Call for Seed Funding Projects for Urban Sustainability Research in 2025

Collaborative research projects for the Sustainable Cities Initiative

The Sustainable Cities Initiative aims to encourage and financially support interdisciplinary cooperations through innovation-driven research projects in one or more fields. The intent is for the seed funding to encourage researchers to test ideas that will lead to successful external grant funding.

Objectives

Promote innovation in urban sustainability research at the University of Ottawa and establish pathways for external funding of new projects;

  • Initiate new partnerships or strengthen current ones, both nationally and internationally, to create an ecosystem that will consolidate urban studies research at the University of Ottawa;
  • Contribute to academic excellence and the development of innovative projects that cover the economic, social, environmental and technological aspects of urban sustainability; and
  • Encourage multi-disciplinary research and knowledge mobilization that bring together skills from beyond the academic sphere

The findings of the various projects will be showcased during a one-day event featuring presentations and discussions to deepen perspectives and strengthen collaboration.

Potential research fields

The Sustainable Cities Initiative supports several fields of research. However, the Initiative is open to any innovative and transformative projects that deal with urban sustainability, whether conducted in Canada or elsewhere, including in developing countries.

  • NOTES
    1. Projects must involve academic cooperation between at least two different disciplines.
    2. Priority will be given to projects that investigate the concept of urban sustainability through the lens of the social sciences and humanities. We believe that these two areas are foundational for sustainable cities, which are more than just the sum of technological and scientific innovation. More than ever, this approach is seen as one of the main vectors of urban resilience, particularly in terms of liveability, social justice and community resilience.

Research activities

Eligible research activities for “seed funding” may include, but are not limited to:

  • Collecting and evaluating data, and disseminating the findings of original, multidisciplinary research;
  • Development of research partnerships through workshops (e.g., workshops that would lead to SSHRC Partnership Grant proposals);
  • Research assistantships for graduate or undergraduate students.

NOTE: Travel costs for the proposed project must not exceed 20% of the total budget. Any equipment purchases must not exceed 10% of the budget.

Eligibility

Professors working full time at the University of Ottawa are eligible. Researchers affiliated with research programs, including at other universities, are also eligible, provided they are working in collaboration with a full-time professor at the University of Ottawa.

To encourage a multidisciplinary approach and ensure a wide range of perspectives and expertise, part-time professors are eligible to participate as team members.

Funding

Each grant recipient will receive funding ranging from CAD $15,000 to CAD $30,000 for 2025-2026. An Urban Sustainability Research Selection Committee will determine the amount to be awarded based on the project, its features and its scope.

Submission guidelines

Each application submitted in response to this call for proposals must include the following documents:

  1. The application form, consisting of:
    • Project objectives (250 words)
    • Project description:
      • Research question and background information (750 words)
      • Methodology (750 words)
      • Knowledge mobilization plan (250 words)
      • Training plan (250 words)
    • Bibliography (maximum one page)
    • External funding plan
    • Grant application (Page 10 of the form)
    • Budget justification (maximum one page)
  1. Updated resume (past eight years)

The University of Ottawa is a bilingual (English-French) university. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposal in the official language of their choice.

Selection process

The Vice-Dean, Research in the Faculty of Arts and the Urban Sustainability Research Selection Committee will review all submissions against the following criteria:

  • Project feasibility and quality;
  • Academic excellence of project participants (e.g., publications, citations, monographs, influence of work, international recognition);
  • Potential for developing research partnerships and promoting student learning;
  • Transformative and innovative nature of the planned collaboration, particularly in terms of the planned research activities and the ways in which the project intends to encourage new interdisciplinary collaborations;
  • Strategy for sustaining or expanding activities beyond the initial funding period;
  • Potential to attract external funding in future.

Important dates

  • Deadline to submit applications: February 2, 2025, at midnight
  • Selection committee decision: March 17, 2025

Proposal format 

Proposals must include all the required documents in a single PDF file and be sent by email to [email protected].

Proposal that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be considered.

Please direct all questions about this call for proposals to Assia Bounaira, Intermediate Research Coordinator at [email protected].