• Tackle a well-defined problem or challenge;
• Propose a novel world-leading approach that surpasses current methods;
• Are interdisciplinary, integrating diverse perspectives to the defined problem; and
• Have transformative potential, defined as the ability to create a significant, tangible change or impact — i.e., a noticeable leap or breakthrough rather than incremental progress.

The official application process includes up to four phases: 

1. Notice of Intent (NOI) (non-competitive); 

The following phases are competitive:

2. Letter of Intent (LOI);
3. if invited/LOI is highly ranked, full application; and
4. if invited/full application is highly ranked, jury presentation. 

Historically, of the select few LOIs invited to the full application stage, only six high-impact projects are funded across Canada in each round, highlighting its competitive nature.

Each grant is valued up to $24M (including indirect costs) over six years.

(Additional details for the full application and jury stages to follow.)

Grant Development Services (GDS) will provide comprehensive support for the NFRF-T applications, assisting applicants through the NOI, LOI, Full Application and Jury Stages – as applicable.

Competition deadlines & internal timelines

Note that internal activities are in bold. For details on internal support activities, see further below.

Expressions of Interest due to GDS on April 1, 2025

We are asking researchers to submit a one-page Expression of Interest (EOI) to [email protected] (see attached EOI template) outlining the challenge, approach, interdisciplinary nature and transformative impact.

The purpose of the internal EOI is to help researchers develop compelling LOI submissions which will be peer reviewed at the Tri-Agency. To this end, we are not expecting researchers to have in place all the required elements in the internal EOI submissions; what is important at this stage is to outline the current state of the proposal idea. We will work with an expert panel to assess proposals’ state of readiness and help researchers address any potential gaps and develop competitive LOIs. The expert panel includes researchers with track record of NFRF-T or other large-scale grant success, and those with previous experience on NFRF-T or similar grant panels.

Your NOI submission to the agency, which is due on April 15 and will not be adjudicated, therefore will not be impacted by the internal EOI process.

In addition to the activities listed above, GDS support of the NFRF-T process will also include the following:

Resources including templates and checklists are available on SharePoint (link below):

• Competition Report: Provide a report outlining key competition aspects, the internal process, and analysis of previously funded grants.
• LOI Strategy: Provide strategic guidance to help researchers develop LOIs that meet the objectives of the Transformation stream.
• NOI & LOI Checklists: Offer checklists and tipsheets for NOI & LOI preparations, including team steps and relevant uOttawa resources.
• Templates: Where appropriate we will provide researchers with suitable templates for various sections of their proposal
• SharePoint: Set up a dedicated SharePoint folder for each NPI and support team to streamline document sharing and feedback.

Proposal development:

• Team Assembly & Partner Development: Support team and partner development by identifying gaps and connecting with potential partners, including uOttawa units, industry, and national/international institutions - from NOI/LOI through to full application stage.
• One-on-One Meetings: The GDS team will meet with NPIs and team members for guidance and support on LOI development, including research impacts and proposal conceptualization.
• NOI Review: Provide an administrative review of the NOI before submission.
• LOI Review: Coordinate internal review process with expert panel. Provide in-depth review and editing of the LOI proposal and administrative review of the overall LOI package before submission.

If you have any questions, please write to [email protected].