Canada Foundation for Innovation
2017 Innovation Fund Competition
Internal Notice of Intent
Competition Description
The CFI challenges institutions to propose transformative infrastructure projects that will underpin
cutting-edge, globally competitive research. Institutions should continue to be guided by their strategic
research plans and establish priorities that build on their distinct advantages. Through the 2017
Innovation Fund, the CFI seeks to support promising and innovative research or technology
development in areas where Canada currently is, or has the potential to be, competitive on the global
stage. The CFI will support initiatives that allow institutions and their researchers to build on
established capabilities to accelerate current research and technology development or to enhance
emerging strategic priority areas.
For this competition, the CFI will only consider proposals whose total project costs are greater than
$750,000.
The objectives of the 2017 Innovation Fund are to enable institutions and their best researchers to:


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Strive for global leadership by conducting world-class transformative research and technology
development in areas of institutional strategic priority;
Enhance research capacity by forging productive partnerships within and among institutions,
sectors and disciplines for the effective and sustainable use of the research infrastructure and
facilities;
Generate social, health, environment and/or economic benefits for Canadians, including better
training and improved skills for highly qualified personnel, through appropriate pathways
The CFI encourages institutions to submit proposals in areas which they have a proven record of, or a
strong potential for, commitment and excellence. Each proposal will need to demonstrate how it
meets the standard of excellence for each of the three competition objectives and each associated
assessment criterion. The CFI expects that effective collaboration with partners, where appropriate,
will strengthen every aspect of a proposal.
The CFI is a federal matching fund program and will fund up to 40% of infrastructure costs. Within two
weeks following the submission to CFI, an application must be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of
Research and Innovation for a 40% match. The remaining 20% match must be confirmed and in place
before submitting an application to CFI. The applicant may use cash and/or in-kind contributions and
can be sourced from vendors (usually as in-kind contributions), start-up funds, or other sources
(external, industry, private, other) but NOT tri-council agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) grants.
CFI Assessment Criteria
The CFI merit review process will be used to evaluate proposals on the basis of the assessment criteria
that reflect the competition objectives. Proposals should clearly present the merits and excellence of
the proposed project and provide sufficient information to enable reviewers to evaluate the proposal
in accordance with the following six criteria:

Institutional capacity and track record: The proposal builds on existing capacity and track record
of key investments in people and infrastructure in the area of institutional strategic priority
described in the proposal.

Research or technology development: The research or technology development activities are
innovative, feasible, have the potential to lead to breakthroughs, and will enhance international
competitiveness.

Team: The team is composed of established or emerging leaders and has the expertise and
breadth, including relevant collaborations, to conduct the research or technology development
activities.

Infrastructure: The infrastructure is necessary and appropriate to conduct the research or
technology development activities.

Sustainability: The infrastructure is optimally used within and among institutions, sectors and
disciplines and is sustainable through tangible and appropriate commitments over its useful life.

Benefits to Canadians: The research or technology development results will be transferred
through appropriate pathways to potential end users and are likely to generate social, health,
environment and/or economic benefits for Canadians.
Brock University Procedures
This is an allocation-based fund whereby the CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding for
each eligible institution. Given the limited resources available for this competition, all proposals will be
reviewed by an internal committee to determine which applications will be forwarded to the CFI.
Applications will be selected based on: meeting the CFI selection criteria and objectives for the
competition as described above; the experience and future potential of the proposed research team;
alignment of the proposed research with areas of emerging or existing research strength at Brock
University; and alignment of the proposed research with previous, current, and future investments and
commitments.
Our goal is to ensure that proposals going forward are as strong as possible, with institutional support
that will maximize the probability of success. Once proposals have been selected for submission to the
CFI, the Office of the Vice President, Research, and the Office of Research Services will work with
participating researchers, Deans and Department Chairs, and University support staff to craft strong
and successful proposals.
When completed, email to Rebecca Heffernan at [email protected]
Deadline: Friday, May 27th, 2016 by 4:30 p.m.
Project Summary
Project Title:
Project Leader
Name:
Department:
Collaborating Institutions (if applicable)
A collaborating institution is one that receives part of the infrastructure or uses part of its institutional envelope in
a multi-institutional project.
Portion of Institution’s CFI Envelope
Name
Department
Principal Users
List up to 10 principal users, including the project leader, of the proposed equipment or infrastructure and who will
constitute the research team. This list may include reseachers from non-CFI-eligible organizations.
Name
Department
Project Funding
Total estimated project cost:
Project Overview
Provide a description of the major pieces of infrastructure requested, a short overview of the research or
technology development activities to be enabled by the infrastructure, and the anticipated outcomes from these
activities, including expected application(s). MAXIMUM 4 pages
2017 Innovation Fund
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Attachments
Anticipated Project Costs (PDF, table, maximum 3 pages)
Project Leader CV (PDF)
Anticipated Project Costs
Maximum 3 pages
Attach an itemized list in table format (maximum of 3 pages) of the proposed equipment or infrastructure to be
purchased, including the function or purpose of the equipment and an estimated cost for each item. Where
appropriate, items may be grouped together.
Please note that quotes from vendors do not have to be obtained at this time. A best estimate of expected cost is
sufficient.
High Performance Computing
Please be aware that the CFI expects high performance computing (HPC) infrastructure to be housed and managed
by Compute Canada. Therefore, an institution wishing to request HPC infrastructure must develop its proposal in
collaboration with Compute Canada. HPC infrastructure encompasses any computing system with capabilities
larger or more powerful than those typically available in a standard desktop system. Typically, such systems cost
more than $50,000.
For a list of eligible costs for infrastructure projects, consult the CFI’s Program and Policy Guide.
Anticipated Outcomes and Benefits
Describe the anticipated outcomes of the research proposed using the infrastructure and potential benefits to
Canada, society, health, the environment, the economy, or other potential impacts. MAXIMUM 2 pages
2017 Innovation Fund
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