We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Funding Opportunities Bulletin - January 2024

In this issue:

Announcements
Funding opportunities: New, current and ongoing
Office of Research Services (ORS): Processes, internal requirements and contacts
Resources: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Tri-Agency; Navigator Tool
Funding opportunity details

Announcements

New announcements

1. New Requirements for Federal Research Funding - Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Additional information can be found here and in the FAQ. An Ontario Tech information and Q&A session on this topic will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Contact Lisa Kozycz, Manager – Safeguarding Research (kozycz@ontariotechu.ca) for questions.
2. Updates to the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships that are effective immediately:
  1. The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Annex A has been updated to align with the new list of Sensitive Technology Research Areas. The list includes technologies at various stages of development; however, the focus is on the advancement of a listed technology or its capabilities during the course of the proposed research project, rather than merely its use.
  2. In addition, for any NSERC Alliance grant applications that are referred for advice from Canada’s national security departments and agencies following the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Review Process, the national security assessment conducted will consider research affiliations of concern.
1. NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program – 2024 Program Launch and webinar information
1. NSERC Alliance Program Updates – Webinar – Wednesday, January 31, 2024 11:00 a.m.
Webinar number: 2771 433 7422

Webinar password: ALLRP2024! (25577202 from phones and video systems)

Join by phone: +1.613.714.9906 Canada Toll (Ottawa); 1.844.426.4405 Canada Toll Free

Access code: 277 143 37422

Reminders
1. NSERC announce improvements to Alliance grants programs
2. NSERC Alliance Advantage (formerly Option 1) – Early Career Researcher Voucher
  - Vouchers are being offered through a pilot program to make it easier for early career researchers to participate in Alliance Advantage grants and to involve partner organizations. The pilot program will provide vouchers to up to 200 eligible researchers. You must submit a Letter of intent through the NSERC online system (see Alliance Advantage — Letter of intent and redemption: voucher for early career researchers). The Letter of intent involves providing basic information about yourself and attaching your personal data form with CCV (no partner organization or research proposal required at this stage). You must submit your Letter of intent by February 22, 2024.
1. - If NSERC receives more than 200 Letters of intent, it will choose recipients through a random selection process.
  - If successful, you will have to submit a fill Alliance Advantage application within 12 months to redeem your ECR voucher.
1. Mitacs Accelerate: Special Call - a new special Accelerate program call to offer enhanced leveraging for eligible projects in the agriculture/agrifood, biotech/life/health science, cleantech, AI, quantum and ICT sectors. This offer is only available for new projects (i.e. not yet submitted) and allows for enhanced partner matching if the projects fall into one (or more) of the identified target areas. The offer is available for projects submitted until February 9, 2024.
2. Convergence Portal Update – Multi-Factor Authentication: Over the next few months, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) will be implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) in Convergence, as mandated by Government of Canada security policies. Visit the multi-factor authentication page for more information.
3. The presidents of Canada's federal research granting agencies announce a review of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
4. Mitacs Elevate Program updates: applications are being accepted year-round, proposals are now submitted via the online portal, standard $60,000/year award, open to all sectors and disciplines.
5. SSHRC-Mitacs Joint Initiative: Starting 2023-24: SSHRC applicants (PEG, PDG, PG-S2, IG) can simultaneously apply for Mitacs Accelerate internships (IDG in 2025). The advantages of the joint program are to: strengthen training and mentoring plans, access additional funding for student and postdoctoral resources, Reinforce engagement with partners and stakeholders, and develop skills and qualifications of students and postdoctoral researchers.
High-level process: (1) SSHRC applicant applies to Mitacs for Accelerate internships one week after SSHRC application deadline; (2) Mitacs and SSHRC conduct merit review separately; (3) Mitacs communicates results to Accelerate applicants after SSHRC does the same for its applicants.

Contact Grants Officer Ewa Stewart for more information.
1. Update from the NSERC-SSHRC Awards Administration Team regarding the extension request process for grants requiring an extension due to pandemic delays.
2. CIHR – Mock Review Toolkit: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is pleased to announce the launch of the Mock Review Toolkit. The Toolkit is designed to allow individuals to familiarize themselves with CIHR’s peer review process by simulating the Project Grant competition. Using the Toolkit as a resource, users will be able plan, organize and run mock peer review sessions, from a light round table to a full mock review panel.
3. City Studio Durham has projects for faculty and students, including projects on workplace modernization, carbon capture, building resilience for displaced residents and others.
4. Revisions made to CIHR Application Administration Guide to bring clarity on policy 3.6 regarding compensation for co-applicants and trainees.
5. New National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships to protect Canadian Science and Research
6. Research Data Management – Communication re: Tri-Agency Updates

Funding Opportunities

Grants Officers will provide administrative review of grant applications to ensure completeness with agency guidelines and assist with institutional signatures. Please notify your Grants Officer as soon as possible of your intent to apply to any opportunity and submit your application for administrative review a minimum of five business days before the agency deadline.

Note: We have provided some additional details on some opportunities in the Word document version of this bulletin. Click on “ORS information and deadlines” to link to these details within the Funding Bulletin document.

New this month

Agency-Program	Internal Deadline	First Agency Deadline
Infrastructure Canada – Housing, Infrastructure, Communities – Research and Knowledge Initiative	February 5, 2024	February 9, 2024
Ono Pharma Foundation – Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program in the United States and Canada in 2024 – ORS Information and Deadlines	February 1, 2024	LOI: February 15, 2024 Full: May 9, 2024
Environment and Climate Change Canada – Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI)	February 8, 2024	February 15, 2024
Global Affairs Leadership Initiative Funds: Open Call for Projects – ORS Information and Deadlines 1. Indigenous and Northern Collaborative Research and Education Engagement Fund 2. Indigenous and Northern Relationship Development Fund	February 8, 2024	February 15, 2024
Canadian Cancer Society – Data Transformation Grants	Full: April 17, 2024	LOI: February 21, 2024 Full: April 24, 2024
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) – Contributions Program 2024-25 Competition Themes: 1. Addressing the privacy impacts of new technologies 2. Ensuring that children’s privacy is protected 3. Cutting-edge issues that advance the protection of privacy in the private sector	February 14, 2024	February 21, 2024
NSERC – Alliance Advantage – Letter of Intent: Voucher for Early Career Researchers – ORS Information	N/A	February 22, 2024
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) – Energy Innovation Program	February 16, 2024 Full: TBD	EOI: February 23, 2024 Full: Spring 2024
Ontario Ministry of Transportation – Road Safety Research Partnership Program	February 22, 2024	February 29, 2024
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the National Geographic Society – The Trebek Initiative	April 4, 2024	April 11, 2024
SickKids Foundation/ CIHR – New Investigator Grants in Child and Youth Health	April 15, 2024	April 22, 2024
SSHRC – Connection Grant	April 24, 2024	May 1, 2024
NSERC-NRC – Internet of Things: Quantum Sensors Challenge Program – NSERC Alliance Quantum - Advancing the industrial readiness of quantum sensing technologies Please notify your Grants Officer as soon as possible if you are planning on applying to this funding opportunity	June 3, 2024	June 14, 2024

Current Funding Opportunities

Agency-Program	Internal Deadline	First Agency Deadline
WSIB - 2023 Grants Program Strategic Initiative: Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) and lung and bladder cancers (Systematic Review)	January 22, 2024	January 29, 2024
Ministry of Transportation (MTO) – Highway Infrastructure Innovations Funding Program (HIIFP)	January 24, 2024	January 31, 2024
NSERC – Alliance International Collaboration Quantum Grants	No later than January 10, 2024	Rolling deadline until January 31, 2024
CIHR - Planning and Dissemination Grants – Institute/Initiative Community Support	January 25, 2024	February 1, 2024
SSHRC – Connection Grant	January 25, 2024	February 1, 2024
SSHRC – Insight Development Grant – ORS Information and Deadlines	Comprehensive Review: January 8, 2024 Admin review: January 25, 2023 (mandatory)	February 2, 2024
CIHR – Project Grant – Spring 2024 Competition – ORS Information and Deadlines	Comprehensive review: February 21, 2024 Admin review: February 28, 2024	Registration: February 7, 2024 Full: March 6, 2024
Transport Canada - Enhanced Road Safety Transfer Payment Program Call for Proposals	February 1, 2024	February 8, 2024
SSHRC - Partnership Grants (Stage 1) – 2024 Competition – ORS Information and Deadlines Please let Ewa Stewart know if you are interested in applying by December 8, 2023. (mandatory)	Comprehensive Review: January 15, 2024 Admin review: January 29, 2024 (mandatory)	February 12, 2024
CIHR - Operating Grant: National Women’s Health Research Initiative: Innovation Fund Webinar: January 10, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m. Join	Full: March 6, 2024	Registration: February 13, 2024 Full: March 13, 2024
CIHR – Catalyst Grant: Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Report (Supporting research on the knowledge generation opportunities identified in the Chief Public Health Officer’s 2023 Annual Report)	February 15, 2024	February 22, 2024
NSERC – Alliance Advantage (Formerly Option 1) – Early Career Researcher $10,000 Voucher Lottery		February 22, 2024
Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) - John R. Evans Leaders Fund – 2024 Competition – Internal Call for Proposals	February 26, 2024	N/A
Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) – Innovation Fund (IF) – Internal Call for Proposals	February 26, 2024	N/A
Natural Resources Canada – Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund 2023-34 Call for Proposals	February 22, 2024	February 29, 2024
SSHRC – Partnership Engage Grant	March 8, 2024	March 15, 2024
NSERC – Alliance International Catalyst Quantum Grants	No later than March 4, 2024	Rolling deadline until March 31, 2024
NSERC- French Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) call for proposals on quantum technologies	March 14, 2024	March 28, 2024
DND-IDEaS – Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Concept Development Call for Proposals (Two deadlines to apply)	Full #1: October 19, 2023 Full #2: April 8, 2024	Full #1: October 26, 2023 Full #2: April 15, 2024
CIHR - Team Grant : Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging KM Hub Webinar: October 17, 2023 at 1:00p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	LOI: January 2, 2024 Full: July 3, 2024	LOI: January 9, 2024 Full: July 10, 2024
New Frontiers in Research Fund – 2024 Transformation Competition – ORS Information and deadlines	NOI: October 23, 2023 LOI: December 4, 2023 Full: TBD	NOI: October 24, 2023 LOI: January 10, 2024 Full: September 5, 2024