NOTICE – The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) was established on June 1, 2024, in accordance with the Act to amend the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation with respect to research. The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) have since been regrouped into the new FRQ, which continues their existence. The rights and obligations of the FRQNT, FRQS and FRQSC have become those of the FRQ; activities continue as usual.

Please note that if you come across an old name or logo of one of the Fonds de recherche du Québec in the program rules or on the website, it should now read as follows:

  • The FRQNT becomes the Nature et technologies sector;
  • The FRQS becomes the Santé sector;
  • The FRQSC becomes the Société et culture sector.

Thank you for your understanding.

This page informs you of the measures taken by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to their programs, the management of scholarships and grants, monitoring reports and other elements.

Press releases

General Information

ASSESSMENT OF FUNDING REQUESTS

You will be able to describe in your funding application the impacts that the circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic may have had on your research or training activities, so that this information can be taken into account in the evaluation of your application.

Please note that there is no longer a specific section in funding applications for reporting on the impacts of the pandemic. These can now be described in the section dealing with interruptions and slowdowns. For further information, please consult the guidelines on interruptions and slowdowns.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS (grants, payments, validity period)

The payment schedule scheduled from April 1, 2020 is maintained for all scholarships and grants that are supported by the FRQ for the current year and for subsequent years.

  • The provisions of the Common General Rules continue to apply with regard to the end of grants period. The end date of the grants remains March 31, 2020. However, if an additional year to spend is necessary in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial services of the establishments may request it directly in the electronic financial report. 2019-2020, from the “Use of balance” drop-down menu. An automatic extension will then be granted.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

  • Electronic financial reports will be accessible by FRQnet on April 20, 2020 as planned. The deadline for electronic financial reports – initially June 30, 2020 – has been extended to September 30, 2020. The impact of the pandemic on declared expenditure can be described there.

FINAL REPORTS AND INTERNSHIP REPORTS

  • The deadlines for these reports, set between March and June depending on the programs, are unilaterally extended to next fall, i.e. no later than September 30, 2020. More targeted communications will be sent shortly to the holders of the grants concerned.

UPDATE OF TEAM COMPOSITIONS AND RESEARCH GROUPINGS

  • FRQnet monitoring reports are expected by September 30, 2020 for all FRQ programs including the NT-SC strategic groups (except for the FRQS Research Centers).

TRAVELLING EXPENSES

  • In the event of travel cancellation due to the pandemic, reimbursement of non-refundable travel expenses from grants is possible for eligible expenses in the Common General Rules.

Fund Programs

View the PDF documents below summarizing changes to timelines or program terms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.