Funding Program for Intersectoral Research on Aging – Living Laboratories – 2025-2026

1. BACKGROUND

Since taking up his position in 2011, the Chief Scientist of Québec has encouraged the research community working for the well-being of an aging population to consider new research models and approaches involving all stakeholders in an effort to generate real benefits. The community’s reflections led to the creation of the Funding Program for Intersectoral Research on Aging (IRA Program), which is designed to provide a better understanding of aging and to address the needs of “successful aging” using a holistic perspective that goes beyond the deterioration of health in the elderly and puts greater focus on the complex and multidimensional nature of aging. The following priority themes were identified during a brainstorming session in 2017:

• Better understanding the cohort of seniors aged 85 and older;
• Viewing aging as a trajectory using a “life course” perspective;
• Preserving seniors’ individual and collective capacities on the short, medium and long terms;
• Aging in the digital age.

More than ever, these themes are complementary to the ministerial orientations of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS), which are set out in the new action plan for 2024-2029 relating to the policy Vivre et vieillir ensemble, chez soi, dans sa communauté, au Québec.

In terms of research needs, the focus is not only on health care, but also on living and working environments, intergenerational aspects, new organizational and social dynamics, the search for new balances, relationships with technology and digital technology, etc. It is also necessary to include the users of the anticipated results, public policy makers, government actors, the private and community sectors, industry and the business community for a truly integrated research model.

In this context, and thanks to the Québec research and innovation investment strategy 2022-2027 (SQRI²), the FRQ are launching a new funding competition to renew the living labs funded under the IRA Program. A new component has been added for the creation of new living labs based on co-creation and open innovation, to encourage collaborative initiatives around the major societal challenge represented by the aging population.

2. OBJECTIVES

The living lab approach

For the purposes of this competition, the FRQ use the concept of living labs in the broadest sense of the term to designate a research initiative that takes a fresh, multidimensional look at complex issues with significant input from a practice environment that is a potential user of the knowledge produced.

There are many possible definitions of living labs, as they reflect and cover a wide variety of innovation mechanisms, approaches and socio-economic and regional realities.

Nevertheless, all proposals must feature the following elements:

• Active involvement of a practice environment;
• Strengthening links with an ecosystem;
• Open innovation at the crossroads of different environments, breaking down silos and treating the research topic and its benefits as a common good belonging to the community;
• The potential for transformation through co-construction;
• Solution-driven research focused on the needs of the practice environment and, wherever possible, the achievement of strategic objectives for the ecosystem.

From a multidimensional perspective, disciplines and sectors must firmly engage in a joint, co-created research approach whose mode of operation lies outside of the hierarchization of fields of knowledge and leads to mutual enrichment between sectors.

“Co-construction” approaches, i.e. ones in which the user communities of the anticipated results are involved in the research process, are therefore preferable. More broadly, partnership approaches are strongly encouraged. These may involve, where appropriate, in addition to the user community: public decision-makers, government actors, the private and community sectors, industry and the business community. In short, stakeholder participation at each stage of the research process, from defining knowledge needs to the uptake of research results, is encouraged in the interest of respect and openness to a wide diversity of approaches, methodologies, cultures and knowledge.

General objectives

With this new funding offer, the FRQ wish to contribute to the sustainability of Québec’s living lab ecosystem, whether by supporting iterative development through open innovation, strengthening inter-stakeholder collaboration, or fostering cross-pollination between projects.

Through living labs for research on aging, the FRQ are seeking to:

• Support the advancement of knowledge and practices on issues related to successful aging from a global and holistic perspective;
• Identify, test and improve complex and adjustable solutions that respond to societal challenges;
• Take a fresh, multidimensional look at complex issues related to population aging;
• Encourage the sharing of knowledge and the contribution of practice environments to stimulate research while supporting ecosystems within a context of plural actions or interventions.

Components

Startup component – Funding for new living labs

This component is designed to encourage the emergence of new living labs throughout Québec. The research topic must be complementary to that of existing Living Labs funded by the Directorate of Societal Challenges (in French).Teams must demonstrate a good knowledge of Québec’s living labs ecosystem and highlight the contribution and added value of their project to the ecosystem. While the capacity to optimize, coordinate or pool actions with other living labs is not necessarily required, it is encouraged wherever possible.

Anchor component – Renewal

This component provides for the renewal of existing living labs funded by the Directorate of Societal Challenges. It may involve funding to overcome challenges in achieving initial objectives, accelerate open innovation or explore new avenues of research and action. The aim of this component is thus to consolidate the infrastructure created, as well as to improve the development cycles of the social and technological innovations associated with it.

3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1 Eligibility requirements and team composition

To be eligible, teams must have at least three (3) members:

• One principal investigator with Status 1, 2 or 3 as defined in the CGR;
• One co-investigator with Status 1, 2 or 3 as defined in the CGR, from a sector covered by a different FRQ than that of the principal investigator. Eligibility will be established based on the research sector indicated in the abridged academic CV provided with the application;
• One person from a practice setting.

In addition to the mandatory members, the team may include additional optional members:

• Co-investigators with Status 1, 2 or 3 as defined in the CGR (no limit);
• Persons from a practice environment (no limit);
• Collaborators (no limit).

4. APPLICATION PROCESS

4.1 Electronic form

The electronic form is available in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio. To access the form, you must select the Santé (managing agency) section. The form is available under “Available competitions, Program: Research grants”.

We invite applicant teams to refer to the documents provided in the Toolbox of the program web page to assist them in completing their application correctly.

4.2 Documents to be attached to the FRQnet form

Startup component – Funding for new living labs

1.     A text including the following points, in this order (maximum 5 pages):

• Project description;
• Implementation strategy, notably to:
  • Bring together sometimes divergent interests and sustainably engage stakeholders (e.g. creation of a values system and a common language);
  • Promote collaboration (e.g. sharing platforms, discussion forums, open science);
  • Effectively coordinate stakeholders (e.g. infrastructures, services, liaison officers);
  • Put the practice environment at the heart of the project and encourage its adoption of the open innovation.
• Team composition (co-investigator(s), co-director, collaborator(s), person(s) from the practice environment) and description of anticipated partners and their roles.

Anchor component – Renewal

1.     A text including the following points, in this order (use the template and detailed instructions by clicking here):

• Progress report:
  • Initial project and objectives and progress statement (maximum 1 page);
  • Main achievements (maximum 2 pages);
  • Governance, management of the living lab, partnerships and collaborations (maximum 2 pages);
  • Implication of the practice environment at the heart of the living lab (maximum 1 page).
• Renewal proposal in the form of a plan for maintaining, enhancing or reorienting the living lab (maximum 3 pages);

2.     In the event of a change of principal investigator: one (1) letter of support from the principal investigator of the initial application, agreeing to the continuation of the project (for eligibility purposes only; will not be forwarded to the evaluation committee); template available here).

Both components:

1. The abridged CV (academic) of the principal investigator and co-investigator(s), prepared in accordance with the presentation rules provided here (maximum 2 pages);
2. The abridged CV (other than academic) of the person(s) from the practice environment identified in the form, prepared in accordance with the presentation rules provided here (maximum 2 pages);
3. One (1) letter of support signed by at least one person from the practice environment identified in the form demonstrating the practice environment’s interest in iterative co-construction and open innovation and the nature of their involvement in the renewal proposal (maximum 2 pages);
4. One (1) letter from the managing institution confirming its support for the living lab (maximum 2 pages);
5. A detailed budget and budget justifications (maximum 1 page).

5. APPLICATION EVALUATION

5.1 Evaluation committee

Applications will be evaluated by committees whose members are recognized for their skills, expertise and achievements related to the program’s objectives and the submitted applications. Given the diverse profiles of committee members, applicants are encouraged to present the project in such a way as to be easily understood by an interdisciplinary and intersectoral committee.

To be recommended for funding, the application must receive an overall score of 70% or higher.

5.2 Evaluation criteria

Quality of the progress report (Anchor component only)

• Progress statement and main achievements;
• Governance, management of the living lab, partnerships and collaborations;
• Involvement of the practice environment at the heart of the living lab.

Quality of the research project

• Clarity and relevance of the project to the program objectives (objectives, research needs, added value for Québec’s living lab ecosystem, pooling of resources);
• Scientific quality of the project, particularly with regard to the methodological approach;
• Feasibility and appropriateness of the implementation strategy, including iterations to integrate innovation into living situations.

Team composition and involvement of the practice environment

• Synergy, diversity, complementarity and level of integration between different areas of expertise;
• Co-construction and anchoring in practice environments, collaboration with stakeholders;
• Quality of the organization and management, robustness of the governance of the living lab.

Potential for transformation and scope of impacts

• Potential for transformation inherent in the open innovation;
• Scope of the impacts for:
  • target groups;
  • Québec’s living lab ecosystem;
  • international positioning.

Budget estimates are analyzed by the committee, which verifies their consistency with the submitted project.

6. AMOUNT, DURATION AND NATURE OF FUNDING

The amount of the grant is $200,000 per year for a maximum of 3 years, all components combined. The grant period may therefore extend from April 2025 to March 2028.

An additional amount equivalent to 27% of the funding awarded is paid directly to managing institutions by the FRQ to cover indirect research costs.

In the context of a renewal (Anchor component), amounts carried over for an additional year of use as provided for in Section 6.10 of the CGR, or eligible leaves of absence under Sections 6.13, 6.14, 6.15 and 6.16, do not constitute an extension of the grant period. Consequently, all living labs already funded under the IRA Program may accept the grant if they are selected for funding, provided they respect the requirement that an individual may only hold one (1) award under a single program in any given fiscal year, as set out in Section 6.12 of the CGR.

Eligible expenses

All budget items listed in Section 8 of the CGR are eligible.

Other types of eligible expenses:

• Support for the coordination and management of the living lab;
• Fees and compensation for contributions from the practice environment.

Please refer to the CGR for non-eligible expenses.

7. FOLLOW-UP AND REPORTING

In accordance with the CGR, holders of a grant obtained under this program are required to submit a final report, the format of which will be communicated in due course to the principal investigators of the funded applications.

In addition, in the interest of promoting the impacts of the projects funded under this program, teams must contribute, on invitation, to events such as forums, conferences and follow-up or transfer activities organized by the FRQ. The FRQ also encourage funding recipients to carry out knowledge mobilization activities for practice communities and the general public, whenever such activities are relevant.

8. IMPORTANT DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

May 15, 2024: Rules and forms for both components (4th competition) published online.

May 30, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 EST: Information webinar (in French). Click here to register.

October 8, 2024 at 16:00 EST: Application deadline (both components).

December 2024: Announcement of competition results for both components (for funding in 2025-2026).

For the conditions regarding the announcement of funding, please refer to Section 5 of the CGR.

9. IMMEDIATE OPEN ACCESS FOR PUBLICATIONS RESULTING FROM THIS GRANT

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this award must be released as immediate open access (without embargo), under an open license, in accordance with the FRQ Open access policy for the dissemination of research (revised in 2022).

10. EFFECTIVE DATE

These rules apply to the 2025-2026 fiscal year.