Call for Expressions of Interest for CFI Innovation Fund Anticipated Call - February 17, 2026 Internal Deadline

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from faculty members interested in applying to the anticipated Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund program call for applications.

CFI Innovation Fund - Overview
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund (IF) "supports a broad range of research programs including those in natural sciences and engineering, health, social sciences, humanities and the arts, as well as interdisciplinary research. Projects funded through the Innovation Fund will help Canada remain at the forefront of exploration and knowledge generation while making meaningful contributions to generating social, health, environmental and economic benefits and addressing global challenges, such as the ones defined by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals."

Anticipated 2027 IF Competition/Institutional Allocations
It is anticipated that the CFI will release their full Call for Proposals for the 2027 Innovation Fund in the Spring of 2026.  Therefore, in order for Lakehead to maximize proposal development time and support for potential Innovation Fund applicants, in advance of the CFI Call for Proposals, the Office of Research Services is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from faculty members for potential CFI IF projects.  EOIs are being requested for both projects where Lakehead University is the lead applicant, as well as projects where Lakehead University researchers have been invited to participate in another university's application as co-applicants. Please note that this internal call for ideas is based on current information from the CFI and is therefore subject to change as new information is provided by the CFI in the future.  

The CFI limits the amount of funding an institution may request for the IF competition by providing each institution with a specific  envelope/allocation (for example, Lakehead University was allocated an institutional envelope of $4 million in the most recent IF competition). Although Lakehead’s allocation is not known at this time, it is anticipated that the allocation will be insufficient to allow the submission of all Lakehead's proposals. As a result, Lakehead University will therefore undertake an internal selection process which will begin with the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

 

Background on the Previous CFI Competition

In the previous IF 2025 competition, the main objectives of the IF were to:
• Enable internationally competitive research or technology development through the equitable participation of expert team members.
• Enhance the capacity of institutions to conduct the research or technology development program over the useful life of the infrastructure.
• Generate benefits for Canadians.

Under the previous IF call, an eligible infrastructure project involved the acquisition or development of research infrastructure for the purpose of increasing research capacity as well as supporting world-class research.  As well, under the previous IF call the CFI introduced three streams:

  • Stream 1: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation (open) - This stream was open to proposals from all disciplines.
  • Stream 2: Leading edge of exploration and knowledge generation in the social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA) - To access this stream, the primary field of research had to be in the SSHA.
  • Stream 3: Creation, renewal and upgrade of core facilities

It is not known if these previous streams will be used by the CFI in the next IF competition, but they are being included here for planning purposes.

 As well, in the previous competition, the CFI specified that total project costs were required to be greater than $1 million for proposals to be considered by the CFI.  For that competition, the CFI stated that it would fund up to 40 percent of a project’s eligible infrastructure costs with the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Research Fund contributing an additional 40% of eligible costs.  The remaining 20% was to be found from other sources by the researcher. Funds from CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, as well as Tri-Council programs (e.g. the Networks of Centres of Excellence and the Canada Research Chairs) were not considered to be acceptable funding partners.

Submission of CFI IF EOIs

Interested teams are invited to submit their EOIs for potential IF projects  to the Office of Research Services (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) by February 17, 2026. 

EOIs for potential IF project ideas should be no longer than three pages and contain the following information:

  • Information on the lead institution, the proposed Principal Applicant and their proposed research team (including any potential team members at other institutions).
  • The research to be undertaken as part of the proposed initiative, why it is innovative and how it would meet the criteria of the CFI IF program.
  • Link of the proposed research to the priority areas of the Lakehead University Research Plan.
  • In general, the proposed infrastructure, collaborating institutions and potential facility/space requirements of the proposed infrastructure. 
  • Approximate cost of the proposed infrastructure.
  • The space requirements of the requested infrastructure need to be described as well, whether the space has been secured or will need to be secured through the Faculty Dean or Lakehead University Space Committee.  In addition, teams are required to indicate if any renovations/new construction to the proposed space will be necessary (which will also therefore require matching funds).

Project Meetings

Upon receipt of the completed EOI package, a meeting will be arranged with each proposed research team and Lakehead University research administration to discuss:

  • how the team's CFI IF proposal is innovative and timely;
  • how the team intends to apply principles of equity, diversity and inclusion to all components of the proposal, including research design, team composition, and benefits to Canadians;
  • why Lakehead should lead, or participate in (if led by another institution), this proposal; and
  • next steps in Lakehead’s internal selection process.

 

For further information, please review the previous CFI IF call for proposals or contact  Andrew Hacquoil (ahacquo@lakeheadu.ca) in the Office of Research Services.