Northern Fund
The Northern Fund will provide eligible institutions and organizations in Northern Canada with research infrastructure that will enhance the capacity for research projects that address the priorities of the region and its communities. These research projects will be conceived, developed, led and managed by Northern institutions, researchers and communities.
For the purposes of this funding program, the North includes Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. The Northern Fund augments the Government of Canada’s strategic investments in Northern research and aims to strengthen Northern research capacity.
The Northern Fund is open for proposals in all research disciplines that clearly demonstrate how the research directly engages with and serves the needs of Northern communities, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in the North.
Status: This funding program is open for proposals.
Key document: Northern Fund call for proposals
We recommend downloading the document to access the hyperlinks.
What is the role of the Northern Fund Advisory Committee?
The Northern Fund Advisory Committee will advise the CFI on this funding program’s implementation and evolution.
How is my proposal reviewed?
The Northern Fund is not a competition-based program, and each proposal will be reviewed on its own merits. Each proposal will be reviewed by a Proposal Review Committee.
Role of the Proposal Review Committee
The Proposal Review Committee will assess whether proposals submitted to the Northern Fund meet the five review criteria and will make funding recommendations accordingly.
Review Criteria
The five review criteria for this funding program are:
Research in the North for the North — The research activities are of high relevance to Northern communities, are feasible, and have been co-created, co-developed or co-managed with First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities, as appropriate.
Team — The team has the relevant knowledge and experience to conduct the research activities. First Nations, Métis or Inuit team members play meaningful and leadership roles in the research activities.
Infrastructure — The research infrastructure is necessary and appropriate and will augment research capacity in the North.
Sustainability — The research infrastructure will be well managed and efficiently used.
Benefits to Northern communities — There are clear pathways to transfer research results and/or to mobilize knowledge to residents of Northern communities including First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities and potential partners. The results are likely to lead to social, cultural, health, environmental or economic benefits to Northern Canada including the training of highly qualified personnel.
Consult the call for proposals for details of each of these review criteria.
Have you been invited to participate in the Northern Fund review process?
You will find everything you need to know in these guidelines if you have been invited to participate in the Northern Fund Advisory Committee or in a Proposal Review Committee to review proposals for the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Northern Fund.