Use of Strategic Beamtime

The use and allocation of Strategic Beamtime follow the principles and constraints of the CLS User Access Policy, ensuring fairness, transparency, and consistency across cycles. Strategic Beamtime supports activities that strengthen national research capacity, expand Canadian user communities, advance priority scientific areas, and foster high value partnerships. Its allocation is guided by established strategic priorities to ensure that this time delivers maximum benefit to CLS’s longterm scientific mission and to Canada’s broader research landscape.

Strategic Beamtime Priorities

Cycle 42: July-December 2026

1. Grow New Canadian User Communities to Advance National Research and Innovation Priorities
Engage and onboard new Canadian research groups (new principal investigator to a beamline) across the four key scientific areas of agriculture, advanced materials, environment, and health, supporting projects that align with Canada’s evolving scientific, technological, and innovation priorities.

2. Support Canadian Researchers Developing Dual-Use Technologies
Encourage research with both civilian and defense applications, including advanced materials characterization (e.g., extreme environments or Arctic conditions), nuclear science, and biosecurity.

3. Critical Minerals Research and Innovation
Drive proposals focused on Canadian critical minerals research and development.

4. Build and Strengthen Canadian Partnerships
Enhance collaboration with Canadian government laboratories across the four targeted scientific areas.

Procedure for Strategic Beamtime

Amount of Strategic Beamtime

  • Strategic Beamtime shall not exceed 10% of the available beamtime in any cycle on a given beamline.

Mechanisms for Accessing Strategic Beamtime

Strategic Beamtime may be accessed through the following mechanisms:

  • General User(GU):
    A proposal submitted through the standard GU process that has successfully completed peer review and was not ranked high enough for GU beamtime based on scientific merit scores may be considered for Strategic Beamtime if it aligns with CLS strategic priorities.
  • Rapid Access:
    Proposals submitted through Rapid Access may be eligible for Strategic Beamtime on undersubscribed beamlines.

Review and Approval Process

  • Potential Strategic Time projects are identified during the Allocation Committee’s reviews.
  • These projects are then evaluated by the Allocation Committee to determine whether they qualify under CLS strategic priorities.
  • Upon approval, awarded beamtime is designated as Strategic Beamtime for tracking and reporting purposes.
  • Strategic Beamtime projects are tracked and monitored by CLS to ensure compliance with policy and strategic objectives.

Duration of Strategic Beamtime

  • A project awarded Strategic Beamtime may receive allocations for no more than four consecutive cycles, consistent with standard project eligibility.

Policy Alignment

  • All Strategic Beamtime allocations must follow the principles and constraints of the CLS User Access Policy.

Publication of Strategic Priorities

  • The CLS publishes its strategic priorities during each Call for Proposals to guide applicants and the Allocation Committee.

Approval Process

1. Board Approval

The CLS Board of Directors approves the User Access Policy, which defines the percentage of beamtime allocated to the various categories of beamtime operations.

2. Executive Approval

The CLS Executive Team, in alignment with the CLS Strategic Plan as well as provincial and federal science priorities, approves the Strategic Beamtime access categories as part of the annual CLS Operations Schedule approval process.

3. Publication of Strategic Priorities

The CLS publishes the Strategic Priorities during each Call for Proposals to inform applicants and ensure transparent alignment between strategic objectives and beamtime allocation.