Sponsor
Canadian Food Innovation Network, funded in part by the Government of Canada as part of the Strategic Innovation Fund.
Program
Food Innovation Challenge
For More Information
For more information please visit CFIN's Food Innovation Challenge webpage.
Description
The Food Innovation Challenge is a unique funding opportunity for Canadian food industry collaborators who want to spearhead transformative improvements that will propel the food sector forward and generate significant economic impact.
Call Theme: The Food Innovation Challenge will focus on plastics solutions for food: reduction, replacement, and recyclability.
Eligibility
To be considered for funding, all applications must:
- Be collaborative, industry-led initiatives;
- Be undertaken by an industry-led collaboration consisting of a Lead Applicant and Partners that are incorporated in Canada, all of whom are members of CFIN;
- Identify a Lead Applicant;
- Involve the participation of at least one Small or Medium Enterprise (SME). A SME is a business with 499 or fewer employees and less than $50 million in gross revenues;
- Involve the participation of at least two independent private sector companies; and,
- Conduct research and development at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 7. Projects including TRL 8 and 9 components will only be considered if they are part of a project that also includes a TRL 1 to 7.
For additional information on eligibility, please review the Program Guidelines.
Funding Availability
The total eligible project costs should be between $1 million and $4 million and the maximum level of matching funding from CFIN will be 50% of total eligible project costs.
Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis and CFIN will require a non-refundable project management fee of 5% of total project costs eligible for CFIN funding.
Indirect Costs
Indirect Cost thresholds of 55% on eligible direct labour but no more than 15% of total eligible project costs will apply for each applicant (and for each project if an applicant is approved for multiple CFIN projects).
Project Duration
Projects are expected to start by January 1, 2023, and must be completed by March 31, 2025.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
External Deadline | Letters of intent due to CFIN via the Network's Program Portal. | |
Internal Deadline | Applicants invited to the full proposal stage are to submit an OR-5 form and the full proposal to the Office of Research at research.services@uoguelph.ca. | |
External Deadline | Full proposals are due to CFIN via the Network's Program Portal. |
How to Apply
There is a two-stage application process for the program.
- Applicants will first submit a letter of intent (LOI)
- Selected applicants will then be invited to complete a full proposal.
Full details can be found in the Program Guidelines.
Information For Co-applicants
If you need to meet a deadline set by an industry partner for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Office of Research with at least five days in advance of the deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Office of Research (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).