Renew a Chair

Universities can request to renew a Canada Research Chair or to advance a Tier 2 chairholder to a Tier 1 Chair.

A Tier 1 Chair, which can be renewed indefinitely, is eligible for renewal in its sixth year.

A Tier 2 Chair, which can be renewed only once, is eligible for renewal in its fourth year.

Once a university becomes eligible to renew a Chair, it has two consecutive nomination cycles to do so. If a university misses both cycle deadlines, it may no longer submit a renewal nomination, but may, if the nominee is eligible, submit a new nomination. Responsibility for any break in funding incurred by a failure to meet these deadlines shall be assumed by the university.

The value and duration of the awards remain as they were for the original appointments. As well, applications to renew a Chair undergo the same rigorous peer-review process used to evaluate the initial nominations.

Universities must ensure that renewal nominations are submitted under the appropriate agency chair allocation (NSERC: engineering and the natural sciences; CIHR: health sciences; SSHRC: social sciences and humanities).  Complete guidelines on selecting the appropriate agency allocation for Canada Research Chairs nominations are available at www.science.gc.ca. 

Universities will be asked to change the agency allocation of a nomination in cases where the proposed research is deemed to be within the mandate of a different agency, and may be required to use the corridor of flexibility to change the allocation if necessary.

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, universities should develop a succession plan for their Tier 2 Chairs.

Schedule of Final Renewal Submission Dates
Eligibility of chairholders for renewal
Selection criteria for renewals
Request for infrastructure support from CFI
Process to request the renewal of a Chair
Emerging negative decision

SCHEDULE OF FINAL RENEWAL SUBMISSION DATES

The dates above indicate the last possible submission date for renewal nominations. If a university misses the last possible cycle deadline to submit a renewal, it may no longer submit a renewal nomination, but may, if the nominee is eligible, submit a new nomination. Responsibility for any break in funding incurred by a failure to meet these deadlines shall be assumed by the university.

Eligibility of chairholders for renewal

For the purposes of this program, "renewal of a Chair" refers to a university nominating a current Canada Research Chair to continue for an additional term in the same position at the same institution.

Please note that the following are not considered renewals, but rather new nominations:

• nominating a Tier 2 chairholder to a Tier 1 Chair;
• nominating an individual to replace a current or former chairholder;
• nominating a chairholder at one institution to a Chair at another institution.

Also note that:

• To be renewed, chairholders must still be full-time faculty members at the nominating institution.
• Universities cannot renew the Chair of an individual who has retired.
• If a researcher resigns from a Tier 2 Chair position at one university and accepts a Tier 2 Chair at another university, he or she cannot be nominated for a third term, regardless of the number of years in the initial term.
• The program does not allow resubmissions of unsuccessful applications for renewals.
• A Tier 2 justification is not required for Tier 2 renewal nominations.

Selection criteria for renewals

The Chairs program is founded upon an uncompromising commitment to excellence in research and research training. This applies as much to applications for renewals as it does to initial nominations.

Accordingly, as for the original nominations, reviewers will assess all requests for renewal against the following two criteria:

1. quality of the chairholder and of his or her proposed program of research;
2. quality of the institutional environment, institutional commitment and fit of the proposed Chair with the university's strategic research plan.

In addition, the renewal nomination form must include a performance report that clearly demonstrates how the chairholder has achieved the objectives set out in the original nomination, that they have upheld the standards of excellence of the program, and what the added value has been of holding a Canada Research Chair. This report forms part of the documentation that reviewers will assess in order to arrive at a recommendation for the Steering Committee.

Tier 1 renewals

In applying to renew a Tier 1 Chair, the university must clearly demonstrate that the Chair:

• continues to distinguish him/herself as an outstanding, world-class researcher;
• has successfully attracted, and continues to attract, excellent trainees, students and future researchers to the university or affiliated institute;
• is proposing an original and innovative program of research of the highest quality; and
• is carrying out a program of research that is producing leading-edge results which are making a significant impact at the international level.

Tier 2 renewals

In applying to renew a Tier 2 Chair, the university must clearly demonstrate that the Chair:

• is developing into an outstanding, original and creative researcher of world-class calibre and is poised to become a leader in his or her field;
• has successfully attracted, and will continue to attract, trainees, students and future researchers to the university or affiliated institute;
• is proposing an original and innovative program of research of high quality; and
• is carrying out a program of research that is producing important results which are making a significant impact in the field.

Institutional environment

The university must describe how the Chair will continue to function in, and contribute to, the institutional environment.

Institutional commitment

The university must demonstrate its institutional commitment to continue to provide the Chair with the support he or she needs.

Strategic research plan

The university must demonstrate how the Chair will contribute to the university's strategic research plan, including, as applicable, the implementation of the plan at any affiliated hospitals or research institutes.

Request for infrastructure support from CFI

Universities may include a request for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Leaders Opportunity Fund when they apply to renew a Canada Research Chair.

To apply for infrastructure funding, use the Canada Research Chair nomination form.

Process to request the renewal of a Chair

1	If applicable, submit updated strategic research plan and summary	Instructions
2	Submit updated curriculum vitae for chairholder	Preview form (27.4 KB) Chairholder (nominee) login and detailed instructions
3	Submit renewal form (including updated curriculum vitae and CFI request)	Preview forms (230 KB) Guidelines-Letters of Reference University login and detailed instructions Chairholder (nominee) login and detailed instructions Also submit one copy of all forms, postmarked by midnight of the deadline date, to the Secretariat.

Emerging negative decision

Renewal nominations that are not recommended for support by the Interdisciplinary Adjudication Committee are automatically entered into the Emerging Negative Decision (END) process. For these nominations, the university is sent a synopsis of IAC’s concerns and the College of Reviewers’ reports. The university must address the concerns outlined by the peer reviewers in a two-page maximum report (appendices are not permitted) by the deadline provided by the Secretariat.

At its subsequent meeting, IAC reviews the original renewal nomination and the supplementary information provided by the university, and makes a final funding recommendation to the Steering Committee. If the university fails to provide a report by the deadline provided, the nomination is automatically sent to the Steering Committee with a recommendation to not fund the nomination.

Break in funding

If the chairholder’s term ends before the final decision on the 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 chairholder’s end date. However, the university is temporarily responsible for the costs of salary and research for the period between the chairholder’s end date and the notification of decision.

Should the final funding decision be unfavourable, the university will not be reimbursed for the payments made to the chairholder after his or her end date. However, in accordance with the program’s allowed six-month phase-out period, the payment of outstanding commitments from the funds remaining in the Chair's account may continue.

Please note that during the period between the chairholder’s end date and the notification of decision, the chairholder may continue to use his or her Canada Research Chair title.

More information

General inquiries:
Canada Research Chairs Secretariat
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON K1P 6G4
Tel: 613-943-3087
Fax: 613-943-3282
Email: information@chairs-chaires.gc.ca

Inquiries about equity:
Louise-Michelle Verrier
Manager, Policies, Planning and Performance
Tel: 613-995-3236
Email: louise-michelle.verrier@chairs-chaires.gc.ca