The Incremental Project Grants (IPG) provides further support for the indirect costs of research. Eligible universities are those receiving more than $7M in direct tri-agency research funding. The IPG provides universities with additional support for projects that focus on the following priority areas:
- innovation and commercialization activities
- facilities renewal, including deferred maintenance
- information resources, including digital resources, open access and databases
- equity, diversity and faculty renewal (in the context of equity, diversity, and inclusion)
2024-2025
For the current year, the table below summarizes how Queen’s University proposes to allocate its IPG funding through various projects and provides details of the performance objectives, with indicators, for each project.
Total Funding = $1,286,067
|
Project Name |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance Objective |
Performance Indicator | Target Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Research Centres and Core Facilites | Information Resources Facilities Renewal | $679,492 Provide support to Research Centre's and Institutes (RCIs) and core facilites of strategic importance to the University through maintnenance of equipment. | Ensure effective and consistent operations of core facilites and RCIs | Reduced downtime for core facilities, achievement of Research Centre grant objectives. | Required maintenance for core facilities completed, and growth in research projects at RCIs. |
| Establishment of Clinical Trials Unit | Information Resources | $250,000 To establish clinical trials unit at the University to ensure compliance with all regulations related to clinical trials | Succesful establishment and hiring of members of clinical trials unit. | Development of required policies and procedures by March 2025. | Development of required policies and procedures by March 2025. |
| Establishment of Indigenous Research Ethics Board | Equity, Diversity and Faculty Renewal | $25,000 Establish Indigenous Research Ethics Board to review ethical issues associated with Indigenous research projects. | Hiring of Indigenous Research Board Chair to develop associated policies and recruit members of the Board. | Development of policies and procedures by March 2025 | Development of policies and procedures by March 2025 |
| Equity Officer | Equity, Diversity and Faculty Renewal | $72,510 Hiring of an equity officer to maintain equity practices at the University | Ensure equity considerations are followed in faculty and research appointments at the University | "100% of CRC appointments committee members receive equity and diversity training • 100% of CRC appointments committee members receive unconscious bias training • Percentage of candidates from underrepresented groups does not decrease significantly" | "100% of CRC appointments committee members receive equity and diversity training • 100% of CRC appointments committee members receive unconscious bias training • Percentage of candidates from underrepresented groups does not decrease significantly" |
| Establishment of Digital Research Services at the University | Information Resources | $139*,065 To establish digital research services to aid large research projects at the University with data analysis | Development of goals for team and hiring of staff for relevant positions | Development of goals for team and hiring of staff for relevant positions | Development of goals for team and hiring of staff for relevant positions |
| Translational Research & Commercialization Support - Phase 2 | Innovation & Commercialization | $20,000 Access expertise (consultants and/or part-time staff at the University) in the areas of regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and quality management systems related to research, innovation, and the development of health-related technologies via spin-offs, startups and research collaborations. | Provide expertise in regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and quality management systems to support commecialization objectives/projects/efforts by 1) Queen's Health Sciences (QHS) team, 2) Queen's researchers, and 3) eligible health innovation startups. Supports innovation and knowledge mobilitation strategy. | 6-8 commercialization-focused efforts/projects by QHS and QU faculty members (including those involved in partnerships with industry), and/or health innovation spin-offs and startups supported | 6-8 innovation/ commercialization efforts/ projects supported in FY 23-24 |
| Technology Transfer Office Support | Innovation & Commercialization activities | $100,000 Support maintenace of the technology transfer office and administration of invention patent applications, an area of growth. Supports innovation and knowledge mobilitation strategy. | Continue to provide intellectual property and patent drafting and filing expertise and services to Queen's researchers | 10-12 patents drafted | 10-12 patents filed in FY 22-23 |
Past Incremental Project Grant Reports
For previous years, the tables below summarize, for each year, how Queen’s University allocated its IPG funding through various projects and provides details of the performance objectives, with indicators and eventual outcomes, for each project.
Total Funding = $1,236,575
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Infrastructure Modernization 00103-2023-01 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization |
$600,000 Investment in the modernization and renewal of high performance computing (HPC) Central Storage for high-availability general purpose workloads. |
Replace existing Central Storage file system with a new solution to meet current and near future storage demands of researchers using Frontenac. | An additional 1 to 1.5PB above current storage allocation. Necessary to support research activities for the 400+ users active on the system within the last year. This will provide Frontenac with new hardware supported for at least the next 5 years. Warranty extensions will allow us to extend this, and a reasonable useful life can be considered 7 years. | Complete storage infrastructure migration by end of March 2024. |
|
Investment in the implementation of a new multi-tenant, flexable, research storage solution 00103-2023-02 |
Information Resources |
$150,000 Manage the rapid growth of unstructured data with an easy-to-manage research data storage solution that can flex to support any CAC environment. Efficiently consolidate a wide range of file and object storage needs at any scale with one solution. |
New Research Storage infrastructure. | New 1PB storage resource for researchers requiring storage using multiple environments, ie., Katarokwi, Limestone, etc. Solution utilizes new Dell hardware and is supported with a 5-year warranty. | Complete storage infrastructure deployment by the end of August 2023. |
|
Core Facilities Renewal 00103-2023-04 |
Facilities Renewal |
$115.724 Provide regular upgrades to core facilities. This intended to deal with regularly required updates rather than specific upgrades mentioned in other projects. Will include the purchase and refurbishment of servers, caging computing resources and other research equipments. |
Improving efficiency of research support functions | Increase in performance efficiency | Purchasing required equipment by March 2024 |
|
Translational Research & Commercialization Support - Phase 2 00103-2023-03" |
Innovation & Commercialization |
$65,000 Access expertise (consultants and/or part-time staff at the University) in the areas of regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and quality management systems related to research, innovation, and the development of health-related technologies via spin-offs, startups and research collaborations. |
Provide expertise in regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and quality management systems to support commecialization objectives/projects/efforts by 1) Queen's Health Sciences (QHS) team, 2) Queen's researchers, and 3) eligible health innovation startups. Supports innovation and knowledge mobilitation strategy. |
6-8 commercialization-focused efforts/projects by QHS and QU faculty members (including those involved in partnerships with industry), and/or health innovation spin-offs and startups supported | 6-8 innovation/ commercialization efforts/ projects supported in FY 23-24 |
|
Translational Models of Human Disease & Commercialization Support - Phase 2 00103-2023-05 |
Innovation & Commercialization |
$50,000 Industry collaboration support project to hire technical expertise in the area of research support for industry collaborations in the area of Translational models of human disease. |
Support the creation of a core team to provide support for translational models of human disease | 4 external contracts | Support a minimum of 4 external contracts for innovative translational research by the end of the fiscal year |
|
ACS Operations: Facility and Equipment Improvements - Phase 2 00103-2023-06 |
Facilities Renewal |
$180,000 Continuation of animal care renewal project from prior year. Replacing old, aging equipment will improve flow and also increase usable lab space. |
Replace aging infrastructure with ergonomically sound equipment. Increase functional items to improve workflow. | Follow-up ergonomic assessment and end-user survey | Project completed by end of March 2024 |
|
Technology Transfer Office Support 00103-2023-07 |
Innovation & Commercialization activities |
$65,000 Support maintenace of the technology transfer office and administration of invention patent applications, an area of growth. Supports innovation and knowledge mobilitation strategy. |
Continue to provide intellectual property and patent drafting and filing expertise and services to Queen's researchers | 10-12 patents drafted | 10-12 patents filed in FY 22-23 |
Total Funding = $1,253,840
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome | Actual Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Infrastructure Modernization 0049-2022-01 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization, Facilities Renewal | $175,000 Investment in the modernization and renewal of secure zone infrastructure for virtual machines used in researcher workloads. |
Enhancing access to specialized computational resources for research and innovation. | Additional hardware is allocated to research projects. | Complete hardware additions by March 2023. | Upgraded Servers for Virtual Machines in our Katarokwi Network. This network provides security services and resoruces for researchers to work on all data types, including senstiive data. |
|
Information Systems Support 0049-2022-02 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization Facilities Renewal | $85,000 Investment in the maintenance and refurbishment of infrastructure and systems supporting high-performance computing and broad-based digital resources. |
Enhancing reliability, digital asset management, and security. | Sustained high service level with formal maintenance contracts in place. | Renewed maintenance contracts established by December 2022. | Frontenac Network: Renewal of service and maintnenace for the Network Attached Storage unit. This unit services project and home directory for many hundreds of researchers. Funds also supported maintenace extensions on servers in use at the CAC Data centre, maintenace on UPS units and software support. |
|
HPC Infrastructure Modernization 0049-2022-03 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization, Facilities Renewal | $65,000 Investment in the modernization and renewal of high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure for high-availability general-purpose workloads. |
Enhancing access to computational resources for research and innovation. | Services migrated to new infrastructure; legacy infrastructure decommissioned. | Complete infrastructure migration by end of March 2023. | Servers containing CPU and GPU resources were upgraded for the Frontenac Network. |
|
Translational Research & Commercialization Support - Phase 2 0049-2022-04 |
Innovation & Commercialization, Facilities Renewal | $95,000 Access expertise (consultants and/or part-time staff at the university) in the areas of GLP and regulatory affairs related to research, innovation and development of health-related technologies via startups and research collaborations. |
Project will support the planning and creation of GLP ) research at Queen's. Regulatory affairs expertise to eligible health innovation start-ups and partnerships will also be included in the service offering. | Completion of preliminary GLP documentation and processes and support of a select number of health innovation-related start-ups. | Completion of the preliminary GLP documentation and processes and support of a select number of health innovation-related start-ups within the fiscal year. | Initial work started on this project. Stakeholders at Queen's decreased emphasis on this project due to a competing priority related to an application for capital funding for facility improvement. |
|
Research Security Compliance Role 0049-2022-05 |
Information Resources | $115,000 Resourcing to support research risk assessment in the proposal development stage and subsequent compliance activities |
Reduce administrative burden to the research community | Increased training opportunities and awareness within the research community and accessible tools which support the institutional strategy around safeguarding research. | Recruitment completed Summer 2022. Process review and tools developed, Spring 2023. | Activity transitioned to new research security funding. |
|
Core Facilities Renewal 0049-2022-06 |
Facilities Renewal, including Deferred Maintenance | $188,972 Provide regular upgrades to core facilities. This intended to deal with regularly required updates rather than specific upgrades mentioned in other projects. Will include the purchase and refurbishment of servers, caging computing resources and other research equipment. |
Improving the efficiency of research support functions | Increase in performance efficiency | Purchasing required equipment by March 2023 | Required maintenance and refurbishment completed in the year. |
|
Translational Models of Human Disease & Commercialization Support - Phase 2 0049-2022-07 |
Innovation & Commercialization | $89,868 Industry collaboration support project to hire technical expertise in the area of research support for industry collaborations in the area of Translational models of human disease (year 2 of a 2-year commitment) |
Support the creation of a core team to provide support for translational models of human disease | 4 external contracts | Support a minimum of 4 external contracts for innovative translational research by the end of the fiscal year | 4 contracts for translational research were executed and in progress. |
|
ACS Operations: Facility and Equipment Improvements - Phase 2 0049-2022-08 |
Facilities Renewal, including Deferred Maintenance | $225,000 Continuation of animal care renewal project from the prior year. Replacing old, aging equipment will improve flow and also increase usable lab space. |
Acquisition and installation of racks, trolleys, caging to allow for modifications to space, improved access and decreased staff time for washing/transporting. | Increase in cage wash throughput and cage preparation by 15%. | Project completed by end of March 2023 | Increase in cage wash throughput and cage preparation by 15.3% |
|
TRAQ 2.0 (TOOLS for RESEARCH at Queen's) 0049-2022-09 |
Information Resources | $150,000 Establish implementation team and investment in upgraded information system and data management tool which supports multiple processes central to the research enterprise, including grants management, certifications and awards. This also supports compliance and regulatory requirements. |
Reduce operational inefficiencies and provide more relevant and timely data to users. Provide a better "customer" experience for all users, including principal investigators. | Completion of modules, uptake and positive feedback from the research community. | Complete additional Biohazard and Human ethics modules during fiscal 2022-23 | Implementation work continues with progress over the past year made in process evaluation, form development, data extraction and migration. Project team continues to warok towards preparation for end user testing in 2024. |
|
Queen's Partnership & Innovation (Patent Team) 0049-2022-10 |
Innovation & Commercialization activities | $65,000 Support maintenance of the technology transfer office and administration of invention patent applications, an area of growth. Supports innovation and knowledge mobilizatation strategy. |
Continue to provide intellectual property and patent drafting and filing expertise and services to Queen's researchers | 10-12 patents drafted | 10-12 patents filed in FY 22-23 |
43 patent applications filed (including 13 U.S. provisional, 10 first U.S., 5 PCT, and 6 on behalf of external clients and not related to Queen’s IP) 24 patents granted (including 19 U.S. patents and 1 to an external client based on IP transferred from Queen's) |
Total Funding = $1,312,865
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome | Actual Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Accelerator 0047-2021-01 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization |
$430,000 |
Enhancing access to specialized computational resources for research and innovation |
ML/AI platform ready for use by researchers | Complete platform launch by March 2022 | Queen's was able to invest in the creation of the Limestone Cluster with the IPG funds received. This cluster is a secure cluster that features enhanced security and privacy controls best fitted for researchers who work with protected health information (PHI) data. With the launch of the cluster, we enhanced access to computational resources for research and innovation with the ability to support 25 PHI projects spread out over 432 cores at 3.0Ghz with 9x Nvidia A40’s. |
|
Information Systems Storage Support 0047-2021-02 |
Information Resources Innovation & Commercialization Facilities Renewal |
$195,000 |
Enhancing reliability, digital asset management, and security |
Sustained high service level with formal maintenance contracts in place | Renewed maintenance contracts established by June 2021 | With the renewal of the storage system maintenance support for an additional two years, CAC will use it to support the Frontenac cluster storage that currently hold over two petabytes of Data. |
|
High-Performance Computing (HPC) Infrastructure Modernization 0047-2021-03 |
HPC Infrastructure Modernization |
$75,000 |
Enhancing access to computational resources for research and innovation |
Services migrated to new infrastructure; legacy infrastructure decommissioned | Complete infrastructure migration by end of March 2022 | Queen's understands that each research project is unique and have different resourcing needs. With this understanding, Queen's was able to invest in and renew some of the high performance computing infrastructure within the Frontenac cluster to better server the research community within Queen’s. The Frontenac cluster has over 1000 researcher currently using it and with the support of IPG we were able to set those researchers up for success. |
|
Translational Research & Commercialization Support - Phase 1 0047-2021-04 |
Innovation & Commercialization, Facilities Renewal | $145,000 Access expertise (consultants and/or part-time staff at the university) in the areas of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), and regulatory affairs related to research, innovation and development of health-related technologies via startups and research collaborations |
The project will support the planning and creation of GLP research at Queen's. Regulatory affairs expertise to eligible health innovation start-ups and partnerships will also be included in the service offering | Completion of preliminary GLP documentation and processes and support of a select number of health innovation-related start-ups | Completion of the preliminary GLP documentation and processes and support of a select number of health innovation-related start-ups within the fiscal year | ~50% of GLP startup documentation has been created in addition to a complete list of requirements. Concept development for GLP micro-credential. Progress will continue to be supported by IPG in 2022-23. |
|
Translational Models of Human Disease & Commercialization Support - Phase 1 0047-2021-05 |
Innovation & Commercialization, Facilities Renewal | $125,000 Industry collaboration support project to hire technical expertise in the area of research support for industry collaborations in the area of Translational models of human disease (year 1 of a 2 year commitment) |
Support the creation of a core team to provide support for translational models of human disease | 4 external contracts | Support a minimum of 4 external contracts for innovative translational research by the end of the fiscal year | 2 contracts secured and completed, support of 3 PI led industry partnerships. In addition to 3 contracts in development. This will continue to be supported by IPG in 2022-23. |
|
Animal Care Services (ACS) Operations: Facility and Equipment Improvements - Phase 1 0047-2021-06 |
Facilities Renewal, including Deferred Maintenance | $97,865 With the addition of ACS as a core facility, instituted a process review of the core functions to identify opportunities to improve process flow, increase efficiency and reduce operating costs. Several equipment upgrades were identified. Replacing old, ageing equipment will improve flow and also increase usable lab space |
Acquisition and installation of racks, trolleys, caging to allow for modifications to space, improved access and decreased staff time for washing/transporting | Increase in cage wash throughput and cage preparation by 15% | Project completed by end of the fiscal year | Due to increased demand from users of Queen's Animal Care, some funding for this project was diverted to expand mouse caging facilities at Queen's. Equipment purchased and installed allowing for 20% increase in mouse caging. In addition to 8 cage wash logistics trolleys to increase throughput by 20%. |
|
TOOLS for RESEARCH at Queen's 2.0 (TRAQ) 0047-2021-07 |
Information Resources |
$200,000 |
Reduce operational inefficiencies and provide more relevant and timely data to users. Provide a better "customer" experience for all users, including principal investigators | Change management strategy and needs assessment completed, training completed, TRAQ 2.0 to be launched and ready for community | Go-live Spring 2022 | Project was delayed due to the addition of several modules to the research administration system. The change management strategy and team were assembled during the year, and additional modules are expected to go live in Fall 2022. This project continues to be supported by IPG in 2022-23. |
|
Queen's Partnership & Innovation (Patent Team) 0047-2021-08 |
Innovation & Commercialization activities |
$45,000 |
Continue to provide intellectual property and patent drafting and filing expertise and services to Queen's researchers | 10-12 patents drafted | 10-12 patents filed in the fiscal year 2021-2022 | 62 patent applications filed, and 34 patents granted. |
2020-2021
Total Funding = $1,123,093
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome |
Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Core Research Facility Renewal Initiative 0047-2020-01 |
Facilities renewal |
$605,302 for the renovation of the Containment Level 2 suite for pre-clinical models, e.g. models of SARS-CoV2 and xenograft models of human cancerous cell lines. The updates also ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies |
Facilities renewal, including deferred maintenance |
Renovated space ready for occupancy | Complete renovations by end of January 2021 |
Renovation scheduled to be completed by mid-June. Delays due to COVID restrictions |
|
Research Centre Support 0047-2020-02 |
Information resources |
$394,698 invested in modernization and renewal of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for the Centre for Advanced Computing The upgrade ensures uptime and availability, a critical element for clinical data hosting |
Enhancing availability and reliability for research and innovation | Renovated electrical system with minimal downtime | Complete renovation by end of February 2021 with maximum of 4h downtime | Renovation completed by December 2020 with no downtime |
| Innovation and commercialization | ||||||
| Facilities renewal | ||||||
|
Regional Acceleration and Incubator Support 0047-2020-03 |
Innovation and commercialization activities |
$123,093 used to support costs associated with various programs, three in particular: 1. Wings Acceleration program (pre-revenue start-ups) |
Enhancing support for collaboration/ knowledge mobilization | Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services to eligible startups | Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services within fiscal year |
All planned programs, mentorship and services were delivered to encourage the development/growth of startups |
| Equity, diversity and faculty renewal |
2019-2020
Total Funding = $986,856
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome |
Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Core Research Facility Renewal Initiative 0047-2019-01 |
Facilities renewal |
$200,000 of IPG funds for 2019-20 support the modernization of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility housed within the Centre for Neuroscience Studies |
To upgrade the MRI facility to allow for high precision imaging of smaller tissues and enhanced tracking of brain connectivity |
Installation and commissioning of the latest state-of-the-art MRI system, the Siemens MAGNETOM 3T Prisma | Implement upgrades to the MRI system within the year |
New MRI system was available for use by November 2019 |
|
Research Centre Support 0047-2019-02 |
Facilities renewal |
$486,856 committed to support the operations, facility renewal, and talent recruitment and development at the Canadian Frailty Network and the Gastrointestinal Disease Research Unit |
Research, knowledge translation, training |
Publications, workshops, student recruitment | Publications, workshops, student recruitment |
Publications, workshops, student recruitment |
| Equity, diversity and faculty renewal | ||||||
|
Regional Acceleration and Incubator Support 0047-2019-03 |
Innovation and commercialization activities |
$300,000 funds to expand various support activities to high-potential technology-based entrepreneurs, startups, and small companies: physical incubation, acceleration programs and go-to-market services |
Enhancing support for collaboration/ knowledge mobilization |
Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services to eligible startups | Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services to eligible startups |
All planned programs, mentorship and services were delivered to encourage the development/growth of startups |
| Equity, diversity and faculty renewal |
2018-2019
Total Funding = $804,191
|
Project Name & ID RSF#-Year-Project# |
IPG Priority Area |
Output (investment of IPG grant funds) |
Performance objective |
Performance indicator | Target outcome |
Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Translational Animal Research Unit |
Facilities renewal |
$300,000 of IPG funds for 2018-19 support the replacement of air handling units serving the facility. |
To update air handling units. |
Air handling units replaced and commissioned for use | Complete renovation by end of March 2019 |
Achieved: Renovation was completed within the year |
|
Regional acceleration and incubator support |
Innovation and commercialization activities |
$300,000 funds to support costs related to patent expertise and the delivery of entrepreneurship programs to encourage start-ups from under-represented groups, including women, in the Kingston region |
Enhancing support for collaboration/ knowledge mobilization |
Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services to eligible startups | Delivery of programs, mentorship, and services within fiscal year |
All planned programs, mentorship and services were delivered to encourage the development/growth of startups |
| Equity, diversity and faculty renewal | ||||||
|
Research Centre Support |
Facilities renewal |
$204,191 committed to support the operations, facility renewal, and talent recruitment and development at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research |
Emphasize interdisciplinary research that is impactful, supports training and development, and is relevant in local and international contexts |
CIMVHR – supporting applications for funding and research contracts, networking at the annual forum, and publication of their journal. CNS – support of facility renewal, operations, and the development of new programming |
Funding application success, research published, programs developed |
CNS -- five successful NSERC and 3 successful CIHR grants in the 2019 competitions; research contracts during 2019 that combined total over $7M.; members published over 540 papers in refereed journals throughout 2019. New courses and programs developed. CIMVHR – the forum and its workshops were successful, the journal was published. Numerous research projects were funded |