RFP on Alternative Protein R&D - September Intake

Eligibility

Both non-profit and for-profit organizations are eligible, including universities, research institutions, companies, and university-industry collaborations. Any award to a for-profit entity would be subject to due diligence, and the structure of such an award would depend on the scope of the proposed project and its alignment with our charitable mission.

Summary

Open Philantrophy are soliciting proposals across four priority areas:

Off-flavor reduction in plant- and fermentation-derived protein ingredients, via agricultural, breeding, processing, or fermentation-based interventions; 
Fat alternatives for flavor generation, including oleogels, emulsion systems on existing margarine/spread lines, oil bodies, novel flavor-active lipid compounds, and oilseed breeding for longer-chain monounsaturates; 
Egg reduction and replacement through enzymatic approaches, hybrid systems, and foundational functional characterization in industrial bakery, mayonnaise/dressings, and pasta; and 
Characterizing fish flavors in welfare-priority species, including tilapia and milkfish, carp and bottom-dwellers (including pond loach), and catfish. 
We¿ve published a technical context document describing each priority, the metrics we care about, and the rubrics we¿ll use to evaluate proposals. Applicants should read this document carefully before applying. Proposals that ignore the metrics and methodology preferences described there are unlikely to be competitive.

We welcome proposals of varying sizes and scopes. Awards will have typical durations of two to three years (3.5 years maximum). We encourage applications from across the R&D ecosystem, including universities and research institutes; small, medium, and large companies; and public-sector research organizations. Successful teams will likely be interdisciplinary, combining expertise across analytical chemistry, sensory science, food science, fermentation, breeding, and/or industry-relevant scale-up. We strongly encourage applications that include industry partners or articulate a credible pathway to industry uptake. Applicants from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply, though award eligibility will be subject to legal and financial due diligence.  

Applications will be reviewed in two rounds. Both rounds share the same priority areas and evaluation criteria; they differ in award size and the scale of project we expect to fund. Round 1 supports smaller, focused projects, and Round 2 supports larger, more ambitious ones. We encourage applicants to apply to the round that best fits the scope of their proposed work.

The first and only step is to submit an application. Please read the technical context document carefully before applying.

Overhead

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, 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.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

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.

Pre-Award Submissions:
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application