Research Funding Opportunities
Current Opportunities:
If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below, please e-mail the Research Officer Eric Pilles (epilles2@uwo.ca).
Letter of Interest (LOI) Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) Science Instrument
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is releasing this Letter of Interest (LOI) to inform industry and academia of upcoming procurement activities related to the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP). The CSA would like to inform industry and academia that in support of the science instrument project element of the LEAP portfolio, a Request for Proposal (RFP) is being planned for release by PWGSC in the Summer of 2023.
In addition, the CSA would like to inform industry and academia on the scope and objective for the science instrument project element of the LEAP portfolio. PWGSC is not requesting any specific comments or feedback from the community as part of this LOI. LOIs are due by August 22, 2023. For more details click here!
Supplements to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) Program 2023
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is issuing this Announcement of Opportunity (AO) to award a grant supplement to postdoctoral researchers who will have been awarded an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship under NSERC's PDF program. The CSA will offer up to five (5) supplements in the amount of $20,000 to eligible postdoctoral researchers who are involved in a promising research project that is aligned with and that will contribute to the priorities outlined in the Space Strategy for Canada. Applications are due January 12, 2024. For more details click here!
Development of AOS (Atmosphere Observing System) Supporting Technologies
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of Canadian Space Agency (CSA) located in Longueuil, borough of Saint-Hubert, (Quebec), is seeking bids to develop and advance two (2) Priority Technologies that are in line with the CSA's priorities and mission roadmaps. Priority Technologies are those that have been established by the CSA as the critical technologies to be developed to meet the objectives set forth by the Canadian Space Strategy.
For every Priority Technologies the work solicited is the development and advancement of these technologies up to potentially Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) to reduce technical uncertainties and support approval and implementation of specific potential future space missions of interest to Canada. Proposals are due September 15, 2023. For more details click here!
CSA Announcement of Opportunity for the Webb Space Telescope Cycle 2 General Observers (GO) projects
This announcement of opportunity is to request proposals from Canadian astronomers granted observing time through NASA's Cycle 2 General Observers (GO) call for proposals. Canadian astronomers must have first submitted a winning proposal to NASA's call for proposals (as a Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, or Co-I) to be considered in the context of this CSA Announcement of Opportunity (AO). This AO will award grants to support Canadian astronomers for the analysis of Webb data and dissemination of results through publications. Proposals are due August 25, 2023. For more details click here!
Space Health Research and Development opportunities on suborbital flights
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) proposes to explore the feasibility of regular suborbital flight campaigns for Canadian academic scientists involved in life and health science, and biomedical technology innovators. As other major space agencies are using this new platform to perform space research and technology validation, the CSA is considering supporting Canadian research in Health and Life Sciences on board suborbital flights and is therefore soliciting comments from the broader community about how to do so. The closing date to submit your ideas is August 2, 2023. For more details click here!
Canadian Student Participation in Space Conferences and Training Events
This AO supports Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events, offering them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, to present their research results at the national and international level. Maximum funding request is $3,500. Application deadlines depend on the conference. For more details click here!
Technology Demonstration AO
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is issuing this AO to specifically support the Canadian space sector with funds to demonstrate new technologies in space, before December 2026. This AO will award non-repayable contributions of up to $2M per research and development project, that expect benefits in the short to medium term (i.e. 1 to 5 years). This AO will be open continuously until March 29th, 2024, or until complete subscription of the total amount of the AO. For more details click here!
Western Innovation Fund (WIF) Competition
The Western Innovation Fund awards are supported by the Vice-President (Research) and are intended to fund projects that will advance innovative research results towards application and commercialization. This competition is for one-time projects based on existing research initiatives. Applicants can only receive one grant per type of project or technology. WORLDiscoveries personnel are available for consultation on issues related to intellectual property and commercialization. Projects are expected to be of short duration (6-12 months). Up to $100,000 in funding is available and is repayable only if there is a positive commercial outcome. The submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required before a full application can be submitted to Western Research. A new LOI is not required if WORLDiscoveries has requested a resubmission to a new competition; however, a new ROLA Proposal must accompany the resubmitted application. Researchers may apply at any time. For more details click here!
LOOKNorth Technology Investment Program (TIP)
LOOKNorth`s Technology Investment Program (TIP) promotes the deployment of monitoring technologies to provide breakthroughs in the safe and sustainable development and transportation of Canada’s natural resources. The program co-funds technology validation projects and is intended as a precursor to long-term implementation of remote sensing and other monitoring technologies in the resource sectors; its primary goal is sustained commercialization of these technologies. This grant opportunity is ongoing with a rolling deadline. Funding amount is $200,000 per project. For more details click here!
CFI - John R. Evans Leaders Fund
The JELF program is designed to help universities attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow’s researchers at a time of intense international competition. To this end, the JELF program enables a select number of an institution’s excellent researchers to undertake leading-edge research by providing them with the foundational research infrastructure required to be or become leaders in their field. In turn, this enables institutions to remain internationally competitive in areas of research and technology development, aligned with their strategic priorities. The fund also offers institutions the opportunity to create competitive research support packages in the form of infrastructure and a portion of the operating and maintenance costs, coupled with direct research costs from partner organizations. For more details click here!
