CFI — Research Facilities Navigator
Last Update: March 27, 2025
Canada
Research facilities to collaborate with industry, academia, and government
CFI — Research Facilities Navigator at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Expert Advice
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Grant Providers
- Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Status
Open
Overview of the CFI — Research Facilities Navigator program
Access a directory to help you locate and connect with research expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, and labs located in universities, colleges, hospitals, and federal government facilities from across Canada.
Financing terms and conditions
This grant program offers a comprehensive framework for establishing research partnerships between universities and businesses in Canada. The financing modalities are designed to support various aspects of research projects, ensuring effective collaboration and success.
- Partial support through government grants may be available for companies with significant R&D or production operations in Canada, helping to extend research budgets and mitigate risk.
- Universities may absorb some overhead costs, resulting in lower overhead rates for business partners, compared to the actual overhead costs which are about 60% of direct project costs.
- Payment schedules are typically negotiated with an expectation for advance payments before work is performed, although other arrangements may be possible based on the project's nature and duration.
- Research partnerships can leverage direct cost savings as universities often cover the time faculty members spend on a project.
Eligible projects & activities
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 150,000
Launching an eco-friendly packaging startup
$ 30,000
Expansion of a community garden to combat urban food insecurity
$ 200,000
Development of renewable energy solutions for remote communities
$ 75,000
Development of a new financial technology performing secure transactions
$ 250,000
Implementing an AI-based healthcare diagnostic tool
$ 100,000
Establishing a social enterprise for youth career development
Eligibility criteria of the CFI — Research Facilities Navigator program
Eligibility for participating in research partnerships with Canadian universities is generally assessed based on the ability to meet certain collaborative conditions and leverage available resources.
- The company should have defined business objectives that align with the research activities of a Canadian university.
- The company should be willing to engage with university researchers and possibly students on the project.
- The company should have the capability to provide financial contributions, including direct costs and potentially facilities and administration costs.
- The company should be able to leverage potential government grants to support the research partnership.
- The company should be willing to agree on terms related to intellectual property, confidentiality, publication, and other contractual obligations.
- For research partnerships that require government or external funding, the company may need to provide "in-kind" contributions such as facilities, equipment, supplies, technical services, or R&D staff time.
Eligible expenses
Research partnerships with Canadian universities enable businesses to address specific challenges and explore new technological advancements. These partnerships often result in innovative products and processes that benefit both the business sector and academic research.
- Development of advanced materials to reduce costs and improve the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.
- Creation of realistic simulations for mission rehearsal and training, enhancing the effectiveness of simulation software.
- Innovative research in the pulp and paper industry to develop sustainable practices and new bio-energy solutions.
- Design and development of MRI-compatible robotic technologies for minimally invasive surgery.
- Big data analysis to aid government policy-making and crime reduction initiatives.
- Development of orthopedic implants for more effective treatment of pelvic fractures.
Eligible geographic areas
The CFI - Research Facilities Navigator grant is designed to facilitate research partnerships across Canada, with a focus on collaboration between Canadian universities and businesses. The eligible geographical areas align with the scope of universities and institutions involved in such partnerships across Canada.
- Universities and businesses located in Canada.
- Partnerships involving Canadian institutions and international collaborators with a Canadian focus.
Eligibility criteria of the CFI — Research Facilities Navigator program
The document does not specifically list evaluation and selection criteria for projects under this grant.
How to apply to the CFI — Research Facilities Navigator program
1
Partnership Identification
- Contact an industrial liaison officer or a partnership office at the university.
- Discuss with a researcher to explore partnership opportunities.
2
Project Development
- Identify a principal investigator and define the scope and budget of the work.
- Collaborate with the liaison officer to identify external funding opportunities.
3
Application Preparation
- Draft a partnership agreement including the missions, objectives, and terms of the research project.
- Add elements such as intellectual property management, timeline, and responsibilities of each party.
4
Application Submission
- Finalize and submit the partnership agreement to the university for approval.
- Ensure that all necessary documents are complete and accurate before submission.
5
Confirmation and Follow-up
- Receive confirmation of the project submission from the university.
- Follow up on the submission with the liaison officer and prepare the next steps if modifications are needed.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Research partnership agreements typically contain standard sections such as project description, scope of work, total project costs, and intellectual property rights.
- Universities have industry liaison officers who act as a great resource for businesses exploring research partnerships.
- Businesses may benefit from government grants to support research partnerships in Canada, which can extend research budgets and mitigate risk.
- Intellectual Property (IP) rights can be customized in terms of commercialization options, licensing rights, and possible exclusivity depending on the project.
- Research partnerships offer a cost-effective way to undertake research by leveraging university resources and student/researcher participation.
- The agreement negotiation process can take about two to three months depending on the complexity of the project.
- The university's partnership office is crucial in formalizing contracts and cannot be bypassed even if preliminary discussions have been arranged with researchers.
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