Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams (ICT) Funding Opportunity

Overview

Ontario Genomics is pleased to announce Genome Canada’s new Climate Action Genomics Initiative – Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems funding opportunity, launched in May 2022. Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams (ICTs) represent the largest, key component of the initiative. ICTs are integrated teams of researchers from different disciplines and users who work together to address specific questions, achieve relevant deliverables and, ultimately, reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions of Canada’s agriculture and food systems. As part of the Initiative portfolio, the teams will work toward broader national impacts that manifest value beyond each individual project. The ICTs will provide genomic solutions to help implement agriculture and food production systems that are climate-resilient, socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sustainable, and that contribute to the mitigation of climate change impacts.

Objectives

The ICT funding opportunity aims to support teams that use genomic approaches to achieve the overall objective of the Initiative, which is to develop and apply genomic tools and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the carbon footprint of Canada’s food systems to ensure they are resilient, economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The scope of this funding opportunity will include areas where genomic technologies are used to help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and reduce the carbon footprint of Canada’s agriculture and food production system. Projects should seek solutions that will increase the value created by production systems without increasing greenhouse gas emissions or amplifying negative impacts on the natural environment. Furthermore, projects should demonstrate how their outputs could be translated into reduced emissions by taking into account the various dimensions of the food system value chain, including production, processing, distribution and consumption.

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal has significant potential to achieve concrete deliverables by the end of the funding period. Proposals that make a strong case that their deliverables will translate into significant social and/or economic benefits that align with the Initiative’s overall intended impact (i.e., the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to lessen the carbon footprint of Canada’s agriculture and food production systems) within the shortest time frame possible after the end of the project are particularly encouraged. Consideration will be given to what is reasonable for different research areas.

See example projects here.

To ensure that the objectives of the funding opportunity are met, all applications must address the evaluation criteria established for the competition (see Appendix 1 of funding opportunity).

Available funding and term

• There is approximately $24 million available for the ICTs from Genome Canada.
• Genome Canada’s maximum contribution to an approved project will be $3 million.
• There must be a minimum contribution of $1 million from Genome Canada to each approved project.
• A project’s eligible costs must be co-funded from eligible sources such that the co-funding is at least equal to the Genome Canada contribution. See the Genome Canada Guidelines for Funding for more details.
• Successful teams will be awarded funding for a term of up to four years.

It is anticipated that eight to ten ICTs will be funded as part of this Initiative portfolio. The portfolio will also include a Data Coordinating Centre (DCC) as well as a Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Coordinating Centre (KMICC).

Eligibility

Genome Canada funds can only be awarded to individuals affiliated with one or more of the following types of organizations:

• Canadian universities, colleges and affiliated institutions including research hospitals and research institutes
• Not-for-profit organizations (including community or charitable organizations) with an explicit research mandate
• Canadian non-federal government departments or agencies

See ICT Funding Opportunity and Guidelines for Funding Research Projects for complete eligibility requirements.

Application Material and Relevant Links

To access registration information and to discuss projects, potential applicants should contact Laura Riley, Director, Sector Innovation and Programs, Ontario Genomics at lriley@ontariogenomics.ca.

Funding Opportunity and Guidelines:

• Climate Action Genomics Initiative Overview – EN
• Climate Action Genomics Initiative Overview – FR
• ICT Funding Opportunity – EN
• ICT Funding Opportunity – FR
• Guidelines for Funding Research Projects

Other Resources:

• Informational Webinar Recording (May, 2022)
• Genome Canada Competition Webpage link
• Ontario Genomics contact: lriley@ontariogenomics.ca

Ontario Genomics Timeline

*Dates to be finalized and subject to change.