Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) applications typically require matching funds offered by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities through the Ontario Research Fund-Research Innovation (ORF-RI) program.

Other CFI opportunities

Program Name: CFI – Innovation Fund 
Type: Research Infrastructure
Office of Research Deadline (s):
  • Mandatory internal Notices of Intent (NOI) - Friday, May 24, 2024
  • Internal NOI Panel Presentations - Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, June 25, 2024
  • External notice of intent due to Office of Research – TBD
  • Draft 1 to Office of Research – TBD
  • Draft 2 to Office of Research – TBD
  • Comments from external peer reviewers – TBD
  • Final Applications to Office of Research – TBD
  • Ontario Research Fund – Large Infrastructure Fund (ORF-LIF) draft to Office of Research – TBD
  • Please see SharePoint site (accessible to Waterloo researchers) for the most up to date information and guidance documents: https://uofwaterloo.sharepoint.com/sites/VPRI/Institutional/CFI-IF
Program Deadline(s):
  • Draft call for proposals issued by CFI – Spring 2024
  • CFI to issue call for proposals – Spring 2024
  • Deadline to submit NOI – October 2024
  • Deadline to submit proposals – February 2025
  • Review by expert committees – TBD
  • Review by Multidisciplinary Assessment Committees – TBD
  • Review by Special Multidisciplinary Assessment Committee - TBD
  • Decision by CFI Board of Directors – November 2025
  • Ontario Research Fund – Large Infrastructure Fund (ORF-LIF) – TBD
Awarded:

Merit-review process includes four stages:

  1. Expert Committee, responsible for evaluating proposals against assessment criteria;
  2. Multidisciplinary Assessment Committee, responsible for evaluating proposals against competition objectives;
  3. Special Multidisciplinary Assessment Committee, responsible for recommending projects to the CFI Board of Directors based on best alignment with CFI mandate and competition objectives; and
  4. Decision by CFI Board of Directors.
Funding start date: Reach-back period for research infrastructure expenditures and in-kind contributions – TBD
Research focus areas:

The objectives of the 2025 competition will be released with the anticipated draft call in Spring 2024. Objectives of the 2023 competition included the following:

  1. Enable internationally competitive research or technology development through the equitable participation of expert team members;
  2. Enhance and optimize the capacity of institutions and research communities to conduct the proposed research or technology development program over the useful life of the infrastructure; and
  3. Lead to social, health, environmental and/or economic benefits for Canadians.

Assessment of equity, diversity and inclusion will be conducted as part of the review process.
Amount:

Minimum total project budget must exceed $1,000,000 (CFI provides 40%: CFI request must exceed $400,000); this program requires matching funds.
Length of project: 1-5 years
Industry partner: Not required
Program submission instructions:

Institutions receive a finite amount of CFI envelopes for which they can apply. 

  1. Only those NOIs that are approved by the Internal Review Panel will proceed with a full application.
  2. Institutional Research will conduct two fulsome draft reviews, and a final, high-level review of the application package, ahead of submission (see Office of Research deadlines above).
  3. Institutional Research will submit the proposal to CFI on your behalf.
  4. Following submission of the CFI-IF proposal, Institutional Research will contact applicants to provide program information and internal deadlines associated with the required ORF-LIF application.
Office of Research application procedure: As above.
Office of Research Contacts: Krista Elena
Program contact: NA
Program Name: John R. Evans Leaders Fund (formerly known as Leaders Opportunity Fund) – Unaffiliated
Type: Research infrastructure
Office of Research Deadline (s): Internal nomination form - 3.5 months in advance of agency deadline (Nov 1, Mar 1, Jul 1)
First full draft - 2.5 months in advance of agency deadline (Dec 1, Apr 1, Aug 1)
Second full draft - 1.5 month in advance of agency deadline (Jan 1, May 1, Sep 1)
Final full application - 2 week in advance of agency deadline (Feb 1, Jun 1, Oct 1)
Program Deadline(s):

Three submission cycles annually, including:

  • February 15
  • June 15
  • October 15 annually
Research focus areas: The scope of the JELF program is to serve the infrastructure needs of individual faculty or groups of up to three faculty members. It is designed to help universities attract and retain the very best researchers to Canadian universities.
Funding: CFI funds up to 40% of a project’s infrastructure costs and the Ministry Colleges and Universities, through the Ontario Research Fund-Research Infrastructure program (specifically, the Ontario Research Fund – Small Infrastructure Fund, ORF-SIF), matches the CFI contribution. The remaining 20% or more must come from discounts beyond normal academic prices (in-kind), cash, or a combination of cash and in-kind.
Length of project:

The project start date for each award is 6 months prior to the CFI application date.The project end date is the date when all CFI/ORF funded infrastructure is purchased, installed, and ready to be used.
Industry partner: Not required
Program submission instructions:

Please review the CFI Program and policy Guide and Guidelines for Completing a Proposal and the documents provided by the Office of Research on receipt of the applicant’s Internal Nomination Form.To submit a JELF proposal, applicants must complete an application form through the online CFI Awards Management System (CAMS).
Office of Research application procedure:
  1. Internal Nomination Form
  2. Introductory meeting with Institutional Research program contacts.
  3. Draft Application Review: Institutional Research will conduct two fulsome draft reviews, and a final, high-level review of the application package, ahead of submission.
  4. Submission of final application package which includes:  1) the proposal; 2) online CAMS modules; 3) completed internal budget spreadsheet; 4) cash memos to support any cash contributions (if applicable); and 5) vendor quotes (used to compile your budget).  
  5. OR Cover Sheet: Submitted along with your final application package.
  6. Institutional Research will submit the proposal to CFI on your behalf after securing the required institutional signature.
  7. Following submission of the CFI-JELF proposal, Institutional Research will contact applicants to provide program information and internal deadlines associated with the required ORF-SIF application.

The OR completes two reviews and a final review of the entire application and submits the final application to CFI.
Office of Research Contacts: Steve Holland and Darla Steinmann
Program contact: NA