New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) — Special Calls Stream

• The application must be submitted by a research team of at least two people, led by a nominated principal investigator (NPI) and including either a co-principal investigator (co-PI) or a co-applicant.
• The NPI must be an independent researcher whose primary affiliation is with a Canadian institution that holds full institutional eligibility with CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC.
• The project must directly address one or more research priorities in the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery and clearly demonstrate this fit.
• The project must be interdisciplinary, combining elements from at least two different disciplines.
• The team must include at least one principal investigator (NPI or co-PI) with expertise in social, economic or socio-economic research and/or implementation science, and is expected to include international members (with a strong encouragement to include members from lower-middle or lower-income countries, unless a uniquely Canadian context is justified).

Who is eligible?

This grant supports projects that align with the UN Research Roadmap priorities and address socio-economic recovery post-pandemic through justice and equity. Projects must exhibit interdisciplinarity and innovation, whilst integrating principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Pass/Fail - Commitment to EDI in project teams, particularly through removing barriers and fostering inclusive environments.
• Interdisciplinarity/Fit to Program: Pass/Fail - Demonstrating response to UN Roadmap priorities with elements from at least two different disciplines.
• High Risk: 30% - Assessment of novelty and innovation in addressing UN Roadmap priorities.
• High Reward: 40% - Evaluating potential impact and significance in terms of socio-economic benefits or advancements towards Sustainable Development Goals.
• Feasibility: 30% - Evaluation of research challenge, team expertise, work plan, and inclusive approaches such as GBA+.

Who is not eligible

• For-profit companies (cannot be an eligible affiliation for a co-principal investigator or co-applicant; collaborators from for-profit companies may participate but cannot access grant funds).
• Federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government departments (cannot be an eligible affiliation for a co-principal investigator or co-applicant; collaborators from government may participate but cannot access grant funds).

Eligible expenses

• Direct research project costs (up to $200,000 per year, for up to two years).
• Indirect costs (up to 25% of the direct research costs), limited to eligible expenses under the Research Support Fund.
• For eligible Canadian colleges only: salaries for part-time faculty (contract of less than three years) for project research activities.
• For eligible Canadian colleges only: salaries and non-discretionary benefits for technical/professional staff carrying out research/technology and/or knowledge transfer personnel (excluding research administrators and business development personnel).
• For eligible Canadian colleges only: course load reduction replacement costs (up to $9,000 per course load reduction per semester per faculty, or the equivalent of 0.1 FTE).
• For eligible Canadian colleges only: student salaries (including non-discretionary benefits) or stipends to support student involvement in the project.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (the nominated principal investigator’s primary affiliation must be with a Canadian institution holding full institutional eligibility with CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC).

• Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) (pass/fail): commitment to EDI in the research team, including planned actions, expected outcomes and assessment for team composition/recruitment, training/development, and inclusion.
• Interdisciplinarity / fit to program (pass/fail): clear alignment with one or more priorities in the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery; includes at least one socio/economic/socio-economic and/or implementation science expert among the principal investigators; combines at least two different disciplines.
• High risk (30%): novelty and innovativeness of the proposed approach to addressing UN Roadmap priorities, including why it is expected to lead to change.
• High reward (40%): potential for significant impact/change (e.g., economic, social, health, technological, etc.) and contribution toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Feasibility (30%): strength of the project plan and team’s ability to execute, including work plan/timeline, research uptake plan, and integration of GBA+ considerations where appropriate.

• Projects awarded through this Special Call may be eligible for supplemental funding from one or more partner organizations (subject to partner-specific criteria).
• Successful project teams are expected to attend a forum at the mid-term and at the conclusion of the grant period to present findings and lessons learned.
• A proportion of awards is reserved for early career researchers, in proportion to the share of applications received from early career researchers.
• Applicants are encouraged to consult competition updates regularly, including information about webinars, to ensure submissions are complete.