CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (Unaffiliated) - Internal Deadline: November 24, 2017
Regarding the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund internal 2017 competition, please note that it has been cancelled to accommodate an institutional priority to replace a major piece of research equipment at Lakehead. It is anticipated that a general call will be issued for 2018. If you have any questions please contact Anne Klymenko at ext 8223.
Subject: CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (Unaffiliated) - Internal Deadline: November 24, 2017
Introduction
All full-time faculty members of Lakehead University are invited to submit applications to Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) for Lakehead University’s internal 2017 competition. The deadline for the internal competition will be November 24, 2017. Please note that up to $400,000 (CFI portion only) from Lakehead's JELF allocation has been allocated to this competition to support a total investment of up to $1,000,000 in research infrastructure. Researchers have to secure the required 20% matching funds in order to be eligible to apply.
Internal Review of Applications
In order to support research excellence and ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution of these funds, applications will be reviewed internally by a special internal ad-hoc committee of CFI experts who will then make recommendations to the Lakehead University Senate Research Committee (SRC). The recommendation from the Senate Research Committee will be considered by the Vice-President Research, and Innovation.
Eligibility and Application Process
The JELF offers institutions the opportunity to:
- Acquire infrastructure for their leading research faculty to undertake cutting-edge research; and
- Create competitive research support packages in the form of infrastructure and a portion of the operating and maintenance costs from the CFI, coupled with direct research costs from partner organizations.
The candidate(s) listed on the proposal must be:
- A recognized leader or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in the proposed research field(s);
- Engaged in or embarking upon research/ technology development that is original, internationally competitive and of high quality; and
- A current faculty member with a full-time academic appointment or a candidate that the institution is in the process of recruiting to a full-time academic position in an area of strategic importance.
The JELF is intended to serve the infrastructure needs of individual faculty, or groups of up to three faculty members where there is a need to share infrastructure. The JELF is not intended to serve the infrastructure needs of larger groups, centres, departments, or institutions.
Priority will be given to new faculty, small group applications, and faculty members who have not previously received CFI funding. Candidates who have previously been supported through the JELF, Leaders Opportunities Fund, New Opportunities Fund or Canada Research Chairs Infrastructure Fund are eligible for funding under the LOF; however a justification of the value-added of a subsequent award is required. Application forms and guidelines are available by referring to the CFI's website.
Candidates must be recognized leaders in their field of research, or show promise of becoming research leaders. They must be engaged in, or embarking on, an innovative research program for which the infrastructure is essential and which will provide an enriched research training environment. CFI JELF applications must also fit with the research priorities outlined in Lakehead University's Strategic Research Plan (SRP) as part of the 2012-2017 Academic/Research Plan.
In addition to meeting general CFI eligibility requirements, infrastructure items for JELF candidates must be essential for the research program of the candidate(s). If the requested items have been purchased or received, they must be obtained as an in-kind contribution no more than six months before the date of submission of the application.
Required Components for a Complete Application
Complete CFI JELF applications for the internal competition must be submitted to the Office of Research Services by the internal deadline in both digital and paper format and must consist of:
- CFI LOF Application Forms (CFI Award Management System)- Please use John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) – Unaffiliated version of the form.
- CFI Request for Quotations Form
- CFI Internal Budget Worksheet and one quotation in CFI format for all equipment/renovation items
- Letter from the relevant dean confirming support for application and confirming space. Space must be confirmed by the internal application deadline. Projects requiring renovations must include a cost estimate prior to the internal application deadline, as well as the required cash contributions to offset the 20% matching fund requirements.
- Completed Internal Research Proposal Approval Form
CFI Funding Formula and Matching Funds
Please note that the CFI JELF will contribute up to 40% towards infrastructure costs, the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science's Ontario Research Fund will contribute 40% and the remaining 20% must be found from other sources by the researcher. Funds from CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, as well as Tri-Council programs (e.g. the Networks of Centres of Excellence and the Canada Research Chairs) are not considered to be acceptable funding partners. However, the CFI will allow the cost of eligible item(s) to be covered in part by the aforementioned funding sources, provided that this portion is not used to leverage CFI funds. Equipment discounts beyond the best educational price are eligible as in-kind contributions towards the 20% matching funds required.
CFI JELF applications must include confirmation of the 20% matching funds. If the matching funds are to be provided by the private sector or other external agency, a letter of support outlining their commitment must accompany the application. If the 20% matching fund is provided in the form of a "discount beyond best educational price" by a supplier, a copy of the quotation must be included showing:
1. List Price
2. Best Educational Price
3. Discount Beyond Best Educational Price
4. Net Price
Researchers must use Lakehead University's CFI Request for Quotations Form to ensure quotations meet CFI eligibility requirements. A CFI Internal budget worksheet must be completed and submitted along with copies of the equipment quotations used to complete the CFI form. Note that only "discounts beyond best educational price" are eligible. If you have any doubts regarding the eligibility of your matching funds, please call Anne Klymenko in the Office of Research Services @ ext. 8223 for advice.
Please note that LU start-up grants may be used towards the 20% matching fund requirement whether it has been spent during the 6 months prior to the CFI JELF external deadline (February 15, 2018) or will be spent on research infrastructure. Funds from start-up grants are to be shown as a cash contribution from the institution, not in-kind (as per CFI guidelines). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all in-kind contributions are eligible in accordance with CFI's guidelines.
Renovations to Space
Requests for renovations to new space (not currently allocated to the applicant) must be approved by the Lakehead University’s Space Committee prior to the internal deadline. Researchers should be aware that renovation costs can also include such expenses as changes to a space in order to accommodate a piece of equipment that has special power requirements, or environmental cooling (for example). If an application is to include renovations in the budget, researchers are asked to contact Anne Klymenko in the Office of Research Services immediately to arrange for a cost estimate. Applications that do not accurately reflect costs may be deemed ineligible for consideration. Additional information is available on-line at the Lakehead University Physical Plant website.
Should you have any questions regarding the LOF program, please contact Anne Klymenko at ext. 8223. Additional information regarding the CFI program can be obtained by referring to the following website: CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund.