New COVID-19 college research infrastructure competition launches

OTTAWA, ON — The threat of infectious disease continues to be a major global concern for human health and is a key driver of healthcare system costs, human lives lost and economic turmoil. In response to the current pandemic, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has launched an Exceptional Opportunities Fund (EOF) – COVID-19 competition for colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps.

The CFI is investing up to $2 million to support the urgent need for equipment for ongoing applied research or technology development related to COVID-19. Eligible institutions can submit one proposal requesting between $20,000 and $50,000 from the CFI. As an exception to our usual competitions, the CFI will cover up to 100 percent of the eligible costs of a project. However, we still encourage institutions to seek funding from other partners when possible, as this will broaden the scope of the initiative.

The deadline for submitting proposals is September 15, 2020, at 23:59 EDT. Please note that the CFI Awards Management System will be ready to receive proposals starting July 16, 2020.

The EOF is designed for those very few instances when an exceptional research opportunity would be missed if a project had to wait to undergo the normal course of a national competition before a decision could be rendered.

Discover other CFI COVID-19 research investments:
New competition to fund COVID-19-related research: Call for proposals now live (universities)
Prime Minister announces additional funding to support COVID-19 research