Ontario Research Fund - Research Excellence

• Completed electronic application form
• Mitigating Economic and Geopolitical Risk Checklist
• Single PDF package with all attachments
• Signature page signed by an authorized institutional officer, if needed
• Letters of support from the lead and collaborating institutions, and from required partners where applicable

Who is eligible?

• Publicly assisted universities
• Colleges of applied arts and technology
• Hospital research institutes
• Ontario not-for-profit research institutes
• Consortia of eligible institutions

Who is not eligible

• For-profit organizations
• Agencies of for-profit entities
• Federal departments and Crown corporations
• Provincial or territorial departments, agencies, and Crown corporations
• Non-profit corporations established by the above entities

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for project staff
• Research equipment, software, supplies, and related operating costs
• Fieldwork, travel, workshops, dissemination, and open-access costs
• Technology transfer, IP protection, commercialization, and market validation costs
• Project management and administration costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Clinical trials
• Contract research or fee-for-service research
• Endowed research chairs and other endowments
• Proposal development costs and litigation costs
• Alcohol, opportunity costs, and unrelated items or services

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Research excellence and scientific merit
• Commercialization potential and market opportunity
• Strategic value and expected impact for Ontario
• Plan to achieve impacts, including partner engagement
• Project management, governance, and team capacity

• Step 1: Prepare the application
  • Complete the Ministry application form.
  • Prepare the required attachments and letters of support.
  • Complete the Mitigating Economic and Geopolitical Risk Checklist.
• Step 2: Compile submission package
  • Combine all application materials into a single PDF package.
  • Ensure the signature page is included and signed by an authorized officer, if required.
• Step 3: Submit by email
  • Send the application link/package to ORF.Excellence@ontario.ca.
  • Submit before 5:00 PM on September 27, 2023.
• Step 4: Await review and decision
  • The application is reviewed through the program’s assessment process.
  • Decisions are communicated by letter to the institution.

• Applications are reviewed through peer review panels, research security review, and advisory board review.
• Final funding decisions are made by the Minister.
• Successful applicants receive a grant agreement with required terms, reporting, and governance conditions.
• The Ministry may request site visits and scientific reviews during the project.
• Decisions are sent by letter to the institution’s research lead contact.

• A member of the research team must complete a foundational IP course during the project.
• The Ministry may conduct site visits and scientific reviews after approval.
• Applications must be submitted as a single PDF package with all attachments.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.