Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund (IF) provides ongoing investments in infrastructure across the full spectrum of research, from the most fundamental to applied, through to technology development. Projects funded through the IF will help Canada remain at the forefront of exploration and knowledge generation while making meaningful contributions to social, health, environmental and economic benefits, as well as addressing global challenges.

Objectives:

• Enable internationally competitive research or technology development through the equitable participation of expert team members.
• Enhance and optimize the capacity of institutions and research communities to conduct the proposed research or technology development program(s) over the useful life of the infrastructure.
• Lead to social, health, environmental and/or economic benefits for Canadians.

Visit the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) website for more information on the Innovation Fund.

Eligibility

Aligned with CFI objectives and criteria, Carleton will allocate its CFI IF envelope competitively based on:

• Internationally-leading research or technology development.
• Composition and expertise of the team, including:
  • Track record of generating globally significant contributions to knowledge and/or achieving impact beyond the academy; and
  • Integration of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations. 
• Request for necessary and appropriate infrastructure that leverages:
  • Carleton’s strategic research priorities and/or strengths; and
  • Existing and/or planned funding to support direct costs of the proposed research.
• A well-defined plan to transfer the results of the research or technology development program(s) that will lead to benefits for Canadians and Ontarians.

For more information on eligibility, please refer to CFI’s policy and program guide.

Competition Budget

While the total available fund and Carleton’s funding envelope have not yet been announced, proposals will likely be expected to have total project costs greater than $1 million to be considered for this competition, with CFI supporting up to 40% of a project’s total eligible costs. In Ontario, applicants selected to apply to CFI are also usually expected to develop and submit a separate application to the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) for an additional 40% of their project’s total eligible costs.

Any included renovation and/or construction costs should enable the installation/operation of the requested equipment, or be essential to the research design. Generally, renovation and/or construction costs should be limited to approximately 20% of the total project costs.

For the 2025 call, CFI invested up to $425 million in research infrastructure funding. It also offered up to $120 million for associated operating and maintenance costs through the Infrastructure Operating Fund. Carleton’s funding envelope for the 2025 competition was $14.3 million.

Information Sessions

The Carleton Office for Research Initiatives and Services (CORIS) will be hosting a series of information sessions throughout the fall of 2025 on the CFI IF and Carleton’s internal process to prepare for the 2027 competition. Details to follow.

In the meantime, if you are considering applying to the CFI IF, please email Kyla Reid (kyla.reid@carleton.ca) for a copy of the 2025 competition presentations.

Internal Process

OVPRII manages a robust selection process that includes opportunities for feedback and iterative improvement of ideas and proposals. As the Faculties also play a key role, including in space allocation, all submissions must be endorsed by the lead (administering) Faculty prior to submission to OVPRII.

The OVPRII Process:

• Submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Preliminary Call for Research Projects with Large-Scale Infrastructure Requirements by September 30, 2025 (optional). All responses to the preliminary call will be assigned a CORIS Research Facilitator.
• Submission of an internal Notice of Intent (NOI) to your respective Faculty by November 17, 2025 for all projects (Carleton and non-Carleton-led) requesting allocations from Carleton’s envelope. Following their review, Faculties will forward the internal NOIs to CORIS for further review by OVPRII.
• Submission of the mandatory internal proposal to your respective Faculty by March 25, 2026 for all projects (Carleton and non-Carleton-led) requesting allocations from Carleton’s envelope. Following their review, Faculties will forward endorsed internal proposals to CORIS for consideration in the institutional competition, coordinated by OVPRII.

An expert panel appointed by the Vice-President (Research and International) (VPRI) will review the internal proposals against CFI assessment criteria and make recommendations. Final decisions will be made by the VPRI in consultation with the Deans. Feedback from the panel will be provided to all applicants (successful and unsuccessful).

Please note: Partner universities may have different requirements, processes and timelines, including EOI, NOI or internal application deadlines, that differ from Carleton’s. Please check specific institutional websites for more details or have your collaborators reach out to their specific institutional offices.

How to Apply

Expression of Interest Stage

1. Review the Preliminary Call for Research Projects with Large-Scale Infrastructure Requirements.
2. Complete and submit the online form by September 30, 2025.

Notice of Intent Stage

1. Download and fill out the internal NOI form.
2. Submit your completed internal NOI form to the research support team in your Faculty Dean’s Office by November 17, 2025.
3. Associate Dean (Research) or delegate submits all signed NOIs to CORIS at coris@carleton.ca (subject line: CFI IF 2025 NOI).

Internal Notice of Intent Form

Internal Proposal Stage

1. Download the internal proposal template for projects led by Carleton researchers or projects led by other institutions and complete the requirements, inclusive of the budget template.
2. Submit your completed internal proposal with all attachments to the research support team in your Faculty Dean’s Office by March 25, 2026.
3. Associate Dean (Research) or delegate submits all internal proposals along with Faculty endorsement letters to CORIS at coris@carleton.ca (subject line: CFI IF 2025 Proposal) for consideration in the institutional selection process, coordinated by OVPRII.
   

Projects Led by Carleton Researchers

Projects Led by Other Institutions

Contact Us

Kyla Reid: kyla.reid@carleton.ca