Special funding programs

Special programs are institutional applications that support the University of Victoria CRC/CFI strategic research plan.

Programs administered by Special Programs in the Office of Research Services (ORS) include the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and the Western Economic Diversification Canada (WED). See the tabs below for details.

University-level approval is required before applying to any of these funding programs. Interested researchers should contact the special programs officer.

ORS liaises with the funding partners, assists the selected researchers in the preparation of their applications, and manages the awarded projects.

Contact us

Manager Instituitional Programs & Knowledge Mobilization: Dr. Joaquin Trapero, cfi@uvic.ca, 250-721-7972
Institutional Programs Liaison: Christine Humphries, resprog1@uvic.ca, 250-472-5126

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure.

The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

CFI has several programs available to universities. The Office of Research Services will assist you in every step of all the programs.

Accessing CFI funds

All researchers need university and/or department and faculty approval to access CFI funds. Contact the manager institutional programs for any information on the programs available and how to access them.

The BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) program is administered by the BC Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and funds Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) approved projects on a matching basis.

BCKDF general priorities are:

  • agriculture
  • alternative energy/power technologies
  • health/biotechnology
  • forestry
  • high tech (including new media, information communications, wireless and environmental technologies)
  • Indigenous studies
  • ocean sciences (including fisheries/aquaculture)

A separate full application form must be completed and sent to the ministry. Please contact the manager institutional programs before starting any BCKDF application to discuss the process and guidelines.

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program helps universities attract and retain the best talent from around the world. The program assists universities like the University of Victoria in achieving research excellence in natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities.

All CRCs at UVic have been already allocated. Please contact the manager institutional programs for any information on the process.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WED) is a federal department that works to strengthen western innovation, business development and entrepreneurship, and economic development.

WED has programs to fund research projects at universities that address their priorities:

  • support technology commercialization
  • enhance trade and investment
  • improve business productivity and competitiveness
  • increase rural diversification

You’ll need UVic’s approval before preparing your WED proposal. Please contact the manager institutional programs for any information on the process.