Terms of Use

These Terms of Use govern access to and use of the SGCI Research Matchmaking Platform. By accessing the platform, creating an account, submitting a profile, browsing the directory, or contacting another user through information obtained from the platform, you agree to comply with these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not create a profile or use the directory. Use of the matchmaking platform is optional, and applicants may apply directly to the funding call without using this platform.

The platform is operated by, or on behalf of, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) to support matchmaking for the SGCI Multilateral Research Call in support of STISA 2034.

The purpose of the platform is to help eligible users create collaboration profiles, identify potential collaborators, and support the formation of research consortia. The platform is a supporting tool only and does not replace the official call document or application process.

The platform is intended only for researchers, research institutions, universities, organizations, policymakers, public agencies, private sector actors, and civil society actors interested in the SGCI/STISA 2034 call.

By using the platform, you represent that your use is connected to a legitimate research collaboration, consortium-building, policy, innovation, or partnership purpose related to the call.

The platform facilitates connections only. It does not manage funding applications, evaluate applicants, validate organizations, pre-select partners, determine eligibility, rank proposals, or guarantee funding, partnership formation, application success, or any other outcome.

Use of the platform does not imply endorsement, validation, or approval by SGCI, funders, or participating councils. Lead organizations and consortium members remain solely responsible for forming partnerships that meet the official call requirements and for submitting complete and eligible applications.

You must provide accurate, current, and relevant information.

You may submit a profile only if you are authorized to do so for yourself or for the institution or organization named in the profile.

You must contact other users respectfully and use contact information only for purposes related to the call or legitimate research collaboration.

You must not submit false, misleading, abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, irrelevant, unlawful, confidential, proprietary, or spam content.

You are responsible for verifying any information provided by other users before relying on it or entering into any collaboration, consortium, agreement, or application.

When submitting a profile, you may choose whether the profile is visible in the public directory, visible only to signed-in users, or hidden from the directory.

If you choose to show a profile in the directory, the non-protected profile information you submit may be visible to other users according to the visibility option you select.

Email addresses are protected and are shown only to signed-in users. Users should still avoid sharing sensitive personal, financial, confidential, or proprietary information in public profile fields.

Users may edit or delete their own profiles through the platform tools.

Platform administrators may remove any profile that appears inaccurate, duplicated, inappropriate, irrelevant, abusive, misleading, or inconsistent with the purpose of the platform.

SGCI or platform administrators may moderate, restrict, suspend, remove, or discontinue any profile, account, feature, or part of the platform at any time where reasonably necessary for operational, security, moderation, legal, or call-management reasons.

The platform may collect account information, profile information, directory visibility preferences, and basic technical information needed to operate, secure, and administer the service.

Profile information is used to display directory entries according to the visibility choice selected by the user, support matchmaking, allow users to edit or delete their own profiles, and support platform administration and moderation.

The platform does not require users to submit sensitive personal information. Users must not include confidential research data, personal financial information, national identification numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information in profile fields.

Account and profile data may be stored using third-party infrastructure used to host and operate the platform. Reasonable administrative and technical measures are used to protect information, but no online service can guarantee absolute security.

By submitting a profile, you consent to the use and display of your submitted information as described in these Terms and according to the visibility setting you select.

This platform is a supporting tool. The official eligibility rules, funding rules, deadlines, evaluation procedures, and application requirements are set out in the official call document and related guidance.

If information on this platform differs from the official call document, the official call document should be treated as authoritative.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SGCI, funders, participating councils, and platform administrators are not responsible for the accuracy of user-submitted information, user communications, partnership decisions, application outcomes, funding decisions, or any loss arising from reliance on information provided by other users.

Users are responsible for conducting their own due diligence and for obtaining any institutional, ethical, legal, financial, or administrative approvals required for collaboration or application submission.

These Terms of Use are governed by the applicable laws of Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Where possible, concerns or disputes should first be raised with the platform operator or administrator so that they can be addressed informally and in good faith.

These Terms of Use may be updated as the platform, call process, legal requirements, or operational needs evolve. Continued use of the platform after updates are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.