Test your concept
Have an idea for a major funding competition, but don’t know where to start?
Test Your Concept sessions are hosted by SUPPORT to assist researchers early in the development of a research proposal. Test Your Concept sessions give you an opportunity to pitch your idea to experts from across campus with no risk or commitment. Feedback will be provided at the end of your pitch to help guide your next steps. This opportunity is open to any interested faculty members regardless of what stage of development you are at.
Benefits of pitching:
- Engage with members of SUPPORT to identify what could make your application stronger
- Environmental scan – get help to identify potential collaborators and existing research infrastructure in the campus community
- Gain insight into the feasibility of your project from the key servicing units at the university
- Guidance on how to proceed with your research proposal and identify potential funding opportunities
SUPPORT Committees include representatives from:
- Associate Vice-President(s) Research
- Facilities Development (FD)
- Campus Planning (CP)
- Institutional Programs Division (IPD), Research Services
Current Opportunity
It is expected that the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will launch its next Innovation Fund (IF) competition in early 2019, with funding decisions expected in 2020. In anticipation of this launch, (internally referred to as Round 10). SUPPORT will host a series of Test Your Concept sessions in December 2018.
Next sessions
Five Test Your Concept sessions will be held across the university (at Main and Foothills campuses) to engage with and provide feedback to research teams interested in developing an application for the upcoming Round 10 competition.
Deadline to confirm interest November 16, 2018.
Dec. 6, 2018
2 pm - 4 pm
Dec. 7, 2018
10 am - 12 pm
Dec. 10, 2018
2 pm - 4 pm
Dec. 11, 2018
9 am - 11 am
Dec. 12, 2018
1 pm - 3 pm
How it works
Sign up for a session
Submit a preliminary project title to ipd@ucalgary.ca and indicate which session you would like to participate in. These sessions are first come, first served. You will receive an email confirmation with the session location and your assigned timeslot. All team members should attend the session.
If the project or a similar project has been presented at a previous session, the team should be prepared to explain what has changed since the prior iteration.
Submit a concept
You will be required to submit a one page summary to ipd@ucalgary.ca one week before your scheduled session. This should include:
- A short description of your area of interest and an overview of the proposed project
- A list of any potential collaborators internal and external to the University of Calgary
- An environmental scan of similar programs in Canada and internationally
Pitch
You will have exactly 10 minutes to pitch your research project to the SUPPORT committee. Visuals are encouraged, however, the 10 minute time limit will be strictly enforced to ensure ample time for discussion and feedback. Please prepare accordingly.
Feedback and discussion
You will be provided with a feedback summary from your session, but please come prepared to take your own notes during the discussion. Participants will also be added to the appropriate mailing list for future communications regarding pertinent competitions.