The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) and Institutional Programs Office (IPO) are pleased to launch a special open competition for UBC faculty (both attraction and retention candidates) interested in applying for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) – John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF).
The CFI is a federal program that provides funding for research infrastructure to Canadian Universities, Colleges, and other not-for-profit institutions. The JELF program serves the infrastructure needs of individual faculty, or groups of up to three faculty members where there is a need to share infrastructure. Applicants who have not received another JELF in the past five years are eligible for this special JELF competition.
The JELF is an allocation-based fund for which the CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding available (CFI funding envelope) for each eligible institution. UBC’s allocation for the 2017-2020 cycle will need to be utilized by June 2019, any portion of the funding envelope not funded will be returned to the CFI. In order to maximize the funding envelope, the VPRIO team, where appropriate, has been in touch with Associate Deans of Research (ADR) and staff responsible for CFI proposals to determine whether pre-allocations of this fund for retention and/or strategic priorities (i.e., CERCs, C150s, etc.) will be applied for by June 2019. Where pre-allocations for strategic priorities cannot be used by June 2019, we propose to flow the available funding envelope into an open call. Based on feedback received from the faculties, there is approximately a $5 million JELF funding envelope available for this special JELF competition factoring in funding success rates based on historical data.
Faculty can submit proposals requesting up to $800,000 from the CFI, with a maximum total eligible cost of $2 million. To apply, please complete the NOI form by November 12, 2018.
More details about the JELF program can be found on the CFI website.
Competition Details & Deadlines
November 12, 2018: Applicants to complete and submit their internal NOI to the IPO
December 3, 2018: Decisions from the UBC review panel will be announced on which projects will go forward to submit to the CFI (Selected projects must be submitted to the CFI on or before the June 15, 2019 CFI deadline)
By February 15, 2019 OR June 15, 2019: To submit to the CFI, please follow the internal deadlines found on the VPRI website
Questions or comments regarding this open competition can be directed to the IPO: