Research Infrastructure grant

Important dates

Overview

The Research Infrastructure (RI) stream coordinates with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund to invest in transformative research infrastructure projects of strategic significance to the institutions and the province's priorities in the context of Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy. These projects aim to secure and strengthen Alberta’s competitive position in research and technology development.

Institutions are encouraged to increase their application’s competitiveness by:

• collaborating with appropriate partners
• planning co-operatively to acquire, develop, utilize, operate, and maintain infrastructure
• engaging with end-users of the research or technology development to clearly define the potential benefits for Albertans

Funding

RCP will fund up to 40% of the total eligible project costs for successful applications.

Eligible applicants

Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions recognized by CFI as eligible.

Eligible applicants include institutions that have a CFI Innovation Fund award. If an application is declined at the CFI, it will be removed from the Research Infrastructure competition.

Applications must follow CFI guidelines on eligibility, in-kind contributions, eligible expenditures and funding partners.

See the CFI's Policy and Program Guide for more details.

How to apply

The RCP is institutional in nature. Applications must be completed by researchers and submitted by the institution.

Submitting notices of intent (NOI)

Any interested researcher should consult their institution’s Research Services Office for intake processes.

The institution’s Research Services Office must submit an NOI. The NOI package must include the following:

1. A cover letter authorized by a designated institutional representative.
2. A listing of the individual NOI submissions using the provided RCP Notice of Intent Submission Template
3. PDF copies of each NOI submitted to the CFI.

RCP uses an electronic secure transfer portal to support submissions and all submissions must be uploaded via this method. Institutions must contact the program area at [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the NOI submission deadline to receive access to the portal.

Submitting proposals

The proposal should clearly present the project’s merits and excellence. Provide enough information to enable reviewers to evaluate the proposal according to the assessment criteria and competition objectives. Do not include scanned copies of documents, other than signature pages.

The proposal package must include the following:

1. A cover letter authorized by a designated institutional representative, which includes:
   1. the institution’s endorsement of the proposed projects
   2. a confirmation that all research endeavours and partnerships outlined within the proposed applications will uphold measures to safeguard research advancements
2. A listing the individual application submissions using the provided RCP Application Submission Template.
3. PDF of each full application. Each PDF application must contain the following in order:
   1. RCP Alberta Alignment Module
   2. CFI Application
   3. Research Security Requirements
   4. Curriculum Vitae (where required by the CFI)

In cases where projects have been granted conditional funding by the CFI, the applicant institution is required to promptly submit the notice of removed conditions once they have been cleared by the CFI. Failure to submit the notice may impact the funding decision. 

Note: Application submissions must be uploaded via a secure portal. Institutions must email [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the proposal submission deadline to receive access to the portal.

If you must make changes to the team leaders or applicant institution after submitting a proposal, email [email protected] as soon as possible. This is to avoid introducing potential conflicts of interest with reviewers.

After you apply

The RCP’s Multidisciplinary Review Panel reviews applications. The review process occurs in 3 stages:

1. Expert review (where applicable, CFI expert reviews are used).
2. Independent review by the Multidisciplinary Review Panel.
3. Decisions by the Minister of Technology and Innovation.

Funding for successful applications will be conditional on securing the balance of project funding from partners and submitting the CFI’s award finalization documentation, within 9 months from the time of approval.

Contact the Research Capacity Program if meeting this timeline is difficult.

Reporting requirements

Awarded projects will be given a contractual grant agreement. This agreement will outline the terms and conditions of support and must be signed by both parties prior to the release of payment.

As a part of this agreement, institutions need to regularly report on the financial status of projects and on the outcomes achieved.

The agreement will outline the schedule and reporting requirements. Both parties must agree to any significant variations in project scope or other requirements of the contract.

Documents and templates

• RCP Guidelines
• RCP NOI and Application Submission Template
• RCP Alberta Alignment Module – for use in the application package to report on program alignment
• RCP Financial Report Template – for reporting requirements of awarded projects – Only use this template if there is no CFI financial report for the period.
• RCP Outcomes Report Template – for reporting requirements of awarded projects
• Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy
• CFI's Policy and Program Guide – for further information on the CFI

Contact

Connect with us if you have inquires, requests and reporting submissions:
Email: [email protected]