• Major compliance issues are addressed
• New equipment installation is completed
• Standard maintenance is completed

In progress.

These projects have been re-scoped to better address all regulatory compliance concerns within existing infrastructure. This project was significantly delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions but has now resumed.  Slated for completion in the next 2 years.

• Increased number of users of renewed individual core facilities compared to the previous year
• Core facilities are able to successfully execute their operational plans.
• Researchers have access to new specialized equipment and services through new core facilities.

Delayed.

These projects have been delayed due to Covid-19. Core facilities were closed for months in 2020. By the summer, core facilities began to reopen, but on-going stringent enforcement of physical distancing requirements has limited the number of individuals who can be on-site at any time. The University of Ottawa obtained a one-year extension for this project and it will continue in 2021/22.

• Increase the total number of annual co-op placements
• Increase the total number of industry-university interactions (activities, collaborations and projects) with Kanata North companies.
• Increase the total number of KMb support activities for uOttawa researchers and students
• Increase the total number of KMb incentives for uOttawa researchers and students
• Increase the total number of uOttawa interactions (activities, collaborations and projects) with external stakeholders

Achieved.

In 2020-2021, in collaboration with other uOttawa services and external partners, the OVPR increased the level of KMb institutional support provided to researchers, students and staff:

- 9 workshops and webinars were offered to over 118 participants

- KMb related resources were promoted in 31 newsletters that reached over 2,187 people on campus

- 5 KMb related tools and resources and a video were developed and promoted in both French and English. Together, the tools were downloaded 1800 times. The video was viewed 1400 times.

- 42 requests for KMb support, including the review of 36 KMb plans.

Increased the number of KMb incentives for uOttawa researchers and students :

- $ 94,000 in incentives for the KMb excellence Award, KMb grants and KMb student scholarships

Increased the number of uOttawa interactions/connections with external partners:

- 8 non-for-profit organizations

- 4 industries

- 4 academic institutions

• Development of EDI Action Plan for research.
• Activities of the uOttawa CRC Institutional EDI Action Plan will be completed and targets will be met.

Achieved.

In 2020-2021, University of Ottawa increased the level of support to broader EDI-related initiatives for research:

- Participatory elaboration of an EDI in Research Action Plan.

- Creation of media to promote EDI in research.

- Translation into French of two case studies on Sex and gender-based analysis

- Three online panels about the situation of underrepresented groups in research.

- 7 webinars on EDI in research for the main research grants competitions

- 3 webinars on EDI in research adapted to the needs of faculties

- 4 webinars on EDI in research for the Vanier and Banting scholarships.

- Technical support to 28 researchers who apply for major research grants

- One contest of inclusive practices in research

- Permanent communication about news, tools, and resources regarding EDI

• Project plan developed
• Financing secured
• Work commenced

In progress:

These projects have been re-scoped to better address all regulatory compliance concerns within existing infrastructure. This project will continue over the next two years.

• Increased number of users of core facilities compared to previous year
• Core facilities execute operational plans
• Researchers have access to new specialized equipment and services through new core facilities

Achieved: 

An in-depth review and assessment of the University of Ottawa’s core facilities support program was initiated in spring 2018 and completed in fall 2018. Among its 15 recommendations, the top 3 priority actions enabled by IPG funding were:

1. to develop a more inclusive definition of core facilities,
2. to enhance support for the management of core operations, and
3. to provide more tailored financial support proportionate to the scale of each core facility.

• Increase the total number of KMb support activities for uOttawa researchers and students
• Increase the total number of KMb incentives for uOttawa researchers and students

In progress:

• Hired 1 FTE Knowledge Mobilization Advisor
• Offered new KMb support activities (training sessions, KMb webpage, KMb celebration
• KMb integrated into the institution’s strategic documents
• Developing a KMb institutional strategy
• Inaugurated KMb incentives: the KMb Excellence Award and KMb grant for a total investment of $91,000

In progress:

In 2019-2020, uOttawa started recruitment of an EDI advisor to lead EDI in research activities, both for the CRC program and the broader uOttawa research community. Due to a scarcity of candidates, the first rounds of recruitment were unsuccessful and therefore were ongoing into 2020-2021.  Activities funded through the IPG in 2019/2020 included establishing a women’s research chairs mentoring group and EDI professional certificate training.

During this year, uOttawa progress on its CRC Action Plan was substantial. As of December 2019, the CRC program reported that uOttawa had surpassed its equity targets in the categories of women and visible minorities (with 23 women and 11 members of visible minorities, thus exceeding the projected goals of 18 and 8, respectively).  With respect to persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples, in keeping with the Privacy Act, the University could not publicly disclose numbers for these areas, of which fewer than 5 held chairs.  Further, in early 2020, the CRC program gave a “Satisfies” rating to the uOttawa EDI Action Plan.

• To commence preliminary planning for the renewal of the facilities
• To support operational efficiencies in order to provide lower per diem rates to researchers

In progress:

The projects have been rescoped to better address all regulatory compliance concerns within existing infrastructure. The project will continue over the next two years.

• Improve laboratory facility operations by replacing and/or repairing essential equipment scheduled for renewal, such as ultra and high-speed centrifuges, biological safety cabinets, and ultra-low freezers.
• Funds will also be allocated to upgrade microscopes and imaging systems. 

Achieved: 

We significantly improved laboratory facility operations by replacing/upgrading several pieces of essential equipment that were scheduled for renewal/required updating: a chemidoc imaging system, a cryostat, 6 ultralow freezers, 4 high-speed/ultra-speed rotors, 2 biological safety cabinets and 2 cell culture incubator stacks.

• To support efficiency and effectiveness of individual core facilities; and
• To increase researchers’ access to high cost and specialized equipment.

Delayed:

This project was delayed because the anticipated project ramp-up time was unrealistic and the funds were needed for the ACVS project, which was the priority.

• To strengthen commercialization activities by increasing the number of patent applications.

Delayed:

This project was delayed because funds were needed for the ACVS project, which was the priority.