The NFRF Transformation stream is designed to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge with potential to realize real and lasting change.
The challenge may be fundamental, leading to a scientific breakthrough, or applied, with a social, economic, environmental or health impact. Projects are expected to be world-leading, drawing on global research expertise, when relevant.
Grants are valued between $2 million and $4 million per year (including indirect costs) for up to six years.
NFRF Transformation Program Page
Application Process
Transformation competitions are typically held every two years with a similar competition budget. The application process involves three key deadlines: notice of intent (NOI), letter of intent (LOI), and the full application deadline, which is by invitation only. The application process and adjudication takes into account gender-based analysis+ and and sex- and gender-based analysis.
Review Process & Selection Criteria
A multidisciplinary/multi-sectoral review panel composed of national and international members with broad expertise evaluates the LOIs. The written content provided at LOI stage is considered fixed and will be made available to reviewers who adjudicate the final application.
At the LOI stage, the five selection criteria are assessed as follows:
- Feasibility: 20%
- High Reward: 60%
- High Risk: 20%
- Interdisciplinarity: pass/fail
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: pass/fail
Full Applications are reviewed by external reviewers and then evaluated by the multidisciplinary review panel. The highest ranked applications will proceed to a jury who recommends the final applications to be funded.
Full applications are assessed by the jury for the five selection criteria as follows:
- Feasibility: 50%
- High Reward: 25%
- High Risk: 25%
- Interdisciplinarity: pass rating is confirmed by jury
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: pass rating is confirmed by jury
Timeline: 2024 Competition
Fall 2023
Consult SPARC’s online resources and sample grants as you prepare your NOI and confirm that you meet the NFRF 2024 Transformation Applicant and Subject Matter Eligibility. The Government of Canada's Research and Development Classifications guide will also help you address specific sections of the application.
SPARC is available to provide 1-1 consultations to all researchers. Common topics include the appropriateness and competitiveness of the proposed topic, and understanding the selection criteria.
You may wish to consult the NFRF 2024 Transformation NOI Submission Guide.
Review and confirm any relevant ORS deadlines and procedures for your campus: Vancouver | Okanagan
October 2023
Submit your NOI in advance of the ORS deadline through the Convergence Portal (requires account setup).
November and December 2023
SPARC will contact nominated principle investigators directly to register in a Test Your Concept Session. These sessions, which are for UBC-led teams only, offer feedback on research concepts and competition fit. Researchers must prepare a five-minute presentation and must submit their PowerPoint deck in advance of the TYC session.
SPARC can offer feedback to UBC-led LOI applicants on key, well-developed application sections, focusing on logic, coherence, and compelling statements of impact, ultimately ensuring that all criteria are fully addressed. The following sections can be submitted for review:
- Outline of Challenge (3500-characters)
- Overview of Approach and Potential Changes (3500 characters)
- EDI Analysis of Context (2500-characters)
- Best Practices Implemented (250-characters)
- Relevance, Approach and Expected Impact (2500-characters for each of Team Composition and Recruitment Processes, Training and Development Opportunities, and Inclusion)
- Support of Early Career Researchers (3500-characters)
- Research Proposal (10 pages)
Further details are available through the NFRF 2024 Transformation Evaluation Matrices.
Applications involving Indigenous research may undergo a more tailored adjudication in line with SSHRC’s Indigenous Research Statement of Principles.
January 2024
You may wish to consult the NFRF 2024 Transformation LOI Submission Guide.
Submit your LOI in advance of the ORS deadline through the Convergence Portal (requires account setup).
January to September 2024
SPARC can offer feedback to UBC-led LOI applicants on key, well-developed application sections, focusing on logic, coherence, and compelling statements of impact, ultimately ensuring that all criteria are fully addressed. The following sections can be submitted for review:
- Introduction/Overview (2 pages)
- Biographical Information About the Research Team (4 pages)
- Research Proposal (5 pages)
- Anticipated Transformation/Change, with Concrete Objectives and Other Potential Benefits (2 pages)
- Management Plans (3 pages)
- Budget Justification (2 pages)
Late August / Early September 2024
Consult the NFRF 2024 Transformation Full Application Submission Guide.
Review and confirm any relevant ORS deadlines and procedures for your campus: Vancouver | Okanagan
Submit your final application in advance of the final deadline to the Convergence Portal.
Support & Resources
One-on-One Consultation
Our team can provide comprehensive advice on developing your notice of intent as well as your application in advance of the corresponding deadlines. Limited availability.
Online Resources
Check out our resources for applying to the NFRF Transformation Stream, exclusive to UBC applicants. CWL is required to view.
Application Review
Our team can provide detailed feedback on draft letters of intent and full applications. Limited availability.
Sample Grant Library
Check out our comprehensive sample grant library and additional resources curated specifically for UBC faculty. CWL is required to view.
Contacts
Alexander Unterberger
Manager of Research Development
SPARC
604.822.5386
alexander.unterberger@ubc.ca
SPARC support services
UBC's Grant Facilitation Network
Research support personnel based in the faculties
See list
Various grant support
NFRF Program Help
Convergence Portal help: 613.995.4273 websupport@chairs-chaires.gc.ca
General Inquiries: NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca
Communications: communications@chairs-chaires.gc.ca
Program technical support
Additional Links & Resources
- NFRF 2024 Transformation NOI Submission Guide
- NFRF 2024 Transformation LOI Submission Guide
- NFRF 2024 Transformation Full Application Submission Guide
- NFRF 2024 Transformation Evaluation Matrices
- NFRF Best Practices in EDI in Research
- SSHRC Indigenous Research Statement of Principles and SSHRC Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research
- Status of Women Canada's information on GBA+ and CIHR Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA)
- Canadian Research and Development Classification
- NFRF 2022 Transformation Reviewer Manual *Note that the 2024 reviewer manual has not yet been released.
- NFRF 2024 Transformation FAQ