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Funding Opportunities

This is a brief list of some of the funding opportunities that are available to faculty through internal and external sources. There are many more opportunities out there, this is just a starting place to help your research dreams come true!


Internal Funding Opportunities

Self-Funded Research Grant (in lieu of salary)

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has made provision for faculty to receive certain tax concessions in instances where they are using salary to cover the costs of their research. This means that part of your salary can be considered a research grant in lieu of salary. The purpose of this grant is to allow faculty to receive a portion of their salary tax free for research purposes. To apply, visit the Self-Funded Research Grant web page.

VIURAC Capacity Building Grant

The VIU Research Awards Committee (VIURAC) Capacity Building Grant (CBG) is provided as seed funding to support faculty in developing research grant applications, developing or strengthening their research programs, or in the dissemination of research results.  This funding is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is available to all faculty within the social sciences and humanities disciplines.To apply, visit the VIURAC Capacity Building Grant web page.

VIURAC Research Fund

The VIU Research Awards Committee (VIURAC) Research Fund (RF) is intended to encourage research and other forms of faculty scholarship based on the belief that faculty need to pursue various forms of scholarly and professional activity to remain effective educators and to provide useful learning opportunities for their students. It is recognized that working towards a healthy environment for scholarship at our institution will benefit students, faculty, and the community alike. The Research Fund is not intended to serve as a substitute for major grants from outside funding agencies.  Rather, it is expected that monies from the RF will “seed” projects and provide greater opportunities for faculty to be successful in future outside funding competitions. To apply, visit the VIURAC Research Fund web page.

VIUFA Research & Scholarly Activity Funding

The Research and Scholarly Activity Committee recognizes that scholarly activity is important to academic excellence and is an essential component of the faculty workload. The Committee has three categories of awards to support scholarly research: a) release sections – available to regular faculty (awarded in the Fall only); b) research funding of up to $1,000 available to regular and temporary faculty (awarded both Fall and Spring); and c) funding of up to $1,000 for conference attendance for temporary faculty (awarded both Fall and Spring). To apply, visit the VIUFA Research & Scholarly Activity Funding web page.

Travel & Conference Funding

Travel and conference funding is awarded by the Travel and Conference Proceedings Funding Committee to VIUFA or BCGEU members who wish to participate in training for a conference, or to those who are attending a conference. To apply, visit the Travel & Conference Funding web page.

VIUFA Professional & Scholarly Development Funding

For information about this funding opportunity please contact a member of the Professional and Scholarly Development Committee.

BCGEU Professional Development Funding

BCGEU employees are eligible to apply for a Professional Development Leave after 3 consecutive years of employment or attend an event as stated in the BCGEU Collective Agreement. To apply, visit the BCGEU Professional Development Funding web page.

VIUFA Professional Development Leave

It is recognized that many opportunities for professional development require a longer period of time than is available between the spring and fall instructional periods. In order to encourage faculty to take advantage of these opportunities, a program of assisted professional development leave of absence is available to regular VIUFA members. This program is administered by the VIUFA Leave Committee. To apply, visit the VIUFA Professional Development Leave web page.

Faculty and Staff Travel & Study Abroad Grant

The Faculty and Staff Travel and Study Abroad Grant program is designed to assist VIU faculty and staff to explore or develop international teaching and learning opportunities for the VIU community, particularly when the activity will directly benefit the VIU community. To apply, visit the Faculty and Staff Travel & Study Abroad Grant web page.

Internationalization Grants Program

The Internationalization Grants Program is designed to support faculty and instructors as they work towards VIU’s internationalization goals. The intent of the program is to foster incremental, innovative activities that weave internationalization into departments or areas where an international focus is not already present. To apply visit the Internationalization Grants Program web page.

 

 

External Funding Opportunities

Please note that all applications/proposals/letters of intent for external funding grants must be approved by your department Chair and Dean using an Institutional Signature Sheet for Research Funding prior to their submission. This form can be found on the Grant Research Forms & Templates web page and must accompany a copy of the application. Applicants are strongly advised to allow sufficient lead-time for the proper consideration at each level.

Funding Opportunities Databases

The COS Database
Community of Science (COS) is a database of funding opportunities. This database is open to all disciplines, not just the sciences. They produce two weekly newsletters, Funding for Humanities and Funding for Health Sciences. For better search results see "Rules for Searching" and Expertly Searching COS Database

The University of Toronto Database: Provides information on funding opportunities with deadlines in the next three to six months.

Social Sciences and Humanities Funding Opportunities

  • Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada SSHRC, is Canada's federal funding agency for university-based research and graduate training in the social sciences and humanities. Some examples are economics, business and administrative studies, ethics, education, and law, as well as history, literature and philosophy, anthropology, psychology, sociology, fine arts, native, religious, environmental and women's studies.
  • The Canada Council For The Arts is a national arm’s length agency created by the federal government in 1957 to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” To fulfil this mandate, the Canada Council provides grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in: dance, inter-arts, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts , writing and publishing.
  • Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians.
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is responsible for Canada's foreign policy in the areas of knowledge, learning and the promotion of Canada as a study and research destination. They manage a number of programs: some provide Canadians with opportunities to develop their knowledge of the world; others provide foreigners with opportunities to learn more about Canada.
  • Office of Learning and Technologies helps Canadians learn and improve their skills by providing financial assistance and information to students and apprentices, helping and encouraging parents to save for their children's post-secondary education, and providing support for student exchanges and international academic mobility.

Science and Technology Funding Opportunities

  • The Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada NSERC is the national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada's capability in science and technology. NSERC supports both basic university research through research grants and project research through partnerships of universities with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people in both areas. NSERC provides a list of all deadlines and notification dates, please keep in mind that VIU requires all applications to be submitted to the RSAO one week prior to the agency deadline.
  • NSERC Pacific Regional Office Grant is awarded from time to time, NSERC's Regional Offices may consider requests from organizations, individuals, student groups, etc. for sponsorship of special events, or activities. Only requests for support of recurring events/activities (e.g., PromoScience) can be accepted. Requests for support of recurring events/activities (e.g., annual conferences) will not be considered. Funds are limited and submissions will be reviewed on an "as received" basis and evaluated individually on their merits. See pdf document for more details: NSERC Pacific Regional Office Grant Guidelines for Submission.
  • Environment Canada, Agriculture Canada, and Natural Resources Canada have granted the university funding in the past, and granting opportunities are still available.
  • Western Economic Diversification Canada and Western Economic Partnership Agreements (WEPAs) are multi-year federal-provincial funding commitments to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in western Canadian communities. Through the agreements, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and each western province provide a matching contribution, enabling significant investments to fund projects that support federal and provincial priorities. Projects funded under the WEPAs have benefited Western Canadians by helping to create a better environment for growth, business development and innovation.

Health Funding Opportunities

  • Canada Institutes of Health Research is Canada's premier health research funding agency, funding over 8,500 researchers in universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes across Canada. CIHR provides funding opportunities for four themes of health research: Biomedical, Clinical, Health systems services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health.
  • Canadian Health Services Research Foundation promotes and funds management and policy research in health services and nursing to increase the quality, relevance and usefulness of this research for health-system policy makers and managers. In addition, the foundation works with these health-system decision makers to support and enhance their use of research evidence when addressing health management and policy challenges. Any foundation project, process or activity always involves both researchers, and managers, policy makers from academia and Canada's health system.
  • Health Canada recognizes the value of supporting research in order to discover new and better ways to deal with the health concerns of today and tomorrow.
  • Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research strengthens the BC health research enterprise through innovative, integrated services and programs that create and maintain a vibrant health research environment mobilize stakeholders to identify priorities and address health to build the capacity for excellent health research.
  • The Helene Fuld Health Trust is the nations largest private foundation devoted exclusively to student nurses and nursing education. Many of the grants were earmarked to create endowments that will provide continuing financial aid to students seeking a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) and who will be performing bed side nursing work. A smaller number of grants went for Special Projects being conducted by the grantees.
  • Canadian Nurses Foundation seeks to advance nursing knowledge and improve health care by providing research grants, awards, and scholarships to Canadian nurses and nursing students.
  • Healnet Health Evidence Application and Linking Network, HEALNet is a national network linking more than 75 researchers in 17 Canadian universities and is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in partnership with Industry Canada.
  • Propel Centre for Population Health Impact the main vision of our research is to help transform the health of populations in Canada and around the world. Our initial focus is on tobacco control, youth health, and improved quality of life for those who have been touched by cancer.
  • BC Child and Youth Health Research Network provides an infrastructure to lead and harmonize the children and youth health research agenda in BC. the Network strives to promote and facilitate research on key transitions in the development of children and youth.
  • BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network creates new efficiencies and partnerships in the areas of environmental and occupational health research.
  • BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Network contributes to the excellence of mental health and addictions research in British Columbia by strengthening relationships among researchers across disciplines, institutions and health services organizations.
  • BC Network for Aging Research brings together disciplines, research streams, institutions, community based organizations and health regions with an interest in aging research.
  • BC Rural and Remote Health Research Network aims to increase the investigation of issues relevant to improvements in the health of rural and remote communities.
  • Disabilities Health Research Network is an integrated, multidisciplinary, and BC-based network that fosters high quality research to better the lives of Canadians with disability.
  • Networks of Environments for Aboriginal Research BC brings together community-and institutionally based searchers in Aboriginal Health across BC.
  • Women's Health Research Network aims to foster the generation, application and mainstreaming of new knowledge and is specifically dedicated to women's health research that will increase the understanding of and capacity for sex and gender-based analyses, and for integrating women's health concerns into other areas of health research.

Infrastructure Funding Opportunities

  • Canada Foundation for Innovation Infrastructure Funding. "The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997. The Foundation's goal is to strengthen the capability of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other not-for-profit institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development. By investing in research infrastructure projects, the CFI supports research excellence, and helps strengthen research training at institutions across Canada."
  • British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), helps public post-secondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit research agencies to invest in research infrastructure, by matching approved CFI projects. A separate application is required.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

Canada is building world-class research capacity by recruiting top-tier postdoctoral researchers at an internationally competitive level of funding and positioning them for success as the research leaders of tomorrow.

These prestigious two-year fellowships worth $70,000 per year, are open to both Canadian and international researchers who have recently completed a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree.

For more information on how to apply or requirements of VIU as a host institution see the Banting web site:http://banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.html. For questions specific to VIU please contact Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa, Director of Research Services.