximum of two seven-year terms; and
- are eligible for renewal in their sixth year.
Tier 2 Chairs:
- can be renewed only once, for a maximum of two five-year terms; and
- are eligible for renewal in their fourth year.
Renewal nominations for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Chairs must be submitted at least
six months prior to the end date of the chairholder’s term. See Missed Renewal Nomination Deadline for details.
Note: Tier 2 Chairs are not meant to be a feeder group to Tier 1 Chairs. The intent of Tier 2 Chairs is to provide emerging researchers with support
that will kick-start their careers. As part of their strategic considerations in managing their allocations, institutions should develop a succession plan for their Tier 2 Chairs.
Renewal Nomination Process
The process for renewing a Canada Research Chair is the same as that for new nominations,
except that renewal nominations require the inclusion of a six-page progress report.
Please refer to Nominate a Chair for complete details on the nomination process, including: guidelines and deadlines for letters of reference and
CV
updates; agency allocations; requests for infrastructure support; and nominating an active Tier 2 chairholder to a Tier 1 Chair.
Eligibility for Renewal
To be renewed, a chairholder must currently be a full-time faculty member at the
nominating institution. Institutions cannot renew the Chair of a researcher who
is working part time or who has retired.
Once a Tier 1 Chair has held the position for two terms, he or she cannot be nominated
as a new Tier 1 Chair at the same or another institution, regardless of the number
of years completed in the second term. In the same way, a Tier 2 Chair who has held
the position for two terms cannot be nominated as a new Tier 2 Chair at the same
or another institution, regardless of the number of years completed in the second
term.
The
CRCP
does not allow for the resubmission of unsuccessful renewal applications.
A Tier 2 justification
is not required for a Tier 2 renewal nomination.
Third-term nominations
Tier 2 Chairs cannot be renewed for a third term. If a researcher resigns from a
Chair position during their first term at one institution and accepts a Chair
at another, this is still considered their second term and not a new first
term.
Tier 1 Chairs cannot be renewed for a third term except in rare exceptional circumstances.
In these cases only, institutions may put forward third-term nominations, but
are responsible to publicly demonstrate the exceptional nature of the nomination.
Exceptions to this renewal limit will only be permitted for institutions meeting
their equity and diversity targets for all four designated groups, or in cases where
renewing a Tier 1 Chair for a third term contributes to meeting or sustaining these
targets.
In addition, in keeping with the principles of openness and transparency, at least
six months prior to submitting a Tier 1 Chair renewal for a third term, institutions
must post a transparency statement on their public accountability and transparency web pages. Institutions must:
- explain their intention to exceptionally renew an individual for a third term;
- include a detailed justification explaining why the individual is being exceptionally nominated for a third term;
- provide the name and contact information of an individual at the institution who can respond to questions or concerns regarding the renewal nomination;
- keep the statement public for at least 30 days, to provide enough time for discussion at the institutional level;
- provide
TIPS
with a link to the public statement the same day it is published;
- at the time of nomination, email a PDF of the posting, clearly identifying the nomination to which it refers; and
- archive all transparency statements so that they are publicly available on institutions’ web pages for a minimum of three years.
Institutional Criteria for Renewals
To ensure openness and transparency with their current chairholders, institutions must establish clear criteria to determine whether a Chair will be nominated for renewal, and communicate these criteria to chairholders at the beginning and during their terms, as needed.
See the Requirements for Recruiting and Nominating Canada Research Chairs for more information.
Value and Duration of Renewed Chairs
The value and duration of renewed chairs are the same as for original appointments. See Value and Duration under Nominate a Chair for details.
Peer Reviewers Process and Selection Criteria
Renewal nominations, like new nominations, follow
CRCP’s peer review process,
which is governed by the College of Reviewers and the Interdisciplinary Adjudication Committee.
Reviewers assess renewal nominations against the following evaluation criteria:
- quality of the chairholder and the proposed research program; and
- quality of the institutional environment, institutional commitment, and fit of the proposed chair with the institution's strategic research plan.
The chart below provides a breakdown of these criteria.
In addition, the renewal nomination form includes a performance report
that requires the institution to clearly demonstrate how the chairholder has achieved
the objectives set out in the original nomination; that the chairholder has upheld
the program's standards of excellence; and what the added value has been of holding
a Canada Research Chair at the institution.
1. Quality of the chairholder and the proposed research program
| Tier 1 renewals |
Tier 2 renewals |
In applying to renew a Tier 1 Chair, the institution must clearly demonstrate that
the chairholder:
- continues to distinguish themself as an outstanding, world-class researcher;
- has successfully attracted, developed and retained—and continues to attract, develop
and retain—excellent trainees and students to the postsecondary institution or affiliated
institute;
- is proposing an original and innovative research program of the highest quality;
and
- is carrying out a research program that is producing leading-edge results that are
making a significant impact at the international level.
|
In applying to renew a Tier 2 Chair, the institution must clearly demonstrate that
the chairholder:
- is developing into an outstanding researcher of world-class calibre and is poised
to become a leader in their field;
- has successfully attracted, developed and retained—and will continue to attract,
develop and retain—excellent trainees and students to the postsecondary institution
or affiliated institute;
- is carrying out a research program that is producing important results that are
making a significant impact in the field; and
- is proposing an original, innovative and high-quality research program.
|
2. Quality of the institutional environment, institutional commitment, and fit of
the proposed chair with the institution's strategic research plan
Institutional environment
The institution must describe the quality of the environment that the chair will
continue to function in and contribute to, including opportunities for collaboration
with other researchers working in the same or related areas at the institution,
in the same region, within Canada and abroad.
|
Institutional commitment
The institution must demonstrate that it and any affiliated institutions, hospitals,
institutes (as applicable) will continue to provide chairholders with the support
they need to ensure the success of their work, such as protected time for research
(e.g., release from teaching or administrative duties), time for mentoring (if applicable),
additional funds, office space, administrative support, and hiring of other faculty
members.
|
Fit with strategic research plan
The institution is required to demonstrate the fit of the proposed Chair with the
institution’s strategic research plan and the importance of the proposed chair to the
attainment of the institution’s objectives.
|
Deferred Recommendation Process
Renewal nominations not recommended for support by the Interdisciplinary Adjudication
Committee are automatically entered into the Deferred Recommendation Process.
Break in Funding: Conditional Awards
In cases where a renewal nomination is sent to the Deferred Recommendation Process and the chairholder’s term ends before the final decision
on a renewal nomination is made, a conditional award is placed on the nomination.
Should the final decision be to approve the renewal of the Chair,
the start date of the award will be the first day of the month following the end
date of the chairholder’s previous term. However, the institution is temporarily
responsible for the costs of salary and research expenses in the period between
the end date of the original term and notification of the renewal nomination decision.
Should the final funding decision be unfavourable, the institution
will not be reimbursed for payments made to the chairholder after their end
date. However, in accordance with the CRCP’s allowed six-month phase-out period, the payment of outstanding commitments from the funds
remaining in the chairholder’s account may continue.
Resubmissions
The
CRCP
does not allow the resubmission of renewal nominations that are not recommended for support.
Renewal Nomination Deadlines
Renewal nominations must be submitted by the following deadlines below, or by the deadline immediately preceding the date:
All renewal nominations must be submitted through the Convergence Portal by the relevant nomination deadline. Nominations received after the deadline will be withdrawn from the cycle. Please see the summary of nomination process table to ensure the nomination is complete.
Note: The institution shall assume responsibility for any break in funding incurred by a failure
to meet one of the relevant renewal nomination deadlines. See Break in Funding above for more information.
| Chair end dates |
Renewal nomination deadlines |
CV update deadlines |
Anticipated decision dates |
Anticipated public announcements of chairs awarded
(subject to change) |
| September 30, 2022 |
April 19, 2022 |
September 23, 2022 |
October 2022 |
Spring 2023 |
| October 31, 2022 |
| November 30, 2022 |
| December 31, 2022 |
| January 31, 2023 |
| February 28, 2023 |
| March 31, 2023 |
October 18, 2022 |
March 24, 2023 |
April 2023 |
Fall 2023 |
| April 30, 2023 |
| May 31, 2023 |
| June 30, 2023 |
| July 31, 2023 |
| August 31, 2023 |
| September 30, 2023 |
April 18, 2023 |
September 22, 2023 |
October 2023 |
Spring 2024 |
| October 31, 2023 |
| November 30, 2023 |
| December 31, 2023 |
| January 31, 2024 |
| February 29, 2024 |
| March 31, 2024 |
October 17, 2023 |
March 22, 2024 |
April 2024 |
Fall 2024 |
| April 30, 2024 |
| May 31, 2024 |
| June 30, 2024 |
| July 31, 2024 |
| August 31, 2024 |
| September 30, 2024 |
April 16, 2024 |
September 20, 2024 |
October 2024 |
Spring 2025 |
| October 31, 2024 |
| November 30, 2024 |
| December 31, 2024 |
| January 31, 2025 |
| February 28, 2025 |
| March 31, 2025 |
October 22, 2024 |
March 21, 2025 |
April 2025 |
Fall 2025 |
| April 30, 2025 |
| May 31, 2025 |
| June 30, 2025 |
| July 31, 2025 |
| August 31, 2025 |
| September 30, 2025 |
April 22, 2025 |
September 19, 2025 |
October 2025 |
Spring 2026 |
| October 31, 2025 |
| November 30, 2025 |
| December 31, 2025 |
| January 31, 2026 |
| February 28, 2026 |
| March 31, 2026 |
October 21, 2025 |
March 20, 2026 |
April 2026 |
Fall 2026 |
| April 30, 2026 |
| May 31, 2026 |
| June 30, 2026 |
| July 31, 2026 |
| August 31, 2026 |
| September 30, 2026 |
April 21, 2026 |
September 18, 2026 |
October 2026 |
Spring 2027 |
| October 31, 2026 |
| November 30, 2026 |
| December 31, 2026 |
| January 31, 2027 |
| February 28, 2027 |
| March 31, 2027 |
October 20, 2026 |
March 19, 2027 |
April 2027 |
Fall 2027 |
| April 30, 2027 |
| May 31, 2027 |
| June 30, 2027 |
| July 31, 2027 |
| August 31, 2027 |
| September 30, 2027 |
April 20, 2027 |
September 17, 2027 |
October 2027 |
Spring 2028 |
| October 31, 2027 |
| November 30, 2027 |
| December 31, 2027 |
| January 31, 2028 |
| February 29, 2028 |
| March 31, 2028 |
October 19, 2027 |
March 17, 2028 |
April 2028 |
Fall 2028 |
| April 30, 2028 |
| May 31, 2028 |
| June 30, 2028 |
| July 31, 2028 |
| August 31, 2028 |
| September 30, 2028 |
April 18, 2028 |
September 22, 2028 |
October 2028 |
Spring 2029 |
| October 31, 2028 |
| November 30, 2028 |
| December 31, 2028 |
| January 31, 2029 |
| February 28, 2029 |
| March 31, 2029 |
October 17, 2028 |
March 16, 2029 |
April 2029 |
Fall 2029 |
| April 30, 2029 |
| May 31, 2029 |
| June 30, 2029 |
| July 31, 2029 |
| August 31, 2029 |
| September 30, 2029 |
April 17, 2029 |
September 21, 2029 |
October 2029 |
Spring 2030 |
| October 31, 2029 |
| November 30, 2029 |
| December 31, 2029 |
| January 31, 2030 |
| February 28, 2030 |
Missed Renewal Nomination Deadline
Institutions are responsible for ensuring that renewal nominations are submitted
by the last possible renewal nomination deadline, relative to the Chair’s
end date.
If an institution misses the last possible renewal nomination deadline to which
they are eligible to apply, it may no longer submit a renewal nomination; however,
if the nominee is eligible, the institution may submit a new nomination for the chair in question. Note
that, if the new nomination is successful, it would not be eligible for renewal.
A renewal nomination submitted as a new nomination because the institution missed
the last possible renewal nomination deadline will be sent to the
Deferred Recommendation Process in the case of a negative decision.
Note: In the case of a negative decision on a nomination submitted
as a new nomination due to the institution having missed the relevant renewal nomination
deadline(s), the nomination cannot be resubmitted. The
CRCP
does not
allow the resubmission of renewal nominations that are not recommended for support.
Interim Use of Canada Research Chairs Title
In the period between the end date of the original Chair position and notification
of the renewal nomination decision, the chairholder may continue to use their
Canada Research Chair title.
Summary of Renewal Nomination Process
Institutions are responsible for ensuring all submissions meet the program’s specifications, as outlined both on the program’s website and in the instructions. Pages or information beyond the limits outlined in the specifications will be removed before the nomination is peer reviewed.
1 |
Institution ensures that strategic research plan and summary are up to date |
|
2 |
Institution creates renewal and invites chairholder via the Convergence platform |
|
3 |
Institution invites referees to upload letters of reference to Convergence
In Convergence, nominee completes the self-identification and CV
Nominee and institution, in collaboration, complete the related renewal documents
Nominee and/or institution completes Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) requests, if applicable, via CFI’s online forms
|
|
4 |
Institution validates content, and senior official submits full renewal via Convergence
Note: Presentation specifications and page limits are indicated in the nomination and CV instructions. The CFI infrastructure support request, if applicable, will be appended to the nomination by program staff
|
|
5 |
For third-term Tier 1 Chair renewals only, institutions must upload the transparency statement
Tier 1 Chairs cannot be renewed for a third term except in rare exceptional circumstances. In these cases only, institutions may put forward third-term nominations, but must publicly demonstrate the exceptional nature of the nomination
|
- For those exceptional cases in which a third-term renewal at the Tier 1 level is considered, the institution must contact the CRC program in advance. See the program website for additional information and requirements
|
6 |
Institution submits CV update, if applicable, via email
|
- If applicable, the institution’s research office may send supplemental information strictly limited to updates regarding publications and research support to TIPS as an email attachment (PDF)
|
7 |
Institution submits updated chairholder profile
|
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More Information