Institutional Funding

Our office provides administrative and strategic support to researchers pursuing major infrastructure funding.

Our Institutional Programs team manages major federal, provincial and regional research awards, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), PacifiCan and the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program.

Canada Research Chairs 

The federal government established the Canada Research Chairs program in 2000 to promote excellence and innovation in Canadian research. Chairholders are some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds, improving our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping train the next generation of researchers.

UBC Okanagan is recruiting three climate-themed Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) to join our thriving research enterprise. These Chairs will develop and lead world-renowned research programs and help guide Canada’s response to the challenges caused by climate change.

Learn more

Canada Foundation for Innovation

Since its creation in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has ensured Canadian researchers have the cutting-edge labs, facilities and equipment they need to push the frontiers of knowledge in all disciplines.

John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF)

The John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) is a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) program designed to help universities attract and retain the best researchers at a time of intense international competition in priority areas as identified in the university’s Strategic Research Plan. It allows UBC to acquire infrastructure for their UBC Okanagan research faculty to undertake cutting-edge research and create competitive packages of research support for infrastructure, direct research costs and operating funds.

Program Details

APPLICATION PROCESS

Information on UBC-wide procedures is available on the Applying for CFI Funding page on the Institutional Programs website. A detailed description of the UBC Okanagan CFI Application Instructions & Deadlines (for UBC Okanagan applicants) is available below.

One month following the submission to CFI, a matching funds application must be submitted to the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF). A full BCKDF Step 1 proposal is part of the internal adjudication and selection of proposals. Refer to the BCKDF website for guidelines and application forms.

EVALUATION

Proposals are vetted internally and only strong proposals are selected for submission to CFI. As internal screening is rigorous, applicants are encouraged to prepare well-developed applications.

APPLY
Key Dates

For internal timelines and submission procedures, please contact Nishat Tasnim. 

NOI deadline (internal): October 7, 2024
CFI deadline (external): February 17, 2025
BCKDF Step 1 application deadline (external): March 17, 2025

For internal timelines and submission procedures, please contact Nishat Tasnim. 

NOI deadline (internal): February 25, 2025
CFI deadline (external): June 16, 2025
BCKDF Step 1 application deadline (external): July 16, 2025

For internal timelines and submission procedures, please contact Nishat Tasnim. 

NOI deadline (internal): June 6, 2025
CFI deadline (external): October 15, 2025
BCKDF Step 1 application deadline (external): November 17, 2025
Contact

Nishat Tasnim
Institutional Programs Officer
250-681-4133 Ext. 79451 | ADM006
nishat.tasnim@ubc.ca

Innovation Fund

CFI’s Innovation Fund program is a large-scale, team infrastructure grants program within CFI that requires a minimum request of $1 million. The fund provides continued investments in infrastructure across the full spectrum of research, from fundamental to applied, and also supports technology development.

New for 2025 Innovation Fund: Researchers with private-sector partners and/or whose work advances a sensitive technology research area will be required to submit additional research-security documentation at the time of application. See CFI’s Guidelines on Research Security for more information. For support at UBCO, contact melanie.fenton@ubc.ca or contact UBC’s Research Security team for further assistance.

Program Details

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The 2025 Innovation Fund competition is divided into three streams:

  • Stream 1: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation (open)
  • Stream 2: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation in the social sciences, humanities and arts
  • Stream 3: Renewal and upgrade of core facilities

CFI Call for Innovation Fund Proposals

INTERNAL PROCESS

In order to support the development of strong applications for UBC-wide selection, the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation (VPRI) works in collaboration with the Institutional Programs Office to advise research teams on the development of competitive IF proposals.

Information on UBC-wide procedures is available on the 2025 Innovation Fund page.

Key Dates

For internal timelines and submission procedures, please contact Pierre Rondier.

  • CFI issues draft call for proposals: April 18, 2024
  • Deadline to submit feedback on the draft call for proposals: May 17, 2024
  • CFI issues call for proposals: June 6, 2024
  • Deadline to submit notices of intent: October 2, 2024
  • Deadline to submit proposals: February 4, 2025
  • Decision by CFI Board of Directors: November 2025
Contact

Pierre Rondier
Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Operations
250-807-9438 | ADM006I
pierre.rondier@ubc.ca