New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – Exploration 2024

Eligibility

FIT TO PROGRAM

Important note: review NFRF’s definition and requirements around “high risk” research and interdisciplinarity carefully prior to beginning an application.

To meet the minimum requirement to be considered interdisciplinary, proposals must include elements from at least two different disciplines (as defined by a CRDC group-level classification). Projects that incorporate two disciplines with a long and established tradition of working together (e.g., biology and chemistry or psychology and education) may technically satisfy the above requirement, but still not meet the expectations of the program. Interdisciplinarity is evaluated by a multidisciplinary review panel.

Applications for projects that are the same or similar, in whole or in part, to ones that have been or reasonably could be funded by other federal research granting agency programs should not be submitted to the NFRF program.

PARTICIPANTS

To encourage projects that push the boundaries in terms of interdisciplinarity, proposals must be submitted by research teams composed of at least two individuals, a nominated principal investigator (NPI) and either a co-principal investigator or a co-applicant. Teams may include up to one co-principal investigator and any number of co-applicants and/or collaborators. The NPI and team members can be from any discipline(s).  

For a proposal to be considered led by early career researchers (ECRs), both the NPI and co-PI (if applicable) must be ECRs as of April 1, 2024. See the competition webpage for details regarding ECR designation.  

Participant in another application: Individuals can participate in only one Exploration stream application or grant at a time as either an NPI, co-PI or co-applicant. These restrictions do not apply to collaborators. An individual may simultaneously apply or be an award holder as an NPI, co-PI or co-applicant for grants under separate streams (Exploration, Transformation, International and special calls).

Nominated principal investigator

The nominated principal investigator is an individual who:

• is responsible for the direction of the project and coordination of proposed research activities, in conjunction with the co-principal investigator (if applicable);
• completes and submits the NOI and application, through the research administrator at their institution;
• assumes administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
• receives all related correspondence from the agencies.

The nominated principal investigator (NPI) must be considered an independent researcher at their primary affiliation, defined as the primary organization at which the individual is employed, appointed or conducts research. Students, postdoctoral fellows or research associates are not eligible to apply.

Co-principal investigator

The co-principal investigator shares responsibility with the NPI for the direction of the proposed activities and may access grant funds.

The co-principal investigator must also be considered an independent researcher and may be affiliated with a Canadian or international organization, but must not be affiliated with a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government department or a for-profit organization. Students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, etc. are not eligible to participate as a co-principal investigator.

Co-applicants

Co-applicants contribute to the execution of the research project and may access grant funds. 

Co-applicants may be independent researcher or may be, but are not limited to, practitioners, policy-makers, educators, decision-makers, health-care administrators, Indigenous Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, community leaders or individuals working for a charity. To be eligible as a co-applicant, researchers and professors must be considered independent researcher. Co-applicants may be affiliated with a Canadian or international organization, but must not be affiliated with a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government department or a for-profit organization. Students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, etc. are not eligible to participate as a co-applicant.

Collaborators

Collaborators contribute to the execution of research activities but do not have access to grant funds.

Collaborators do not need to be affiliated with an eligible institution. Any individual who will contribute to the project is eligible to be a collaborator. Collaborators may include individuals affiliated with a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government department or a for-profit organization. They may also be affiliated with a Canadian or international organization. Any individual whose contributions to the project will be supervised by the NPI, co-principal investigator, co-applicant and/or another collaborator cannot be considered a collaborator.

Summary

The goal of the Exploration stream is to inspire high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research. Exploration grants support research that pushes boundaries into exciting new areas. Researchers are encouraged to think “outside of the box” and undertake research that would defy current paradigms; bring disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives; and has the potential to be disruptive or deliver game-changing impacts.

Exploration stream grants support projects that: 

• Bring disciplines together beyond traditional disciplinary or common interdisciplinary approaches;
• Propose to explore something new, which might fail; and
• Have the potential for significant impact.

Exploration grants support research with a range of impacts – economic, scientific, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, environmental or health-related. This list is not exhaustive; other types of impacts are also recognized. Diversity of perspectives is important, and the fund encourages research proposals led from any discipline, from those in the social sciences and humanities, to health, the natural sciences and engineering.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

The NFRF Exploration Stream includes a two-stage application process: a mandatory unadjudicated Notice of Intent (NOI), and a full application. UCalgary and funder milestones are listed below, additional instructions follow.

Optional funder webinar 

• Activity: NFRF informational webinar on competition and NOI process for applicants
  • Links to join the webinars are available on the competition website

        Date:            May 22, 2024 (French) 8:00 – 10:00 am; (English) 11:00 am – 1:00 pm MST

Optional Research Services webinar 

• Activity: Research Services informational webinar on competition and internal application process for applicants
  • Register by contacting ipd@ucalgary.ca 

        Date:            June 24, 2024, 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI)

Activity:        Submit Notice of Intent to Research Services for internal review via Convergence Portal

• Note: to create the NOI in the Convergence portal, under the Funding Opportunities tab click the Create Application link next to the funding opportunity name “New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration”

Deadline: By 9:00 am August 20, 2024 (Research Services will submit final NOI to the funder by the August 27 deadline)

Important note: most NOI content cannot be revised following submission to the funder and will be shared with reviewers at the full application stage. It is important that the NOI accurately reflect the project intent and alignment with competition criteria.

Full Application

Activity:       Submit application to RSO via Convergence Portal for optional detailed review with opportunity for feedback

Deadline:      By 9:00 am October 22, 2024

Activity:        Submit application to RSO via Convergence Portal for mandatory final administrative review; approvals obtained in the Research Management System (RMS)

• Note: select the “New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration 2024” funding opportunity in RMS

Deadline:      By 9:00 am October 29, 2024 (Research Services will submit final application to the funder by the November 5 deadline)

RESOURCES

For projects involving Indigenous Research, support with the development of your grant application is available internally 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 community partnerships and knowledge mobilization: 

The Knowledge Engagement team in Research Services can consult on community partnerships, partnership principles, and knowledge mobilization plans. Applicants can reach out by email to Knowledge Engagement at Knowledge.Engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about KE, please visit the KE webpage. 

For assistance in identifying international partners:

Contact the International Research Team at UCIresearch@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Overhead

Not applicable

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

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 at full application, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

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.

Research Services will offer an informational webinar on the NFRF Exploration competition June 24, 2:00 – 3:30 pm. To register for the webinar, contact ipd@ucalgary.ca.

NFRF will hold informational webinars on the Exploration competition and NOI process on the following dates: 

French:                May 22, 2024, 8:00 – 10:00 am MST

English:                May 22, 2024, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm MST

Links to join the webinars are on the competition website; registration is not required. Contact ipd@ucalgary.ca for links to the webinar recordings and presentations following the session. 

For UCalgary researchers participating on applications elsewhere: If you have been asked by the submitting institutions to confirm we are aware of your involvement, please notify Research Services via email to ipd@ucalgary.ca.  At the full application stage, completion of the Pre-Award record in RMS (follow the instructions under Submission Process below) is required. Once all approvals are obtained in RMS, our Director will email the RSO of the lead institution to confirm. 

RMS Training

As the full application will run through RMS, we encourage applicants to view the step sheets available at the RMS Training page. 

For training or technical support, you can contact RMS at: rms@ucalgary.ca and 403.210.9309.

For UCalgary researchers participating on applications elsewhere: If you have been asked by the submitting institutions to confirm we are aware of your involvement, please complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (follow the instructions under “Full Application” above). Provided there are no special requirements, Research Services will not ask for any supporting documentation. Once all approvals are obtained in RMS, our office will email research services staff at the lead institution to confirm.

Selection criteria

The following five criteria will be used to evaluate full applications submitted to the Exploration competition:

• Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research practice (pass/fail)
• Interdisciplinarity / fit-to-program (pass/fail)
• High risk (meaning novelty of approach) (40%)
• High reward (40%)
• Feasibility (20%)

The NOI is not adjudicated and will be used by the funding agency for administrative purposes (determining eligibility, identifying and composing the multidisciplinary review panel).

Applicants should carefully review the definitions of “high risk,” “high reward” and “interdisciplinarity” in the context of this program and the Exploration competition evaluation matrices.