National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) - 2024 Call for Proposals

Eligibility

Organizations that carry out their activities primarily in Canada are eligible to submit a proposal, across academia, industry, and not-for-profit organizations.

Summary

In our first call for proposals, the NCC committed $11.2 million toward 20 individual projects that will help foster a strong national cybersecurity ecosystem and position Canada as a global leader in cybersecurity. With a total project investment value of $39.2 million, these projects represent a diverse range of activity, from building a cyber-resilient secure 5G network using AI to offering a hybrid master’s program in cybersecurity analytics.  

With funding from the Government of Canada through the Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN) program, the NCC will provide additional funds through its 2024 call for proposals to support initiatives that: 

• Support research and development projects with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)1-6 via the design and implementation of innovative cybersecurity technologies, advancing the “state-of-the-art”, and supporting studies into emerging cybersecurity issues.
• Support commercialization of new technology with TRL 7-9, developing products and services that address cybersecurity challenges in critical infrastructure protection, human-centric cybersecurity, network security, software security, and privacy protection.  
• Provide and build opportunities for training, upskilling, and reskilling of cybersecurity professionals across myriad disciplines.  

R&D Standard
Standard projects support research and development activities (with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-6) to design and implement innovative cybersecurity technologies, advance the state-of-the-art, and conduct studies.  

• Maximum Request of NCC Funding: $2 Million  
• Recommended*  Matching Contribution: 50% 

R&D Spearhead
Spearhead projects are originally from post-secondary educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations that are novel in nature, explore risky early-stage ideas, and have defined goals and milestones. Projects should also be sufficiently flexible to adapt as new insights emerge. 

• Maximum Request of NCC Funding: $500,000 
• Recommended*  Matching Contribution: Matching Not necessary

Application Process
NCC's 2024 Call for Proposals is broken down into simplified and streamlined steps making the application process a straightforward experience. Applicants must successfully complete three main phases in order to receive funding.

The 2024 Call for Proposals Guide is a resource that elaborates on each phase of the grant completion process, and will be a helpful tool in the preparation of your application.

The grant competition process consists of three stages:

• Letter of Intent (LOI);
• Project Proposal (by invitation); and
• Administrative Details Submission (by invitation)
   

Overhead

The maximum overhead amount is 55% of total eligible direct labour and cannot exceed 15% of total Eligible Costs. This threshold will apply for the Lead Organization (and for each Eligible Project if more than one Eligible Project is selected for the Lead Organization.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Application deadlines

Administrative Details Submission - RSO Final Internal Review Deadline

Administrative Details Submission - Final Agency 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 Process

LOI Stage:
Full LOI, plus approvals in RMS, will be required by RSO by noon on February 26, 2024. 

Please be sure to select "Submitted for approvals" (Under Save & Progress) in RMS in enough time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the internal RSO deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Once institutional approval has been received the LOI must be submitted to the agency through their online portal by February 29, 2024.

Project Proposal Stage (by invitation): 
Full project proposal, plus approvals in RMS, will be required by RSO by noon on April 23, 2024. 
Note: this will be a new RMS Pre-Award/Application submission and must be be submitted for Approvals 

The NCC deadline to submit a project proposal is April 26, 2024.

As the project proposal stage is by invitation only, details how about the proposal must be submitted to NCC will be provided with that invitation. 

Administrative Details Submission Stage (by invitation):
Final administrative documents will be required by RSO by noon on August 27, 2024. 

Administrative Details must be submitted to NCC by August 30, 2024. 
Note: the final submission date from NCC is August 31, 2024; because that is a Saturday, UCalgary applicants must plan to complete their submissions by August 30, 2024.

If you receive an invitation to this application stage, please be in touch with RSO to discuss the submission process as a new RMS record will not be required. As above, because this stage is by invitation only, details of how to complete the submission to NCC will be provided in that invitation.

RESOURCES

2024 Call for Proposals

2024 Funding Program Guide: Pre-Award

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Support for Research Security:

The new Research Security Division is available to offer guidance and support on safeguarding research and ensuring that principles of research security are upheld while conducting leading edge research. Learn more on their webpage or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application