Funding Opportunities Bulletin - May 2024

In this Issue:

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

Announcements

New announcements

Have your say on the role of generative AI in research proposals: the deadline to submit your feedback on the use of generative AI in the development and review of research proposals is June 14. The tri-agency is asking for your input in response to the draft guidance provided by an ad hoc panel of external experts.
Outage planned for some Tri-Agency websites and some systems over Canada Day weekend: some Tri-Agency websites, funding portals and applications will be temporarily unavailable from 4 p.m. (eastern) Friday, June 28, 2024, to 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The outage is part of moving SSHRC and NSERC’s data centre. To minimize the impact of this interruption, both agencies have made precautionary changes to competition timelines and corporate activities. For a list of the changes as well as the systems that will be unavailable during the move, please visit NSERC and SSHRC dedicated webpages See the full list of systems that will be unavailable, and make sure to plan accordingly. As a best practice, applicants should keep a copy of their documents and grant application information in their personal files.
REMINDER: Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) projects for Summer 2025 – Submission deadline is June 4, 2024 at 4 p.m. GRI pairs professors in Canada with international undergrads for 12-week research projects from May to October.

All disciplines are eligible
Top-ranked senior undergrads travel from around the world
Faculty can submit multiple projects (and re-submit from previous years)

Refer to the International Office page for more information.

Ontario Tech University institutional nominations to the Royal Society of Canada – internal call for Expressions of Interest – due June 4, 2024 (full application deadline likely to be around December 1, 2024). Please see more information
Introducing new measures to safeguard research in Canada. The federal government has tasked the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the other research granting agencies with implementing new measures to safeguard research done in Canada, with an emphasis on protecting it against risks to national and economic security. Two new measures are coming into force at CIHR as of May 1, 2024. The first measure, the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships, applies to research proposals that involve partner organizations from the private sector. The second measure, the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, applies to research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area. Please see full announcement

Reminders

ORS Announcement: Changes to Points of Contact – Research Partnerships Team
Convergence Portal – Multi-Factor Authentication: Effective May 2, 2024, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) will be implementing Multi-Factor Authentication as a mandatory requirement for Convergence Portal access, as required by Government of Canada security policies. Visit the multi-factor authenticationpage and the announcement details below for more information.
NSERC – Idea to Innovation Program Update: The June 2024 deadline of the NSERC I2I is cancelled due to necessary IT work. Grant applications can be submitted at the following cycle ending on September 16, 2024.
Updated Process for Externally-led Proposals for the 2025 CFI Innovation Fund (IF): Ontario Tech researchers who are participating in a CFI Innovation Fund proposal being led by another institution where a contribution from Ontario Tech's CFI envelope is being requested by the lead institution must submit an internal Letter of Intent (iLOI). Please review the full ORS announcement
SSHRC has rescheduled the upcoming deadline for the Connection Grant to accommodate for IT work over the summer: The August 1, 2024, deadline for the Connection Grant has been moved to June 20, 2024.
Announcing Mitacs Accelerate’s new online application portal
What We Heard: A Report from the Three Federal Research Funding Agencies’ Ad Hoc Working Group on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership: The report stems from a commitment under Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada, the Canada Research Coordinating Committee’s strategic plan identifying how better to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada. The resulting strategy’s implementation will be guided by the Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research. The report reflects on recent developments in postsecondary spaces as institutions embark on similar journeys and outlines key principles that will inform future work in these areas by the agencies. Further, the report provides the context for developing a policy on the issue to better support Indigenous researchers to access opportunities intended for them. Contributors to the What We Heard report include Indigenous academics, researchers and administrators, as well as institutions’ leaders.
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.
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.

NSERC announce improvements to Alliance grants programs
The presidents of Canada's federal research granting agencies announce a review of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
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.
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.

Update from the NSERC-SSHRC Awards Administration Team regarding the extension request process for grants requiring an extension due to pandemic delays.
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.
City Studio Durham has projects for faculty and students, including projects on workplace modernization, carbon capture, building resilience for displaced residents and others.
Revisions made to CIHR Application Administration Guide to bring clarity on policy 3.6 regarding compensation for co-applicants and trainees.
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 at minimum, 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
NSERC - Discovery Horizons Grants – ORS info and deadlines	LOI: June 3, 2024 Full: TBD	LOI: June 14, 2024 Full: October 18, 2024
NSERC – Discovery Grants – ORS info and deadline (TBD)	Full: TBD	LOI: August 1, 2024 Full: November 1, 2024
Tri-Agency - New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – 2024 Exploration Competition – ORS info and deadlines	LOI: August 19, 2024 Full: TBD	LOI: August 27, 2024 Full: November 5, 2024
CIHR – Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing CDN Databases and Cohorts (2024)	Full: September 26, 2024	Registration: September 10, 2024 Full: October 3, 2024
SSHRC – Partnership Engage Grants	September 9, 2024	September 16, 2024
CIHR – Operating Grant: Healthy Cities Research Initiative – Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts	November 1, 2024	November 7, 2024

Current Funding Opportunities

Agency-Program	Internal Deadline	First Agency Deadline
The Spencer Foundation – Racial Equity Research Grants: supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and ameliorating racial inequality in education.	LOI: May 22, 2024 Full: June 20, 2024	LOI: May 29, 2024 Full: June 27, 2024
New Frontiers in Research Fund - 2024 NordForsk-Led International Joint Initiative on Sustainable Development in the Arctic	Registration: May 23, 2024 Full: TBD	Registration: May 30, 2024 Full: Fall 2024
The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative – 2024 Pilot Award	June 6, 2024	June 13, 2024
The National Killam Program – The Dorothy Killam Fellowship – ORS Information and Deadlines Please notify Ewa Stewart as soon as possible if you are interested in applying. Letters of Support are required and will need to be requested in advance of the May 21 internal deadline.	May 21, 2024	June 13, 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
SSHRC - Connection Grant Please note deadline change Webinar: May 28 at 11:00 a.m. – Join via Webex	June 13, 2024	June 20, 2024
The National Killam Program – Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship – ORS Information and Deadlines Please notify Ewa Stewart as soon as possible if you are interested in applying. Letters of Support are required and will need to be requested in advance of the May 28 internal deadline.	May 28, 2024	June 20, 2024
CIHR – Catalyst Grant: Community Based Research in Climate Change Priority Areas Webinar Thursday May 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Join via Teams	Full: September 5, 2024	Registration: August 14, 2024 Full: September 12, 2024
UArctic – Travel Fund	April 29, 2024 August 26, 2024 December 17, 2024	Intake 1: April 30, 2024 Intake 2: August 31, 2024 Intake 3: December 31, 2024
CIHR – Operating Grant: ECRs in Human Development, Child and Youth Health	Full: September 17, 2024	Registration: September 4, 2023 Full: September 24, 2024
Canadian Space Agency - Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the Canadian space sector	Cycle 1: May 9, 2024 Cycle 2: September 25, 2024	Cycle 1: May 16, 2024 October Cycle 2: October 2, 2024

Ongoing Opportunities – No Deadline

Notify ORS of your intention to apply a minimum of 2-3 weeks before you intend to submit your proposal.

Agency-Program

City Studio Durham: matching students with real-world projects

- Contact Anna Kristoffersen

Teaching City Oshawa: addressing Oshawa’s urban issues through research and innovation

- Contact Anna Kristoffersen

NSERC Alliance

- NSERC Alliance – Internal ORS Info

- NSERC Alliance International – Internal ORS Info.

NSERC Idea to Innovation Grant

The objective of Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants is to accelerate the pre-competitive development of promising technology originating from the university and college sector, and to promote its transfer to a new or established Canadian company. I2I grants provide funding to college and university faculty members to support research and development projects with recognized technology transfer potential. This is achieved through defined phases by providing crucial assistance in the early stages of technology validation and market connection.

- Notify IP Officer Walter Chan as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.

- Applications must be submitted to ORS a minimum of one month before the NSERC deadline.

- Please review ORS information and deadlines below

Mitacs - Most MITACS Applications have resumed as normal.

- Mitacs Accelerate - Internal ORS Info.

- Mitacs Accelerate: Connecting SMEs with AI

- Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)

- Mitacs Entrepreneur International

- Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA)

- Mitacs Elevate

- Joint NSERC Alliance – Mitacs Accelerate Streamlined Funding

Cisco Research – Research Grants