WorkSafe BC - Innovation | Exploratory Research

Eligibility

The principal applicant must be an academic researcher based in (or formally affiliated with) a Canadian university or a Canadian research institution. All applicants must propose research topics that align with our research priorities.

Please note the following additional eligibility guidelines and requirements:

• Researchers are encouraged to form multi-disciplinary teams, including workers and employers, to address the research topic. Applicants are asked to carefully consider the composition of the research team to ensure that there is sufficient expertise and resources to conduct the project, perform effective knowledge translation and exchange, and obtain ethics approval as needed.
• International applicants are not eligible to apply as principal applicants; however, they may participate as co-applicants.
• Full-time employees of WorkSafeBC are not eligible to apply as principal applicants; however, they may participate as co-applicants.

Summary

Exploratory Research is a new funding stream within Innovation supporting exploration of occupational health and safety and work disability challenges through a new lens, bringing together non-traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary teams of researchers, workers, and employers to create bold and lasting effects. This stream is meant for high-risk/high-reward research that investigates new areas of scientific inquiry and challenges current paradigms.

Funding under this stream is intended for early-stage projects that have potential to disrupt conventional thinking and lead to significant advancements or breakthroughs. The outcomes from this stream are not restricted to any specific type of intervention and could include a novel tool, technology, program, or method that revolutionizes how a particular occupational health and safety or work disability problem is currently viewed and addressed.

Overhead

Ineligible

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.

WorkSafe BC Submission Instructions 

Please complete your application electronically and save as a Word document (i.e., do not send PDFs). Electronic signatures (digitally drawn or scanned copies of handwritten signatures) are accepted. 

Upload your completed application package to OneDrive by clicking on the following link: 2026 Exploratory Research Application Packages. Please note that once you click "Upload" you will not be able to modify your submission. Please ensure you use the following format to name your file: 2026 ER Lastname (e.g., 2026 ER Singh). Limit the file size to 5 MB — larger file sizes will not be accepted. 

Complete applications must be received by the deadline. Late or incomplete application packages will not be accepted. The only materials that will be accepted after the deadline are ethics and biosafety certificates, as required. 

Please email Research Services at resquery@worksafebc.com if you have any issues uploading your files.

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 LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application