2025 Innovation Fund (IF)
Grant Information
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has launched its 2025 Innovation Fund (IF) competition (https://www.innovation.ca/apply-manage-awards/funding-opportunities/innovation-fund). UPEI is now seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) proposing research projects that:
- Align with the institution’s strategic research plan,
- Are guided by our institutional Value Statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
(https://www.upei.ca/equity-diversity-and-inclusion), in selecting projects and assembling research teams,
- Demonstrate appropriate maturity and offer the best potential for transformative impact; it is expected that projects will be finalized promptly and completed within a reasonable time frame,
- Build on established capacity to accelerate current research and technology development or bolster emerging strategic priority areas, and
- Empower teams to maximize the use of research infrastructure and foster world-class research.
For this competition, CFI will only consider proposals whose total costs are greater than $1M. UPEI is allocated a CFI envelope of $4.0M. CFI will fund a maximum of 40% of total project costs, this would allow for a total value of projects at $10M. At present, there are no matching funds guaranteed.
Applicants are encouraged to review the funding guidelines. The objectives of the 2025 Innovation Fund competition are to:
- Enable internationally competitive research or technology development through the equitable participation of expert team members
- Enhance the capacity of institutions to conduct the research or technology development program over the useful life of the infrastructure
- Generate benefits for Canadians.
Expressions of Interest (EOI)
Proposals where UPEI is the lead AND/OR where UPEI is a partner institution, must submit an EOI to enable approved allocation of UPEI funding. All EOIs are to be submitted to your Dean, no later than August 20, 2024, 4:00 p.m. EOIs must include:
- 3-page Outline of proposed infrastructure project (see below)
- CV(s)
Outline of proposed infrastructure project
The EOI is a maximum of 3 pages and is to be subdivided according to the bullets outlined below. Information for all bullets is mandatory, and they are as follows:
- Identify the Stream:
- Stream 1: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation. This stream is open to proposals from all disciplines.
- Stream 2: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation in the social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA) play a critical role in the Canadian research ecosystem. NOTE: Each institution can submit one proposal with a primary field of research in SSHA outside its institutional envelope.
- Stream 3: Creation, renewal and upgrade of core facilities
- Provide a high-level overview of the research or technology development program,
- Table of requested infrastructure including a brief description and approximate cost of major pieces,
- Outline the fit with UPEI’s strategic research plan,
- List of up to 10 research team members, including the co-Team Leaders, where applicable, and their institutional affiliations,
- Consideration of EDI in team member selection,
- List of partnering institutions and the CFI IF envelope amount requested from partnering CFI-eligible institutions, where applicable, and,
- Estimated Total Project Cost, including renovation cost estimates. Project cost estimates should show a breakdown of the CFI request (not to exceed 40% of total project cost) and potential sources of match funding.
CV
A 2-page maximum CV is required for the UPEI-led IF EOI Team Leader(s) only. For multi- institutional projects where the lead Institution is not UPEI, the CV of the lead UPEI team member must be provided.
Selection
Each Dean will assess and bring forward approved EOIs to Dean's Council, tentatively on Sept. 3, 2024. Only EOIs selected by Dean’s Council will be eligible to apply to the CFI 2025 IF competition.
Submission of Notice of Intent to CFI
The successful candidate(s) are required to use the online CFI Award Management System (CAMS). ORS will approve the allocation of funds within CAMS. The formal Notice of Intent submission deadline in CAMS is Oct. 2, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to review the funding guidelines. No submission in the UPEI Researcher Portal is required at this stage. If you do not already have a CAMS account, you will need to create one if your EOI is selected to proceed.
Other:
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact Manager of Research Administration, Partnerships, and Innovation, Maria Steele, mlsteele@upei.ca.
