Mission and Mandate

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.27 billion in support of more than 6,600 projects at 130 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

Funding Formula

The CFI normally funds up to 40 percent of a project’s infrastructure costs which are invested in partnership with eligible institutions and their funding partners from the public, private, and voluntary sectors who provide the remainder.

Benefits of Supporting Research

Support from the CFI enables institutions to set their own research priorities in response to areas of importance to Canada. This allows researchers to compete with the best from around the world, and helps to position Canada in the global, knowledge-based economy. CFI support is intended to:

• strengthen Canada's capacity for innovation;
• attract and retain highly skilled research personnel in Canada;
• stimulate the training of Highly Qualified Personnel through research;
• promote networking, collaboration, and multidisciplinarity among researchers, institutions, and sectors;
• ensure the optimal use of research infrastructure within and among Canadian institutions.

The research enabled by CFI support is also creating the necessary conditions for sustainable, long-term economic growth, including the creation of spin-off ventures and the commercialization of discoveries, and supporting improvements to society, quality of life, health, the environment, and public policy.

What is research infrastructure?

Research infrastructure consists of the state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, laboratories, and databases required to conduct research.

Selection Process

Eligible Canadian institutions can apply for CFI support. Applications are assessed using the following criteria:

• Quality of research and need for infrastructure;
• Contribution to strengthening the capacity for innovation;
• Potential benefits of the research to Canada.

CFI support is awarded following a thorough merit-based assessment process that involves researchers, research administrators, and research users from Canada and abroad who review proposals and make funding recommendations. These volunteers are selected based on their expertise and reputation.

Contact

Canada Foundation for Innovation
230 Queen Street, Suite 450
Ottawa ON K1P 5E4
Tel.: (613) 947-6496
Fax: (613) 943-0923

E-mail: info@innovation.ca
Online Magazine: www.InnovationCanada.ca