Closed
Source verified July 9, 2026
SPARC Ignite Grants
Funding for new bone and joint health research collaborations
Latest source updateLast Update: July 9, 2026Latest change: The SPARC Ignite Grants page no longer shows the April 21, 2026 event details or the note that attendees could apply for up to $20,000 in seed funding.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 9, 2026
Latest change: The SPARC Ignite Grants page no longer shows the April 21, 2026 event details or the note that attendees could apply for up to $20,000 in seed funding.
SPARC Ignite Grants page updated
The SPARC Ignite Grants page was reduced, and the visible event information was removed: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Best of Kin, 1059 14 St SW, Calgary, AB. The statement that all attendees were eligible to apply for seed funding of up to $20,000 is no longer visible on the page. Several example funded-project and partner sections also disappeared, leaving a much shorter program description than before.
Funding available
$ 20,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Overview
SPARC Ignite Grants provide up to CAD 20,000 to support two-or-more-investigator teams at the University of Calgary working on bone and joint health research. The program funds operational research support such as salaries, stipends, materials, supplies, services, and access to the MoJo facilities or the Biomechanics lab.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Conduct research and development activities
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Calgary
- Alberta
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of new collaborations between clinicians and scientists.
- Development of new research ideas and pilot projects in bone and joint health.
- High-risk, high-reward research projects that may generate pilot data.
Documents Needed
- Application Form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Teams of at least two individuals.
- Teams involving collaboration between a scientist and a clinician, or two individuals from different disciplines.
- Teams with at least one McCaig Institute Associate or Full member.
Eligible expenses
- Operational research support such as salaries, stipends, materials, supplies, and services.
- Access to the MoJo facilities or the Biomechanics lab.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Travel costs.
- Relocation costs.
- Other non-operational purposes.
Selection criteria
- Idea: originality, creativity, and new knowledge creation (40%).
- Potential impact: significance, importance, anticipated advances, and alignment with the program purpose (20%).
- Approach: research methods, feasibility, and clarity (20%).
- Attendance at the SPARC event is preferred.
How to apply
- Submit the application to mccaig@ucalgary.ca by 5pm local time of the deadline date, or per special notice.
- Submit the application as a single file.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after the deadline, and late or incomplete applications are not considered.
- The SPARC Ignite Grant Review Committee ranks and selects eligible teams based on the published evaluation criteria.
- Successful applicants are notified within one month of the application deadline.
- Successful applicants must submit an annual progress report and a final report is required and reviewed by the review committee at the end of the project.
- A one-time no-cost extension may be granted for one year if projects are incomplete and funds remain unexpended; extension requests must be justified in writing to the Research Committee Chair and emailed to mccaig@ucalgary.ca before the end of the support term.
Additional information
- Awarded teams must acknowledge the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health in publications, presentations, communications, and marketing materials associated with the supported research project.
- Awarded teams may be asked to provide biographical sketches for reporting and publicity purposes.
- Participation on the SPARC Ignite Grant Review Committee may be requested.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the SPARC Ignite Grants Program
What is the SPARC Ignite Grants?
SPARC Ignite Grants provide up to CAD 20,000 to support two-or-more-investigator teams at the University of Calgary working on bone and joint health research. The program funds operational research support such as salaries, stipends, materials, supplies, services, and access to the MoJo facilities or the Biomechanics lab.
How much funding can be received?
SPARC Ignite Grants Funds up to $20,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the SPARC Ignite Grants program?
To be eligible for the SPARC Ignite Grants program, you must:
Teams must have at least two individuals.
Teams must include a scientist and a clinician, or two individuals from different disciplines.
Teams must include at least one McCaig Institute Associate or Full member.
What expenses are eligible under SPARC Ignite Grants?
Development of new collaborations between clinicians and scientists.
Development of new research ideas and pilot projects in bone and joint health.
High-risk, high-reward research projects that may generate pilot data.
Who can I contact for more information about the SPARC Ignite Grants?
You can contact McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health by email at mccaig@ucalgary.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the SPARC Ignite Grants available?
The SPARC Ignite Grants program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the SPARC Ignite Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
SPARC Ignite Grants is a Grant and Funding