CICan’s 2024 Applied Research Symposium will bring together members of the applied research community from across the country to share best practices, network, and reflect on this year’s theme of Growing Impact.
Colleges and institutes are key to advancing Canada’s drive to net-zero, growing labour productivity, and addressing the impediments to sustainable growth facing Canada’s business and not-for-profit community. Colleges and institutes help drive innovation in their communities, their regions, and across Canada.
Held in Ottawa, this event will permit attendees of all levels to foster connections and engage in thoughtful conversation about the future of the sector, as it continues to expand and grow its impact from coast to coast to coast.
We encourage members of the research community who would like to present in any of the 4 themes below to submit a proposal.
Important Information
Any organization may submit a panel/presentation proposal. Submissions by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) member organizations may be prioritized over external proposals where appropriate.
Each submission may have a maximum of 4 speakers. If the submitter is also a speaker, this person will need to be entered in both the Submitter and Speaker fields.
Submissions may be made under the following themes. Please identify which theme is most applicable (and note where requested if a submission may be relevant to other themes).
Submission Themes
Growing Social Innovation
This theme refers to collaborations with non-profit organizations, community service organizations, or similar entities. Ideal submissions would include panels discussing successful social innovation projects, long-term partnerships with relevant partners, innovative ways of leveraging funding for social innovation, and other projects, approaches, and items relevant to social innovation.
Growing Innovation in Canadian Firms
This theme refers to collaborations with for-profit entities. Ideal submissions would include panels discussing successful business innovation projects, strategies for identifying and solidifying business partnerships, unique methods for leveraging funding or encouraging private investment, and any other projects, approaches, or items relevant to business-focused innovation services.
Growing Collaboration and Impact in Colleges’ and Institutes’ Research
This theme refers to submissions focused on growing the college and institute research system or enhancing our impact. Ideal submission would include panels discussing steps external funders could take to better support college and institute research, steps the college and institute research community itself could take, and examples or best practices within the theme of enhancing collaboration and impact. Submissions about successful multi-institution collaborations, multi-actor projects, or broader presentations about future-oriented actions and policy shifts would be ideal candidates. Submissions under this stream must include a portion of the presentation focused on distilling key takeaways and calls to action, with room for discussion among attendees.
Growing Excellence in Research Administration
This theme refers to submissions focused on topics largely internal to the college and institute research enterprise, including grants administration, human resources, financial practices, and data management. Ideal submissions would include panels discussing techniques and approaches for managing these issues, while also identifying the role external actors (ex., Government of Canada, other funders) could play in addressing issues. Sessions should conclude with actionable advice or calls to action and provide room for discussion among attendees.
Presentation Types
Panel (60 minutes)
Panel sessions begin with a moderator who introduces the topic of the session and the speakers. The moderator will then guide the discussion between the panelists and engage the audience. A panel session provides an opportunity for participants to hear different perspectives on a specific topic.
Campfire (60 minutes)
Campfire sessions begin with a presenter(s) speaking about an idea, an initiative, or a project to participants. After 15 – 20 minutes, the focus shifts from the presenter(s) to the audience. The presenter(s) then become facilitators, inviting comments, insights, and questions from participants. This format allows participants to drive their own learning and share experiences with others. Maximum of three presenters per campfire session.
Challenge Session (60 minutes)
Challenge sessions begin with presenter(s) posing a thesis to the audience. The thesis relates to a proposed change to any aspect of the college and institute research ecosystem, from high-level public policy challenges to micro-level research administration challenges. The presenters spend 15 – 20 minutes attempting to build the case for or prove their thesis, at which point the session is turned over to attendees to pose questions, offer insights, or offer differing views. At the end of the session, presenters are asked to speak to whether or not their views have changed, and importantly – what the next steps to actioning their thesis (as presented or revised) would be.
Submission Criteria
The panels and presentations selected to be featured during the symposium will meet most, if not all, of the criteria below.
- Proposals feature more than one CICan member institution.
- Proposals feature heavily on one or more of the following themes:
- Collaboration between multiple institutions and/or applied research partners;
- Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of various funding vehicles or approaches;
- Identifying tangible policy changes that would facilitate the growth of the applied research system;
- Demonstrating significant impact within a community or sector of the economy.
- Identifying steps external actors (Government of Canada, Provincial Governments, Not-for-Profit Organizations and Partners, etc.) could take or are taking to grow the impact of college and institute research.
- Identifying steps the college and institute research community itself could take to grow its impact.
- Identifying best practices in partner identification, engagement, and relationship management.
- Proposed sessions will equip attendees with tangible learnings, skills, and takeaways.
- Proposals will demonstrate attention to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations in the makeup of the panel (ex., gender-balanced panels) and/or with regard to the subject under discussion (ex., research conducted in partnership with underrepresented groups).
- Proposals clearly identify the value-add to the overall conference theme of growing the impact of college and institute research.
The deadline for submission is December 14th, 2023.
Related Event
2024 CICan Applied Research Symposium | Growing Impact
