Research and Knowledge Initiative (RKI)

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from:

• Legal entities incorporated or registered in Canada such as:
  • Non-governmental (not for profit) organizations, including:
    • Industry, research, and professional associations
    • National Indigenous organizations and Indigenous communities 
    • Community and regional organizations 
    • Other non-profit organizations 
  • Canadian academic institutions 
  • Provincial, territorial, regional municipal or Indigenous governments
  • Private (for profit) organizations
• International not-for-profit legal entities validly incorporated or registered abroad, including:
  • Industry, research and professional associations
  • International organizations (e.g., Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
  • Academic institutions
  • Other non-profit organizations

Multiple organizations that come together to advance a project must identify a clear lead and explain the roles of each partner.

Summary

The Research and Knowledge Initiative (RKI) is a national merit-based contributions funding program from Infrastructure Canada that funds projects focused on key Government of Canada research and data priorities related to housing, infrastructure and communities.

Improving our understanding of housing and infrastructure, how they intersect and the dynamics that will drive effective and responsive solutions in Canada, will be essential to build and maintain livable, resilient communities. More and better research and data on housing and infrastructure can facilitate innovative approaches, empower citizens, and further community resilience and sustainability. Improved research and data can also inform national, regional and local decision-making and governance.

The call for proposals for the second phase of the Research and Knowledge Initiative is focused on applied research that includes or examines specific interventions and that contributes to solutions for addressing Canadian housing and infrastructure needs. Infrastructure Canada is particularly seeking proposals for research projects that investigate innovative and practical solutions – especially related to housing but may also address other infrastructure issues for communities – that respond to key concerns such as affordability, equity in access, and/or adaptability to changing needs, including climate change and demographic change.

Priorities for this phase of research will focus on projects that:

• Test or evaluate solutions on a pilot basis, or undertake proof of concept analysis to study solutions in action, with robust methodology;
• Investigate replication or scalability of solutions in different provinces, municipalities, communities or regions;
• Develop and assess the application of new science, data, or technology; or
• Extract and evaluate lessons and uptake feasibilities from practical innovations including outside of Canada.

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Broad relevance from a local or place-based perspective, as well as how they relate to the priority areas outlined above;
• Incorporation of appropriate and robust research methodologies for the proposed project scope;
• Involvement of the relevant expertise, stakeholders and partners, with an approach that includes knowledge-sharing and demonstrates the research is usable and replicable for various infrastructure actors or stakeholders in Canada; and
• Project is designed to deliver intended results and ensure strong stewardship of resources.

Overhead

Overhead costs related to a project can be calculated as part of eligible expenses under the RKI but should not exceed 10% of total costs and must be directly related to the proposed project.

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 Process:

Full application, plus approvals in RMS, will be required by RSO by noon on February 6, 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 signature has been obtained, you can then login to the Applicant Portal to complete the application and upload supporting documentation. Note that applications can be saved prior to submission as many times as necessary and do not need to be completed in one session.

Note: If you are a first-time applicant to an Infrastructure Canada program, you will need to create an account following the instructions provided in the Applicant Portal. If you already have an account with the Applicant Portal, you can log in using this information.

RESOURCES

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