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 4, the Ministry particularly encourages collaborative projects across institutions and disciplines from the following focus areas:

• Bio-economy and clean technologies;
• Advanced health technologies; and
• Digital media and information & communications technologies.
• 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 31, 2009.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you have questions about the program, check Frequently Asked Questions, or contact:
Stephane Baffier, 416-325-4883
Miranda Hotrum, 416-212-7060

Linked Documents

Application Form
Application Instructions
Budget Workbook
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines for ORF-RE Round 4
Ontario Innovation Agenda
Sample Contract for ORF-RE Round 4
Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program Guidelines
Information Sessions for Ontario Research Fund-Research Excellence Round 4
Submitted Notices of Intent for ORF-RE Round 4