CBB Seed funding

Applications are now open for CBB Seed Funding Round 8

How to Apply

The principal applicant must be a CBB member. Please fill out this form to apply for CBB membership.

Seed funding applicants must complete and submit the following: 

1. An application form using the provided template, which is available in PDF or Word (.docx) format.  

2. A Waterloo Cover Sheet for Sponsored Research Activities.  

3. The principal applicant’s CV (in any format).

The completed application form along with the principal applicant’s CV must be submitted electronically via email to cbb@uwaterloo.ca. The Waterloo Cover Sheet for Sponsored Research Activities must be submitted electronically using the Waterloo Electronic Cover Sheet System. 

The application details and guidelines are as follows:

Objectives

The overarching objectives of CBB's seed funding program are: 

• Enable CBB’s vision and mission.

• Help develop sustainable research programs by facilitating applications to external funding agencies.

• Support multi-disciplinary research across UW faculties.

• Support new interdisciplinary research collaborations involving partners from different institutions, sectors, and/or jurisdictions.

• Mentor and support the next generation of CBB researchers.

• Communicate CBB’s research impact both locally and globally.

Please note that all CBB seed fund recipients will be required to seek subsequent external support to sustain their project. A plan for applying for external support should be clearly outlined in the application. 

Awards

• $10,000 award 

• $15,000 award (available to CBB members who successfully apply to CBB's priority funding pool) 

A principal applicant may only be granted one award per competition. An individual may apply as a principal applicant on only one application per round but may be included as a team member on other applications during the same competition period. 

Priority funding pool

One priority funding pool is available in this round: the Digital Health priority funding pool.

Applications to CBB’s priority funding pool must outline how the project will address the objectives of the funding pool. 

'Digital Health' priority funding pool objectives: 

• Develop technology to improve and/or manage health and health care (i.e. mobile health, wearable devices, AI and machine learning, digital therapeutics, etc.)
• Integrate a broad range of tools and solutions that leverage digital technologies to enhance the quality of care, promote health, and increase access to health care services.
• Collaborate with clinical, industrial, and government partners internationally on projects involving connected health, cognitive health technologies, biomedical data intelligence, and bio-mechatronics.

Important Dates

October 1, 2024	Open to applications.
January 15, 2025	All applications must be received by 11:59 pm EST via email (cbb@uwaterloo.ca). Principal applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt within one week of submission. Late submissions will not be accepted.
March 10,   2025	Principal applicants will receive written notice of the decision.

Principal Applicant Eligibility

The principal applicant must be a CBB faculty member (definite/continuing term) at Waterloo and will serve as the contact person for the seed fund. 

The principal applicant on the subsequent external fund application must also be a Waterloo faculty member. 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by a qualified review committee and scored based on the following criteria: 

• Demonstrated relevance to CBB’s supported research areas and the potential impact of the proposed research. 

• Clarity of the proposal with a well-defined and realistic scope.

• Overall feasibility of the project.

• Bringing together new teams or significantly strengthening teams led by Waterloo faculty. 

• Development of research collaborations both internally across disciplines at Waterloo, and externally on a regional, national, or global level. 

• Clearly describing the appropriate use of the requested funds (i.e. dollar amount requested should match the scale of activities planned, and the budget outlined should clearly explain how funds will be used). 

• Clearly describing how a seed fund award will help facilitate future external funding. A plan for applying for external funding or creating a revenue model must be clearly outlined. 

• Alignment of your proposed project with priority funding pool objectives (applicable to Digital Health priority funding pool applicants only). 

Preference will be given to applications that involve: 

• Interdisciplinary teams. 

• At least one training opportunity (i.e. grad student or postdoc involvement). 

• Engagement of non-academic collaborators. 

• Applicants who have not previously received research seed funding from CBB. 

Proposals that most closely align with Seed Fund objectives will be given preference.

CBB Review Committee and Decision Process:

Review committee: 

• A committee will be appointed by the CBB Executive Director to review applications. 

• Any conflicts of interest will be declared in advance (i.e. co-applicants, principal applicant from own department, etc.) and reviewers will not participate in discussions or decisions related to applications for which they have a conflict of interest. 

Decision process: 

• Applications will be scored according to the stated evaluation criteria and the alignment with seed funding objectives, and will be declared either approved for funding or not-approved for funding. 

• Approved applications will be ranked from highest score to lowest score and funds will be awarded as requested (to a maximum of $10,000 or $15,000 per application), starting with the highest-ranked application and moving down the list until all approved applications are funded or seed funds are depleted, whichever comes first. 

• Principal applicants will receive written notice of the decision. 

Requirements of CBB Seed Fund Recipients

This section outlines the requirements for CBB Seed Fund recipients, which will also be outlined in CBB’s Seed Funding agreement. Awardees that fail to fulfill one or more of the stated requirements may be deemed ineligible for future CBB support.  

Applications to external funding agencies:

With the goal of sustaining their funded projects, CBB Seed Fund recipients must apply to all applicable national and international funding programs within two (2) years of receipt of their seed funding (Tri-Council, CFI, or other significant funding programs, as appropriate). 

In-kind support to CBB: 

• Seed Fund recipients will be required to participate in a research event/symposium or a networking event for CBB Seed Funding recipients.

• Seed Fund recipients must participate in a review committee for future CBB seed funding proposals. 

Reporting Requirements: 

• CBB Seed Fund recipients are required to report on outcomes resulting from the award. A brief narrative report will must be completed three months after the conclusion of the project (i.e. description of the use of funds, update on the team, progress towards external funding, etc.). 
• Seed fund recipients will also be required to respond to inquiries and surveys regarding their relevant applications to external funding competitions including the outcome of those applications. 
• Seed Fund recipients should seek to broadly disseminate the results of their funded project by submitting at least one (1) publication to a peer-reviewed journal, and presenting at a significant national or international conference within two (2) years of funding receipt. 

Acknowledgment of Support: 

• Successful applicants must acknowledge funding support from the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB) in all public announcements, presentations and/or publications related to their funded project. 
  • Suggested acknowledgment statement - This research was funded by the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB) at the University of Waterloo.

Ethics Requirements: 

• Where applicable and consistent with the University of Waterloo's Guidelines on Research Involving Human Participants and/or Guidelines for the Care and Use of Animals in Research and Teaching. Projects must undergo prior ethics review and clearance through the Office of Research Ethics (ORE). This requirement applies to all research involving humans or live, non-human vertebrate animals regardless of whether the procedures used are invasive or non-invasive. Where applicable, funds will only be transferred after receipt of ethics clearance. 

Acknowledgment of Responsibility: 

• Prior to the release of funds, principal applicants as well as the applicable chair/director must sign an agreement. 

Questions?