Catalyst Grant: Partnering for Impact (2025)

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible, all the requirements stated below must be met:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be:
   1. an independent researcher or a knowledge user affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge mobilization).
      OR
   2. an individual affiliated with an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge mobilization mandate.
      OR
   3. an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge mobilization mandate
2. The NPA must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.

3. The Institution Paid receives and administers the funds on behalf of the NPA and therefore must be authorized by CIHR before the funds can be released.

   If the Institution Paid is not on the List of CIHR Eligible Institutions, they are encouraged to contact the Contact Centre, in advance, to enquire about the authorization process and timelines.

4. Applications must be developed in partnership amongst researchers, knowledge users, Knowledge Holders, and/or health or community organizations, and require co-leadership and co-production approaches.
5. As a result, the team must be co-led by:
   1. A minimum of one independent researcher (as either the NPA or a Principal Applicant - PA);
      AND
   2. A minimum of one knowledge user (as either the NPA or a Principal Knowledge User* - PKU).
6. Applicants must include a Project Coordinator, (as either a Co-Applicant or a KU) who will support meaningful engagement as part of co-produced activities. This role cannot overlap with the roles above.
7. For applications involving research with First Nations, Inuit or Métis Peoples, at least one member of the research team in a principal role (i.e., NPA, PKU* or PA) must self-identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis and/or provide evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples (see How to Apply section).

* In relation to CIHR's applicant categories, Principal Knowledge Users are responsible for leading the intellectual direction of proposed activities, whereas Knowledge Users actively participate in proposed activities but not to direct them.

Summary

Following the release of CIHR's Strategic Plan, the agency undertook extensive engagements to inform how it could optimize and modernize its approach to knowledge mobilization. During these engagements the health research community expressed a prioritized need for dedicated funding to support the creation and strengthening of partnerships between researchers, knowledge users, Knowledge Holders, communities, and health and community organizations. The 2025-26 Partnering for Impact – Catalyst Grant funding opportunity is a first 'early action' in response to this externally identified knowledge mobilization priority in recognition of the importance of time, trust, sustained and meaningful engagement, and the involvement of diverse perspectives in sparking research co-production. This funding opportunity aligns with CIHR's Research Excellence Framework and embodies an inclusive approach to research excellence by emphasizing the importance of knowledge mobilization; equity, diversity and inclusion; Indigenous Rights; and patient-oriented research.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this initiative is to foster the creation and strengthening of research partnerships that reinforce trust and mutual understanding between researchers, knowledge users (including people with lived and/or living experience, policy makers, decision makers, and health providers), Knowledge Holders, communities, and health and community organizations (including public health). The aim of these partnerships is to advance co-produced research and co-produced knowledge mobilization activities, leading to more relevant and applicable knowledge that is positioned for implementation and impact.

Overhead

n/a

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 October 20, 2025. 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.

Do not submit through ResearchNet until RSO's signature has been granted!! 

Once institutional signature has been obtained, a copy of the CIHR signature page will be available via the RMS record, under Documents. Upload the CIHR signature page and routing slip in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet by 6:00PM Calgary time on October 23, 2025.

Webinar

CIHR will be hosting the following webinar to support participants with the requirements of the funding opportunity “Catalyst Grant: 2025-26 Partnering for Impact” and to answer questions on how to apply.

When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM MT | Join
Duration: 60 minutes

RESOURCES

Contact the following Research Service units for support with: 

 Projects Involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management 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. 

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:  
Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.  

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.  
For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Research Data Management: 

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

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). 

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with RSO units, the more help we can be! 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application