LOF – NSERC, Industrial Research Chairs
Fund Summary
The CFI is partnering with the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council’s (NSERC) Industrial Research Chair (IRC) program through its Leaders Opportunity Fund – Partnership program. The purpose of this partnership is to reduce the burden on the applicant and the reviewer.
IRC grants assist universities in building on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major research endeavour in science and engineering of interest to industry. They also assist in the development of research efforts in fields that have not yet been developed in Canadian universities but for which there is an important industrial need.
Eligibility
This process provides the review of proposals jointly submitted to the CFI, through the LOF, and NSERC’s Industrial Research Chair grants.
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.
Candidates must be recognized leaders in their field of research or show promise of becoming research leaders. They must be engaged in, or embarking on, an innovative research program for which the infrastructure is essential and which will provide an enriched research training environment.
Candidates who have previously been supported by the CFI are eligible for additional funding. However, candidates must justify the value added of another award.
Review process
The application process involves two steps:
- Completing NSERC’s application form for the Industrial Research Chairs program.
- Completing an abbreviated LOF-partnership application form on the CFI’s website.
Universities must submit the abbreviated LOF-partnership application form electronically to the CFI. They must also send the CFI the LOF proposal submission letter signed by their President/CEO or delegate. The CFI will forward this to NSERC where it will be combined with the research support application form into a joint proposal for review.
More information on NSERC’s programs can be found on their website.
NSERC or will conduct the merit review process for both components of the proposal, i.e. research support and infrastructure according to their standard procedures. Their reviewers will evaluate the infrastructure portion of the proposal in accordance with CFI criteria. When necessary, the CFI will clarify its policies and procedures for the reviewers. In addition, a CFI representative will be present during the adjudication process.
Decision process
The final decision for funding of the research support portion of the proposal will be made by NSERC. 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 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. The reviewers’ comments will be made available to the universities by NSERC.
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 will make a national public announcement of the decisions made by the CFI Board of Directors within one month of the Board meeting, when possible. When a joint announcement is to be made in collaboration with other agencies, the timing may differ. 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.
