LOF – Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC)
Fund Summary
The CFI is partnering with the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program through its Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF). The purpose of this partnership is to reduce the burden on the applicant and the reviewer.
The CERC program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The program awards world-renowned researchers and their teams up to $10 million over seven years to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities. These awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally.
Eligibility
This process provides the review of proposals jointly submitted to the CFI, through the LOF, and the CERC program.
In order to submit a proposal through this stream, the university must be eligible to receive funding under the LOF. The LOF is an allocation-based fund whereby the CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding available for each eligible institution. Universities having a minimum annual average of $300,000 in sponsored research income (excluding CFI awards) as reported by the Canadian Association of University Business Offices (CAUBO), are eligible to receive a LOF allocation. These allocations may be reviewed periodically as new funds are made available to the CFI.
Only existing CERC holders or institutions invited to Phase 2 of the CERC application and nomination process are eligible to request infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to acquire state-of-the art equipment essential to their nominee’s work, through this stream. The total value of the infrastructure request must not exceed $2 million.
Please note that the CFI infrastructure request is distinct from the CERC nomination and separate from the budget for the CERC.
Review process
The Canada Excellence Research Chairs are identified through a highly competitive two-stage process. Phase 1 applications and Phase 2 nominations to the program undergo a multilevel peer review. The selection is based on the highest standards of research excellence.
LOF-CERC proposal for existing CERC holders
Eligible universities wishing to apply to the LOF-CERC for an existing CERC chairholder must use the CFI online forms and submit their proposals electronically. They must also send the CFI the LOF proposal submission covering letter signed by their President/CEO or delegate.
LOF-CERC proposals are reviewed by at least two experts chosen among suggested reviewers, college members and external reviewers. These reviewers will provide written reviews and may also meet by teleconference if their initial assessment differs. The CFI has also convened a LOF Advisory Committee (LOFAC) whose members are drawn from all research fields and from different sectors. When the proposed research spans diverse disciplines, the proposal is otherwise highly complex or when the comments received from the reviewers differ significantly, the CFI may seek advice from additional expert reviewers and/or the LOFAC in making its funding recommendations.
LOF-CERC proposal submitted jointly with the CERC nomination
Universities are invited to take advantage of the LOF-CERC partnership to request CFI infrastructure support at the time of the phase 2 CERC nomination. The CERC nomination and CFI infrastructure request must be submitted separately. Details regarding the CERC nominations can be found on their website.
Eligible universities wishing to apply for infrastructure support associated with a CERC must use the CFI online forms and submit their proposals electronically. They must also send the CFI the LOF proposal submission letter signed by their President/CEO or delegate. The CFI will forward the LOF proposal to the CERC secretariat where it will be combined with the CERC nomination form into a joint proposal for review. The CFI infrastructure request will be reviewed simultaneously with the CERC nomination during Phase 2 of the CERC review process.
Decision process
A program Steering Committee, made up of the presidents of the CFI, CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC and the Deputy Minister of Industry Canada, makes the final decision on CERC nominations. Funding recommendations for the infrastructure portion of the proposal are presented to the CFI Board of Directors at the earliest possible decision point. The CFI Board of Directors will make the final decision for funding of the infrastructure portion of the CERC proposals.
Universities will be informed of decisions related to the infrastructure portion of the proposal by email shortly after the CFI Board has met. Successful proposals will also be listed on the CFI website. The CFI will inform universities of any conditions associated with an award. Reviewers’ comments received during the joint review of CERC awards and associated infrastructure will be made available to universities by the CERC Secretariat.
It is the responsibility of recipient universities to submit the necessary documents to the CFI in order to finalize awards and establish payment schedules.
Public announcements
The CFI works jointly with the CERC Secretariat on funding announcements for infrastructure associated with CERC. The dates and venues of these announcements are coordinated by the CERC Secretariat. Universities must not make these decisions public until the national announcement is made. The CFI also seeks additional opportunities to work with universities on local or regional announcements following the national event.
