Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

SSHRC, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Genome Canada, has launched the ICF Ideas Lab: Global Health and Wellness for the 21^st Century, a novel, two-year pilot funding opportunity designed to encourage innovative research partnerships and projects. By breaking down methodological barriers and empowering participants to explore novel approaches to research, the ICF Ideas Lab will promote knowledge sharing and provide foundations for future interdisciplinary projects. This Ideas Lab is part of SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future (ICF) initiative.

There are three components to the ICF Ideas Lab framework: Stage 1, the workshop; Stage 2, the application for the funding opportunity; and Stage 3, the project development phase.

In this ICF Ideas Lab, researchers from across Canada will come together in a series of in-person and virtual interactive workshops to address the global challenge of Global Health and Wellness for the 21st Century.

During the workshops, participants will form research teams and develop ground-breaking project ideas with the potential to inform policies and programs addressing the needs of diverse sectors throughout Canada. Following the workshops, teams will be invited to apply for funding to further develop their ideas and research projects. SSHRC will award up to five grants, valued up to $250,000 per grant.

Eligibility

The ICF Ideas Lab is open to researchers from the social sciences and humanities as well as other disciplines.

Stage 1: Hybrid workshop

The following are eligible to apply to participate in the ICF Ideas Lab workshop:

• researchers from the social sciences, humanities and other disciplines who are affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution (see the list of SSHRC eligible institutions);
• postdoctoral fellows at Canadian institutions (To be eligible for Stage 2, however, they must formally establish an affiliation with an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application, that is, November 2023, and maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period.);

More information on eligibility can be found here

Value and Duration

Stage 1: Hybrid workshop

No research funding will be provided during Stage 1 of the ICF Ideas Lab. SSHRC will cover the costs of travel and accommodation to Ottawa for attendance at the in-person workshop meeting in August 2023.

Stage 2: Funding opportunity

Each team that presents a project idea at the end of the workshop will be invited to apply for funding.

ICF Ideas Lab grants are valued at up to $125,000 per year over two years, up to a total of $250,000. Up to five grants could be awarded. Applicants will need to include the costs of travel and accommodation to Ottawa to attend the working forum, scheduled tentatively for fall 2025, to present research findings.

Application process

Stage 1: Hybrid workshop

Applicants must complete the application in accordance with the accompanying instructions. Applications must be submitted electronically by an authorized research grants officer, or equivalent, from the applicant’s institution, or by a representative of the not-for-profit organization who has financial signing authority and is not participating in the project.

Applicants needing help while preparing their application should communicate with SSHRC well in advance of the application deadline.

Applications must include the following:

• a completed applicant eligibility profile;
• a letter of interest no longer than 2,000 words that explains how the applicant’s research interests, academic and professional experience, and past collaborations and knowledge mobilization activities will allow the applicant to contribute to this Ideas Lab; and
• a curriculum vitae (CV) no longer than seven pages. The CV should highlight experiences and outputs that demonstrate innovation, interdisciplinarity, ability to collaborate and/or an interest in the workshop theme. Applicants are encouraged to review the evaluation criteria and scoring for applying to participate in the workshop when preparing their CVs.

All application materials must be received by 8:00 p.m. eastern on May 25, 2023.

Stage 2: Funding opportunity

All teams established in the hybrid workshop will be invited to apply for funding and will be provided with access to an application form and detailed instructions in September 2023. As part of the application process, teams will be required to submit more detailed project proposals, including project budgets. The deadline for submission of funding applications will be 8:00 p.m. eastern on November 22, 2023.

WEBINAR

Information webinars for this funding opportunity will be held on April 18 (English) and April 20 (French); please check the ICF webpage for registration details found here

Key activity dates

Note:The deadline for Expressions of Interest for the workshop is May 25, 2023 @ 5:00 pm PT . For more information on the call, please contact: KSG-SSC@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.

WEBSITE

Stage 1: Applications do not require an SFU signature sheet at Stage 1, but the application portal routes the submissions through SFU's Research Services department as part of the submission process. The portal being used does not notify our office so, if planning on submitting close to the deadline, please be sure to contact ors@sfu.ca ahead of time so that we can ensure your application makes it through the submission process successfully.