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Internal Call for Proposals – CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) – 2025 October Competition

Sponsor/agency: Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Program: John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF)

Description 

The Office of Research Services has launched a time sensitive internal call for proposals to allocate CFI JELF funding that remains in our current institutional envelope.  If deemed meritorious based on the assessment criteria, only ONE application will be selected from this round to apply to the CFI national competition in October 2025.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) offers institutions the opportunity to acquire foundational infrastructure to support cutting-edge research. JELF is an allocation-based fund whereby CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding for which each eligible university may apply. 

The CFI JELF is a matching program: 

  • 40% requested from the CFI JELF 
  • 40% requested from the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure (ORF-RI) Program 
  • 20% matching funds - vendor deep discounts beyond normal academic pricing (in-kind), cash (Note: Tri-Agency funds are not eligible match) or a combination of cash and in-kind. 

JELF applicants will also submit a separate proposal to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to request matching funds for the CFI award. The Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure (ORF-RI) program provides up to 40% of total project costs as a match to the project.

Please be advised that the Ontario Procurement Restriction Policy will apply, meaning that no equipment requested may be purchased from a U.S. Business. APPLICATIONS THAT REQUEST EQUIPMENT FROM A U.S. VENDOR WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Program Summary 

Deadlines: June 19, 2025: ORS Internal Application Deadline (no extensions to this deadline will be considered) 

June – July 2025: Selection Committee Meeting 

July 2025: Internal Competition Results Communicated  

October 15, 2025: External CFI JELF Application Deadline

TBC*: External ORF-RI Application Deadline

April 2026: CFI’s Anticipated Decision Date

*Following the CFI-JELF submission, the Office of Research Services will contact applicants to provide program information and internal deadlines associated with the required ORF-RI application.

Value: For this call, proposals must request a minimum of $75,000 from the CFI and a maximum of $135,000 from the CFI. The amount requested from the CFI must represent a maximum of 40% of the total project cost. Only one application will be selected to apply to the national competition in October 2025. 

 

Minimum Project Total: $187,500

  • CFI Contribution (max 40% of total): $75,000

  • ORF-RI Contribution (max 40% of total): $75,000

  • Vendor/Other Contributions (min 20% of total): $37,500

Maximum Project Total: $337,500

  • CFI Contribution (max 40% of total): $135,000

  • ORF-RI Contribution (max 40% of total): $135,000

  • Vendor/Other Contributions (min 20% of total): $67,500

Duration: 1 year

How to Apply: Review the Internal Call for Proposals Guidelines and application requirements outlined in the Internal Application Form. Highlights from the call are provided below but please ensure you review and adhere to the program materials (found below, under Resources). Applications should be submitted to research@ontariotechu.ca by June 19, 2025.

Contact: FBIT, FSSH, FEd – Amber Zapletal

FEAS – Joanne Hui

FHS, FS – Raluca Dubrowski

Program information:

Program website

Internal Selection Process

Internal applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee appointed by the VPRI, comprised of: 

  • Two to three Ontario Tech faculty members with previous experience as a CFI or Tri-Agency reviewer, who are not in conflict of interest with any proposal
  • Manager, Grants and Funding Programs, Office of Research Services 

The committee will review the applications using the selection criteria defined below and make recommendations to the VPRI on which project (if any) should be put forward to the external CFI JELF October 2025 competition. Final decisions will be made by the VPRI. The decision of the VPRI is final and cannot be appealed. 

Assessment Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following five criteria that reflect the objectives of the competition: 

  1. Research or technology development: The research or technology development activities are innovative, feasible and meet international standards. 
  2. Researchers: The researchers demonstrate excellence and leadership at a level appropriate for the stage of their career. The researchers have the expertise or relevant collaborations to conduct the research or technology development activities. 
  3. Infrastructure: The infrastructure is necessary and appropriate to conduct the research or technology development activities. 
  4. Sustainability: The infrastructure will be optimally used and sustainable over its useful life. 
  5. Benefits: The research results will be transferred through appropriate pathways to potential end users and are likely to generate social, health, environmental and/or economic benefits to Canada and Ontario, including better training and improved skills for highly qualified personnel. In this proposal, the applicant must describe how the proposed infrastructure will advance provincial outcomes and innovation

Eligibility 

Infrastructure

The infrastructure funded by the CFI includes state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories, equipment, computer hardware, software and databases necessary to conduct leading-edge research. Construction costs to renovate existing space, (including fitting out existing space), which is essential to house and use the infrastructure effectively, is also an eligible cost. The CFI does not cover the cost of students, research personnel or other research operating costs (supplies, consumables, travel, etc). 

Applicant 

Ontario Tech full time faculty members with tenured or tenure-track positions in all disciplines are invited to submit an application. Applicants must secure the required minimum 20% matching funds in order to apply. 

The JELF is intended to serve the infrastructure needs of individual faculty, or groups of faculty members where there is a need to share infrastructure. A maximum of three applicants can be listed on the JELF application. When more than one candidate is listed, the justification of the need for the infrastructure must be articulated for each candidate. 

The applicants listed on the proposal must be: 

  • current faculty members with a full-time tenured or tenure-track position; 
  • recognized as innovative leaders in their field of research or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in the proposed research field; 
  • engaged in, or embarking upon research or technology development that is innovative, high quality and meets international standards; and 
  • have active peer-reviewed Tri-Agency funding. 

Exclusions: Individuals may not apply to this round if: a) they have been awarded CFI funds in the past two years (2023-2024); or b) they are part of a CFI JELF application currently under review or in development (as project leader or co-applicant). 

An Ontario Tech researcher may only participate in one JELF application as a Project Leader but may participate in multiple applications as a co-applicant. If a researcher participates in multiple proposals, there can be no overlap in funds or infrastructure requested among the applications.

CFI Funding Formula and Matching Funds

CFI JELF applications must include confirmation of the required matching funds. If the matching funds are to be provided by the private sector or other external agency, a letter of support outlining their commitment must accompany the application. 

If the 20% matching fund is provided in the form of a "discount beyond best educational price" by a vendor/supplier, a copy of the quotation must be included showing:

  1. List Price 
  2. Best Educational Price 
  3. Discount Beyond Best Educational Price 
  4. Net Price 

Applicants should refer to the Vendor Quote Guidelines for CFI to ensure quotations meet CFI eligibility requirements. Ensure that vendor pricing includes extended warranties, shipping, installation and all other associated costs. When approaching vendors, note that the quotes are for budget development purposes only, not a commitment to purchase. If the grant is approved, all procurement will follow the appropriate Ontario Tech procurement policy and procedures. 

Please be advised that the Ontario Procurement Restriction Policy will apply, meaning that no equipment requested may be purchased from a U.S. Business. APPLICATIONS THAT REQUEST EQUIPMENT FROM A U.S. VENDOR WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Applicants should be aware that once the relevant taxes, shipping and associated costs are applied to the total cost of the requested infrastructure in the application budget, the contribution by a vendor may actually work out to slightly less than the required 20%. Additional matching funds by the applicants may be required to make up the resulting short-fall. 

Space and Renovations

All Ontario Tech infrastructure requests must be accommodated within existing Faculty space and receive Dean’s approval. Renovation costs must be covered by the Faculty and/or factored into the total budget costs. Those selected to apply to the CFI will be required to obtain an estimate of the renovation cost needed to accommodate the infrastructure from the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability (OCIS) and confirm the proposed space is suitable for the equipment (if required). Applicants should be aware that renovation costs can also include such expenses as changes to a space in order to accommodate a piece of equipment that has special power requirements, ventilation needs or environmental cooling (for example).

Resources