CFI Innovation Fund 2025

Eligibility

The Canada Foundation for Innovation Innovation Fund 2025 (IF), so named because funding decisions are expected in 2025, will support team projects with researchers at one or more Canadian post-secondary institutions with funding for research infrastructure.  This notice relates to the internal (University of Calgary) Notice of Intent process; see details below.

Internal Notices of Intent are required both for projects led by UCalgary researchers, and projects led by researchers at another institution where UCalgary is requested to contribute CFI "envelope."

Summary

*REVISED iNOI deadline - iNOIs now due to Research Services on March 18.  Contact your ADR's office for updated earlier faculty-specific deadlines*

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has not yet announced the draft Call for Proposals for the Innovation Fund 2025 (IF). This call for an internal Notice of Intent will reference Innovation Fund 2023 program parameters as a guideline. If updates to this iNOI call are required following CFI’s Innovation Fund 2025 call for proposals (expected in Spring 2024), these will be circulated to the campus community and to all faculties.

For reference, the objectives of the 2023 Innovation Fund were to:

• Enable internationally competitive research or technology development through the equitable participation of expert team members;
• Enhance and optimize the capacity of institutions and research communities to conduct the proposed research or technology development program(s) over the useful life of the infrastructure; and
• Lead to social, health, environmental and/or economic benefits for Canadians.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Institutional Envelope: Each eligible institution will be assigned a maximum amount of available CFI funding based on its average share of tri-agency funding. The University of Calgary’s envelope will be known when the CFI issues its draft Call for Proposals. 

Internal Selection Process: The University of Calgary is carrying out an internal selection process in order to strategically manage its institutional envelope and to ensure the projects submitted to the CFI are well-positioned for success. The internal selection process will be initiated by the submission of an internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) (templates attached) and will include vetting by the faculties, consultation with campus partners, ADRC and Deans Council, review and recommendation by SUPPORT and decision by the Vice-President (Research).

The proposals selected to move forward will demonstrate: 

• Alignment with the CFI’s anticipated Innovation Fund objectives;
• Feasibility of implementation (i.e., indication that the team and project are well-positioned to undertake the research activities in keeping with the anticipated IF 2023 funding timeline, reflecting consultation with Facilities, IT, and other resources as appropriate);
• Alignment with department, institute, faculty and/or University of Calgary strategic research strengths and initiatives.

Those interested in the Innovation Fund opportunity and planning to submit an internal Notice of Intent should contact ipd@ucalgary.ca for tips on preparing an iNOI and planning an IF project.

iNOI information session: UCalgary offered an internal information session for prospective applicants and other interested parties in October 2023; a recording and the slide deck is available here.

iNOI templates:

1. Choose the correct iNOI form template (use only one):

• Where a UCalgary researcher will be the lead applicant, use this template.
• Where an application will be led by a researcher at a different university, but UCalgary researcher(s) will participate AND UCalgary will be asked to contribute CFI "envelope," use this template.

2.  Budget template

Timeline

1. iNOI preparation

• PI/team prepare internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) – see attached templates.  No RMS entry is required.
  • Consult with support services to assist in identifying needs and costs; see “tips” document attached
• PI/team submit draft iNOI to Associate Dean (Research)

                               Deadline:            To be determined by Faculty; contact your ADR/ADRs

          iNOIs submitted to the ADR should include 3 components (templates attached here):

• from the appropriate iNOI template, Section 1 (completed tables)
• a separate attachment with responses to Section 2 of the iNOI template; and
• an Excel budget template

2. iNOI submission

• ADR office submits iNOI to Research Services at IPD@ucalgary.ca.  No RMS entry is required.

                               Deadline:            REVISED - By noon March 18, 2024  (was March 4)

3. iNOI review and selection

• Internal review and decision by the Vice-President (Research) regarding which projects will move forward in the competition

                               Timeline:             Between March 18, 2024 and May 2024

4. Application development – for projects approved to move forward and allocated envelope

• Teams (with support from faculties, Research Services, and partners) develop NOI and full application for submission to the CFI

                               Timeline:             Between May 2024 and February 2025

• Application for matching provincial funding – details and timeline TBD

5. Funding decision

• CFI Board decision

                               Timeline:             Expected November 2025

• Application for matching provincial funding – details and timeline TBD

Faculty ADRs are asked to submit the following iNOI materials for all approved projects to ipd@ucalgary.ca by March 18, 2024:

☐ Faculty letter of support from lead (administering) applicant faculty

☐ Additional faculty letters of support, if applicable

☐ iNOI template Section 1, with all fields complete (select the correct form – UCalgary-led or other institution-led)

☐ iNOI Section 2 - as an attachment (adhering to page limits for each section, with headers/headings)

☐ Budget template as an Excel document

Specific application process information for the subsequent phases for the 2025 Innovation Fund competition will be distributed to those groups selected to move forward in the competition

RESOURCES

An Innovation Fund tips and checklist document is available here.  It includes valuable recommendations for developing a strong internal Notice of Intent.

Space and renovation requirements: Contact Leanne Junnila in Campus Architecture at leanne.junnila@ucalgary.ca to discuss CFI-related facilities requirements.  Identification of locations to accommodate equipment/infrastructure and research activities should be done within the faculty.

IT and high performance computing: consult with IT contact/IT Research Computing Services as soon as possible so needs may be appropriately assessed

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.

Overhead

None

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

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

Principal Investigators: No Research Management System (RMS) record is required for internal Notices of Intent.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: N/A

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 not be accepted