RESEARCH EXCELLENCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence (ORF-RE) program promotes research excellence in Ontario by supporting transformative, internationally significant research of strategic value to the province.
The ORF-RE focuses on scientific excellence and strong commercialization and targets new, leading-edge research initiatives.
As a general rule, the minimum support provided by the ORF-RE to a project is $1 million and the maximum support provided is $8 million. Only in exceptional circumstances will requests over $8 million be considered.
Who’s eligible for funding?
Funding is open, on a competitive basis, to:
- Ontario publicly assisted universities
- Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology
- Ontario hospital research institutes
- not-for-profit research institutes affiliated with an Ontario university or hospital, excluding those funded primarily by business or industry
- consortia of the above, with one institution as lead applicant, assuming responsibility and accountability for the consortium
- other Ontario not-for-profit research institutions at the discretion of the ORF Advisory Board
What’s eligible for funding?
While research proposals in all disciplines are eligible for ORF-RE Round 3, the Ministry particularly encourages collaborative projects across institutions and disciplines from the following focus areas:
- clean technologies and products;
- creative industries and digital media; and
- health and bioscience industries.
Proposals must include a plan for youth outreach/mentorship activities.
The ORF-RE program funds:
- direct costs, including salaries and benefits, facilities and equipment, management and administration
- indirect costs—the overhead costs of doing research
The program will contribute a maximum of 1/3 of the operating costs, with 1/3 of the remainder coming from the private sector and 1/3 from the institution.
ORF does not fund:
- contract R&D (where the private sector owns the intellectual property)
- clinical trials
- research chairs
How are proposals judged?
Proposals are judged on:
- research quality
- strategic value of the research
- commercialization
- development of research talent
- project management
For more details on the ORF-RE program, download a copy of the Program Guidelines.
How do institutions apply?
For details on how to apply to the program, download a copy of the Application Instructions.
When is the next deadline for proposals?
The next deadline for proposals will be on July 30, 2008.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions about the program, check Frequently Asked Questions, or contact:
Mima Vulovic, 416-314-0634
Stephane Baffier, 416-325-4883
Miranda Hotrum, 416-212-7060
Linked Documents
CFI Policy on Assessing the Value of Items Involving In-kind Contributions
Classification Codes for Research Disciplines
Classification Codes for Areas of Application
Conflict of Interest Policy for Expert Reviewers
Information Sessions for Early Researcher Awards Program Round 5
Notices of Intents received for Round 3
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