The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funds research infrastructure such as state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, laboratories and databases that are essential to conduct research.
CFI strives to build our nation's capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development. The CFI is an allocation-based fund, where the CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding available for each eligible institution.
CFI funds up to a maximum of 40 per cent of a project’s total cost. CFI applicants at UBC must also apply to the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) for matching funds of up to 40 per cent of the value of the CFI project.
Project Leaders must then raise the remaining 20 per cent from other eligible sources including:
- Institutional funds, trust funds or foundations
- Federal departments and agencies (but not CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC)
- Provincial and municipal departments and agencies
- Private sector firms and corporations
- Volunteer organizations and individuals
UBC submits all CFI and BCKDF funding applications on behalf of its researchers. CFI's primary funding programs are the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) and the Innovation Fund (IF).
Before applying to any CFI infrastructure award, researchers should review certain procedures and consider available resources.