Dear colleagues, this issue of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) VP update was sent via email on September 19, 2013 to the distribution groups listed above. It covers the following topics:

1. 2013 consultations: Short-term plans for the CFI’s flagship programs
2. Update: In-kind contributions from suppliers
3. The CFI’s new facility directory: A new resource for helping the private sector connect with Canadian research expertise

Please note that the CFI has yet to finalize its funding agreement with the Government of Canada for its $500 million allocation from the 2012 Federal Budget. Accordingly, the amounts identified for each of the funds described here are subject to change, pending the final funding agreement.

1.2013 consultations

2015 College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF)

The feedback from the 2013 consultations indicated that the existing CIIF meets the infrastructure needs of most colleges. While there was no clear consensus on modifications to improve the CIIF, some colleges suggested:

1. increasing the $800,000 per proposal limit on the CFI amount that can be requested in each competition;
2. more construction or renovation costs be allowed; and  
3. the definition of “partner” be broadened.

The CFI is responding to these suggestions by increasing its maximum contribution to $1 million to reflect needs, particularly as they relate to the cost of construction and renovation. Partnership with the private sector remains the cornerstone of this fund; however, in addition to letters of commitment from industry partners, the CFI will accept letters of support from partners in other sectors.

The viability of CIIF — Stream 2 (i.e., joint application with the College and Community Innovation Program — Innovation Enhancement Grants (CCI-IE) Program) will be monitored closely due to the low participation and uptake (less than 50 percent of CCI-IE full applications include a CFI component). Based on feedback from the community regarding the need for the joint application stream, the CFI will determine within the next 12 to18 months whether to continue offering two separate streams under the CIIF.

Over the next five years (2014-18), the CFI will allocate up to $50 million to the CIIF for five annual competitions. For the next competition, the CFI will issue a call for proposals in early 2014 with letters of intent to apply due in June 2014. 

John R. Evans Leaders Fund (formerly known as the Leaders Opportunity Fund)

The majority of contributors to the consultation noted the exceptional value of the John R. Evans Leaders Fund. The John R. Evans Leaders Fund is seen as a vital component in the overall performance of the Canadian research environment and a key element in ensuring the competitiveness of Canadian universities. Most recommended that the fund remain essentially unchanged. In the absence of strong indications or concrete suggestions on how to improve the overall structure of the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, the CFI has decided not to change its structure or design.

Institutions have used most of their current allocations. New institutional allocations, covering the period 2014-15 to 2016-17, will be communicated to institutions in late October or early November.

2015 Innovation Fund competition

Based on feedback, the CFI has decided to move away from distinguishing between the Leading Edge Fund and the New Initiatives Fund. Instead, these funds will now be called the Innovation Fund (IF). Under the Innovation Fund, the CFI will take for granted that all proposals build on previous investments and/or commitments made by the institutions — including human and material capital — irrespective of their funding source.

The CFI plans to launch the 2015 IF competition before the end of 2013. This competition is being designed to ensure that Canadian institutions are equipped with the research infrastructure they need to boost Canada’s competitiveness in the global research enterprise. In order to align with the key directions set out in its strategic roadmap, the CFI is giving this IF competition a theme: “Striving for global leadership and reaping the benefits.” The competition will challenge institutions to propose transformative projects that will have a lasting impact on the research landscape at the level of institutions and even nationally. The CFI will invite proposals that will allow institutions to exercise global leadership in both discovery- and application-driven research or that capitalize on an emerging research strength by forging and sustaining collaborations that have the potential to generate national benefits.

The CFI has set aside up to $325 million for this competition — $250 million in capital funding and $75 million to contribute toward operating costs through the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF).

The 2015 IF competition is being designed in line with the 2012 competition, including the institutional envelope allocation formula and the online application submission, but there are some notable changes, such as the eligibility of construction costs and the introduction of a minimum threshold of $500,000 in total eligible project costs. Institutions will be asked to demonstrate how their proposed research activities align with their current and future commitments in the given field.

Proposals requesting computational infrastructure will be eligible under this competition. However, proposals that are focused predominantly on HPC will be considered under the CFI’s cyberinfrastructure initiative which is being developed over the next year. The CFI will be consulting with key stakeholders on this initiative in the coming months.

Please note the following timelines for the 2015 Innovation Fund:

Do not hesitate to contact your CFI Senior Programs Officer should you have any questions about the 2015 IF competition.

2.Update: In-kind contributions from suppliers

Last year, the CFI considered limiting supplier discounts to 10 percent as a means of managing potential risks. The community voiced its concern over this proposal. Among other reasons, institutions pointed out that this would increase their own contribution to projects during a period of significant financial restraint. While the CFI did not, in the end, accept this proposal, it clearly expressed the expectation that the value of items should reflect fair market prices.

This means that from the outset, institutions (through their own procurement services or otherwise) should assist researchers and must be involved in discussions and negotiations with suppliers. It is incumbent upon institutions to take the necessary steps to ensure fair and transparent procurement processes. To assist institutions in their communications with suppliers regarding the CFI and the contributions solicited, the CFI is currently working to develop material to be shared with the community later this fall.

3.The CFI’s new facility directory

This spring, the CFI reached out to institutions for submissions for an online directory of research labs and facilities in universities and colleges across Canada that are open to working with business. With almost 300 entries received so far, the response has been extremely positive.

We are now in the final stages of preparing to launch a new resource, which will reside on our website, Innovation.ca, and will help businesses find the tools and expertise they need to establish productive research partnerships. The CFI thanks institutions for their enthusiastic participation to date, and we encourage all institutions to consider submitting their CFI-funded labs and facilities that are open to working with the private sector — we will continue to post new entries as we receive them after our launch later this fall.

We hope you will join us in promoting this exciting new initiative. For more information, click here.