IRPG programs

The International Research Partnership Grants (IRPG) are internal seed grants designed to provide Waterloo researchers with incentives to develop new innovative international research collaborations with leading institutions known for high quality research and strong global rankings, as well as for projects in underrepresented regions. Partner institutions may include universities, government agencies, NGOs, and industry. Projects must have potential for leveraging external funding from Canadian and international funding programs.

Program name:

International Research Partnership Grants
Type: Internal award
Streams:
  • Stream 1: Partnerships with leading international institutions known for high quality research and strong global rankings.
  • Stream 2: Partnerships with underrepresented regions (e.g. developing countries) and institutions or regions/countries with which UW does not have a formal institutional connection.

Projects for both streams will normally be funded over a 2-year time period.

Note: refer to the Waterloo International map of UW agreements.
Office of Research deadline:

February 15, 2022
Eligiblity 

UW PI applicants must be full-time faculty members and meet the eligibility rules for Principal Investigators under NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR (as appropriate to the applicant’s discipline). Adjunct professors can be included as co-investigators. Projects should involve a group of Waterloo researchers and international partners. Preference will be given to interdisciplinary projects involving two or more Waterloo Faculties and a network of partner institution. Preference will also be given to projects that include highly qualified personnel (faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs). Projects must adhere to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, training and development. Only new collaborations and projects that have not previously received IRPG funding will be considered.
Research focus areas:

Projects should align with one or more of the focus areas of UW’s Strategic Plan related to Advancing Research for Global Impact:

  • Quantum science, nanotechnology, connectivity, and telecommunications
  • Water, energy and climate: sustainability, security, infrastructure
  • Information technology and its impact, including intelligent systems, humanmachine interfaces, cybersecurity, privacy and data science
  • Robotics and advanced manufacturing
  • Health technologies
  • Human dimensions of global challenges

Alignment with UN development goals is encouraged. 
Amount: Up to $20,000
Matching funds:
  • Required 50% for Stream 1.
  • Not required for Stream 2. 
Partnership Note Some designated funding will be allotted to research with UW’s formalized strategic partners (currently the University of Bordeaux, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Strathclyde, and Technion Israel Institute of Technology).
Office of Research application procedure:

Send applications as a single PDF to the Office of Research, International Research and Partnerships
Program Guidelines 

Plese refer to the Program Guidelines for additional information about: 

  • Matching funds 
  • Eligible expenses 
  • Eligibility
  • Application instructions  
Program contact: International Research and Partnerships
Additional Resources: 

Tips for an effective innovation lab (pdf)