Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

The New Frontiers in Research Fund - International 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation represents a collaboration among research funders from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States to leverage international expertise to tackle the global challenges caused by climate change. Climate change has been recognized as the single most important threat to the future well-being and prosperity of our planet and all who inhabit it. 

The Sixth Assessment IPCC reports contain more than 130 key risks that could become severe, taking into consideration climate hazards, exposure and vulnerability. The reports grouped these key risks into eight representative key risks. To encourage research in comprehensive strategies, projects must directly address at least two of these representative key risks:

• Risks to low-lying coastal socio-ecological systems
• Risks to terrestrial and ocean ecosystems
• Risks associated with critical physical infrastructure, networks and services
• Risks to living standards
• Risks to human health
• Risks to food security
• Risks to water security
• Risks to peace and to human mobility

This call will support research that is both interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral on participatory contextually and culturally appropriate mitigation and adaptation responses to at least two of the eight representative key risks of climate change, noted above. Projects must focus on responding to the needs of those most impacted by the effects of climate change. All projects are required to partner with participating community or communities in the co-creation, implementation and ownership of the research and outcomes, and to develop approaches related to policy implementation and knowledge mobilization. Integration of team members from vulnerable groups is required.

Value and Duration

Projects should be designed to be completed within three years. Funding is available for three-year projects. One-year no-cost extensions may be available in some circumstances, on request and requiring appropriate justification. The call is supported by research funding organizations from different countries, referred to as the “consortium partners.” The total amount of funding available to support each project will depend on the consortium partners that will be supporting the project. Refer to the information provided in the annexes (links in Table 1) for information on the level of financial support available.

Canada will support projects up to CA$1,500,000. Additional consortium partners may increase the amount available.

The maximum budget for the direct costs of the research project is CA$400,000 per year, for up to three years. Awards are for three-year grants and are eligible for an automatic one-year extension. Grantees will have four years to complete their projects and spend grant funds. Applicants may, in addition, request up to 25% of the value of the direct costs of research to cover indirect costs (overhead) and include this in their total funding request, for a maximum grant value of CA$500,000 per year. The indirect costs component of each NFRF award is included in the award value; it is not in addition to it.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must apply as a transnational research project partnership. Project teams must be interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral, incorporating required disciplinary expertise to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies, and including appropriate stakeholders to reflect the participatory, co-developed nature of the project. It is strongly recommended that all project teams include at least one expert in social sciences or humanities among the co-principal investigators to ensure that the community/social dimension is integrated, fostering successful implementation of the strategies for maximum impact.

Project Team

Project teams will be composed of co-principal investigators (co-PIs), co-applicants and collaborators. Co-PIs share responsibility for directing the project and co-ordinating proposed research activities, in addition to participating in the execution of the research project; co-applicants and collaborators contribute to executing the research project.

A minimum of three countries must be represented among the co-PIs, and the team must be eligible to receive funds from at least two consortium partners. At least one co-PI must be eligible to apply to the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) program.

To reflect the expertise required to deliver on the ambitious and interdisciplinary nature of the project, proposals must be submitted by interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral teams, with appropriate stakeholders including the vulnerable groups involved in the project. The appropriate team size and composition will depend on the requirements of the proposed project, and may include individuals from any discipline and sector.

To foster the participation of many, and to ensure that teams have enough time to dedicate to the project, individuals may participate as a co-PI on only one application to this competition. An individual who is listed as a co-PI on multiple applications will have their status changed to a co-applicant on all but one application, determined by the order in which they are received.

Agency Website

SFU Institutional Support

Interested teams are encouraged to email isa@sfu.ca by Feb. 28, 2023 to indicate their interest in the program.  Respondents will be invited to an info session held in early March that will provide an overview of the program and outline potential central support available.

Two-stage application process
(internal deadlines for full application stages TBC)

Notice of Intent (NOI) (mandatory)

January 2023: competition launch
Feb 28, 2023: Internal NOI (to request institutional support)
May 2, 2023: NOI due to agency*

Full Application

September 12, 2023: full application due to agency*
February 2024: Results announced
March 2024: Funding starts

*An SFU Signature sheet is only required for the Full Application stage but, NOI's need to be manually approved through the portal by ORS. Please ensure your Application is in "Submit Mode" no later than 3 business days in advance of deadline, or let ors@sfu.ca know, so that we can ensure your NOI are formally submitted.