New Frontiers in Research Fund — Exploration Stream
Canada
"New Frontiers in Research Fund 2024 Exploration competition aims to support high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research projects."
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- grant_single|maxCount
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- grant_single|openingDateNovember 06, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateNovember 26, 2024
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Grant and Funding
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- grant_single|allIndustries
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- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
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grant_card_status|open
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The NFRF 2024 Exploration competition seeks to support high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research that challenges current paradigms and explores new areas. Eligible activities include innovative projects that bring together diverse disciplines in novel ways to achieve groundbreaking impacts. Researchers from any discipline within social sciences, humanities, health, natural sciences, and engineering are encouraged to apply.
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The information available does not specify eligible geographical areas for companies applying for the grant. The guidelines focus on the principles, structure, and procedures for the review process.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$500,000
Explore innovative treatments for Alzheimer's using bioengineering and cognitive psychology
$500,000
Integrate urban planning and environmental science to create sustainable urban ecosystems
$500,000
Develop a new AI model to predict mental health crises using interdisciplinary data analysis
$500,000
Examine the impact of digital currencies on local economies by combining financial and social sciences
$500,000
Investigate the effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems through an interdisciplinary study
$500,000
Design a community-based renewable energy project combining engineering and social sciences
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Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific criteria that applicants must meet as described in the competition overview.
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This competition encourages high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research that pushes boundaries and involves collaboration across diverse fields in social sciences, humanities, health, natural sciences, and engineering.
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Eligible projects for this grant focus on high-risk, high-reward, and interdisciplinary research initiatives. These projects are encouraged to challenge existing paradigms and integrate diverse disciplines to achieve innovative outcomes.
- Research that challenges current paradigms and pushes boundaries into new areas.
- Projects that involve combining disciplines in unexpected ways to innovate.
- High-risk research proposals with potential for game-changing impacts.
- Interdisciplinary projects involving perspectives from social sciences, humanities, health, and natural sciences and engineering.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant is eligible for projects from researchers based in Canada.
- Researchers must be affiliated with a Canadian institution.
- All provinces and territories in Canada are included.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for the NFRF 2024 Exploration competition are based on several critical criteria, each contributing a specific percentage towards the overall score.
- High risk: 40% of overall score
- High reward: 40% of overall score
- Feasibility: 20% of overall score
- Interdisciplinarity/fit to program: pass/fail
- EDI in research practice: pass/fail
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI)
- Access the Convergence Portal to submit a notice of intent to apply.
- Provide basic project information and details about the research team.
- Ensure adherence to the NOI instructions outlined in the competition overview.
- Step 2: Preparing the Full Application
- Gather necessary documents such as research proposal, budget justification (although budget isn't a selection criterion), and any other supporting documents.
- Ensure the research proposal aligns with high-risk, high-reward criteria and clearly demonstrates interdisciplinarity and EDI in research practice.
- Step 3: Submitting the Application
- Log into the Convergence Portal to access the full application form.
- Submit all required documents and complete the online application form.
- Double-check all information for accuracy and completeness before the submission deadline of November 5, 2024, 8:00 p.m. (eastern).
- Step 4: Confirmation of Submission
- Receive confirmation of submission through the Convergence Portal.
- Make a note of your application number for future reference.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The New Frontiers in Research Fund 2024 Exploration competition aims to support high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research. This fund encourages proposals that push boundaries and may not conform to current paradigms.
- Diversity of perspectives is encouraged, with no restrictions on research led from any discipline.
- The competition includes specific guidelines for Indigenous research and emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research practice.
- Applications are reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel, which considers a mix of criteria including high risk, high reward, and feasibility.
- Confidentiality and conflict of interest policies are strictly enforced throughout the review process.
- Applications that do not meet guidelines or are incomplete may be rejected by NFRF staff.
- Review panel co-chairs are responsible for ensuring objective and fair assessments and moderating discussions.
- Funding recommendations are made by the review panel, but final decisions are subject to approval by the NFRF steering committee.
- Early career researchers (ECR) are given particular consideration, with the program committing to fund a proportion of ECR-led projects.
Apply to this program
An Invitation to Inspire Groundbreaking Research
The 2024 Exploration competition, part of the New Frontiers in Research Fund, seeks to invigorate the research landscape by supporting high-risk, high-reward projects that push boundaries and challenge conventional paradigms. This initiative aims to bring together diverse disciplines from the social sciences, humanities, health, and the natural sciences and engineering, encouraging bold and innovative perspectives.
Detailed Description of the 2024 Exploration Competition and Its Role in Advancing Research
The 2024 Exploration competition under the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) embodies a commitment to galvanizing research across a spectrum of disciplines, fostering an environment where unconventional ideas can flourish. The competition is specifically geared towards projects that defy established paradigms, inviting researchers to undertake exploratory work that carries inherent risks but holds the promise of transformative impact. Recognizing that high innovation often walks hand-in-hand with high risk, this competition accepts that not all funded projects will achieve their intended outcomes, yet the potential benefits warrant the bold exploration of new frontiers.
This program acknowledges the essential role of diversity in research and actively encourages participation from a wide array of disciplines including, but not limited to, the social sciences, humanities, health, and the natural sciences and engineering sectors. By fostering an interdisciplinary approach, the competition hopes to synthesize diverse perspectives to tackle complex global challenges. The initiative not only prioritizes the convergence of fields but also supports equitable and inclusive practices in research, emphasizing the significance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in research practice.
The assessment of applications encompasses several criteria with a strong focus on the interplay of high risk and high reward, alongside the feasibility of proposed research endeavors. The merit indicators are meticulously designed to evaluate the interdisciplinarity of the proposals, ensuring they align with the program's aims while considering the broader socio-economic fabrics. Applicants are advised to craft proposals that articulate their visionary approaches and justify the feasibility of their research within the proposed budgets. Although budget considerations are secondary to the primary selection criteria, they remain a component of the feasibility assessment, with scrutiny on resource allocation efficiency and adherence to financial guidelines.
Integrity and fairness in the review process are cornerstones of the program’s structure. The merit review system relies on dedicated multidisciplinary panels whose members are selected with an acute awareness of balance in expertise, language, demographic diversity, and inclusion in designated groups. Panel members are tasked with providing unbiased evaluations of proposals against set criteria, with the help of mandatory training to mitigate unconscious bias and conflicts of interest. This rigorous evaluation process is carefully stewarded by the CRCC steering committee, ensuring transparency and accountability at all levels.
Ultimately, the 2024 Exploration competition serves as a catalyst for innovative research across Canada. It encourages the research community to think beyond traditional borders and fosters an environment where groundbreaking research initiatives can thrive. Through this initiative, Canada aims to elevate its research on a global stage, driving advancements in knowledge and contributing significantly to societal progress. Researchers participating in the program not only gain financial backing but become part of a storied tradition of pushing scientific and academic boundaries, laying the foundations for a future enriched by research excellence and inclusivity.
