Advanced Materials Challenge

Eligibility

• Universities are eligible to apply.
• Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are invited for projects that will advance technology to the stages of prototype, field pilot, demonstration, or first-of-kind commercial implementation by project completion (e.g., TRL 5-9 by project completion). Technologies may be at a TRL of less than 5 prior to the start of the proposed ERA-funded project.
• All projects supported through this call must demonstrate a clear and justified value proposition for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Alberta. Technology solutions can originate from anywhere globally but must be demonstrated or implemented in Alberta during the project.

Summary

The Advanced Materials Challenge offers funding for scale-up, pilot demonstration, and first-of-kind projects that shape the circular economy and create low emissions products, including concrete, plastics, food, wood, carbon materials, chemicals, and more. The funding call will increase the competitiveness of Alberta’s manufacturing and resource sectors, grow new provincial industries with export potential, and reduce the carbon footprint of material supply chains. This call is seeking transformative opportunities to position Alberta for success in a future carbon-neutral economy. All proposed solutions must be compatible with decarbonization strategies and must demonstrate a clear line of sight towards realized emissions reductions.

This call aligns with the “Circular Economy,” “Industrial Decarbonization,” and “Carbon Management” focus areas outlined in ERA’s Technology Roadmap (5th edition) but is not limited to any particular focus area. Potential technologies range from creating non-combustion products from bitumen, improved circularity for the plastics value chain, waste management, recovery, and recycling, processing of critical minerals, and producing materials from carbon dioxide.

ERA requires its funding to be matched on a minimum 1:1 basis with funding from the applicant and/or project partners toward eligible expenses. In other words, for every dollar that ERA provides to a project, there must be at least one dollar from the applicant and/or partners. As such, the maximum ERA contribution to a single project will be no more than 50% of the project’s eligible expenses.

Program Resources

• Advanced Materials Challenge Program Guidelines
• Advanced Materials Challenge Webinar Slide Deck -- the webinar recording can be viewed on the program page
• ERA Cost Guidelines

Submission Process

There is a two-stage process consisting of an Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Proposal, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

1. Expression of Interest (EOI)

The EOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) via a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to the RSO by January 17, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Once you have received RSO approval, the consortium lead must submit the Pre-Proposal by January 22, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (MT) using the ERA online portal.

2. Full Proposal (by invitation) -- Deadline TBD

If invited, the Full Proposal, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) via a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to the RSO at least 3 business days ahead (at 12:00 p.m.) of the ERA deadline. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

*Creation of a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS is not necessary. You can automatically generate an Application record from the existing LOI record by changing the status of the LOI record to 'Invited to full application' (under Save & Progress).

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once the institutional signature has been obtained, the UCalgary Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address.

Overhead

15%

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

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.

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, community partnerships, and responsible research assessment (DORA) 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, please visit the KI 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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Support for Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to assist researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the new 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 LOI

Creating a Pre-Award Application (do not create a new Application record if you have an existing LOI record for the same competition)