Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Net Good Grant

Eligibility

 Who is eligible to apply? 

• Organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as registered charities; 
• Not-for-profit organizations; 
• Indigenous communities; and 
• Academics and researchers affiliated with a Canadian university or college. 

Summary

CIRA awards grants up to $100,000 for community-led internet projects with over $1,000,000 available in funding. 

The program welcomes projects that focus on three core areas to bring about digital development in communities nationwide: 

• Infrastructure: connectivity research, network planning and solutions to improve internet access, speed and affordability. 
• Online safety: research, educational frameworks, tools, consultations and training programs that increase Canadians’ safety against cybersecurity threats. 
• Policy engagement: events, research and policy ecosystem work that broadens public awareness in domestic internet policy and governance. 

Applications will be accepted from every province and territory with a focus on projects that benefit rural, Northern and Indigenous communities and K-12 and post-secondary students. CIRA especially encourages applications for eligible projects in the Prairies, Quebec and the Maritimes to help ensure funding reaches traditionally underserved communities. 

For the past 10 years, CIRA has invested $11.7 million towards 217 digital equity projects across Canada from revenue generated through .CA domain registrations and CIRA’s cybersecurity services. Learn more about how to apply for a CIRA Grant by visiting www.cira.ca/grants. Interested applicants can also join a webinar in English on March 5 at 1 p.m. ET or in French on March 6 at 1 p.m. ET. 

Sample application available here: https://www.cira.ca/en/sample-application-form/ 

Overhead

15%

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Submission Instructions:

1. Complete Full Application on the CIRA online application platform (instructions here: https://www.cira.ca/en/grants/how-apply/#prepare )
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/additional-resources/resea...), attach your completed Application, and submit for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). *Important: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of 12:00pm on April 5, 2024
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the Application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and will provide the institutional approval. RSO will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready (all other required signatures should be in place when submitting to RSO).
5. Full Applications, including any supplementary documentation, should be submitted to the agency via the portal on April 10, 2024 by 12:00PM Mountain Time.