International Strategic Opportunities Program Overview

The International Strategic Opportunities Program (ISOP) provides funding for strategic international collaborations between Ontario research institutions and the global research community. The goal of the program is to improve Ontario’s long-term economic potential by attracting and retaining the best and brightest research talent.

What are the overall objectives of ISOP?

The program has been developed to:

• Facilitate research of scientific importance
• Increase Ontario’s long-term economic potential
• Attract and retain top international research talent
• Enhance Ontario’s profile in the international research community

Priority will be given to collaborations with researchers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China and India.

Who can apply for an ISOP award?

The ISOP program is open to not-for-profit organizations where Ontario researchers are engaged in strategic international collaborations.

These include:

• universities
• affiliated research and teaching hospitals
• colleges
• non-profit research institutions

Please note:  An applicant, institution, or a consortium of institutions may apply jointly with their private sector partner(s), with one institution as the lead applicant.

The lead organization must be a not-for profit corporation.

What is eligible for funding?

Funds received through this program can be spent on:

• consortia project management, including coordination and administration costs  and management of research grant proposals
• missions to develop or expand research links in target sectors
• travel, including research exchange programs and hospitality costs for networking
• planning, coordinating and/or participating in international workshops, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and meetings to deliver information on best practises and international links
• publishing the proceeding associated with the above activities

Please note: Total funding per research collaboration initiative will normally not exceed $150,000 over three years. The program will generally fund up to 50% of the eligible costs on a one-time basis, with the balance coming from non-Ontario government sources.

How will applications be evaluated?

Applications will be evaluated on how the project will:

• facilitate research of scientific importance
• increase Ontario’s long-term economic potential
• attract and retain top international research talent
• enhance Ontario’s profile in the international research community

Priority will be given to collaborations with researchers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China and India.

For more information on the program, view or download a copy of the Program Guidelines.

How do institutions apply? 

For details on how to apply, view or download the Application Instructions, Application Form, and Appendix C. 

What is the application deadline?

There will be no formal call for proposals for ISOP. Completed applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

If you have questions about ISOP, please contact:

Didi Kaur
Ministry of Research and Innovation
Tel: 416-325-9333
Email: isop@ontario.ca