Summary of Stage 2 Call for Proposals Guidelines (TIPS)

CBRF & BRIF Stage 2 Objectives

• To improve pandemic readiness and sector growth by strengthening research and talent capacity in Canada and contributing to and leveraging collaborations across the entire biomanufacturing ecosystem and various sectors.

• The focus is on pathogens with the greatest pandemic potential, especially respiratory and zoonotic diseases i.e. those identified by the World Health Organization, Norway’s Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• To target research, infrastructure and talent investments toward developing emerging vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic technologies (e.g., mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, small molecules, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators) that can be produced at scale in Canada, and that have the potential to address a range of pandemic pathogens.

Targeted investment strategy will provide companies in Canada with a pipeline of relevant research and talent, as well as access to GMP-grade laboratories, through collaborations with postsecondary institutions and research hospitals.

Proposals must align with the Biosciences and Life Sciences Strategy:

• Increase specialized infrastructure, and capacity for multidisciplinary, applied research
  • Address priority pandemic pathogens and emerging health threats through development of novel vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
  • Focus on areas in which Canadian research is cutting-edge, while addressing critical gaps that limit biomanufacturing.
• Support training and talent development, to expand the pipeline of skilled research and talent
  • Attract and develop HQP, including students, postdoctoral researchers and early career researchers, across all disciplines; and technicians with industry-relevant skills and training in research, engineering and biomanufacturing, including good laboratory practice (GLP), good manufacturing practice (GMP) laboratories and facilities training
• Accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes
  • Build on receptor capacity among public and private developers of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; support the generation of intellectual property in Canada
  • Increase the capacity of institutions to work collaboratively with companies, including those supported through the Strategic Innovation Fund.

Each proposal should include:

• Proposal for partnered, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral applied research in the biomanufacturing and life sciences sector to accelerate the translation of discoveries into products and services to strengthen the sector.

Each research proposal may also include proposals for either or both of:

• Partnered talent development to provide skills and training needed to drive innovation and growth in Canada’s biomanufacturing industry.
• Research infrastructure to support Canada’s biosciences research needs.

Stage 2 Process

• HI³ operating funds: $500K/year for 4 years ($2M) to administer the program
• There is no CBRF envelope, and thus no restriction on the number or value of CBRF applications.  Each application may request between $500K-$5M per year, for up to 4 years, including 25% indirect costs.  TAGFA rules apply.
• CBRF applications must be endorsed by a hub, and then will be reviewed by a federally-appointed review committee
• BRIF/CFI envelope: Each hub can endorse up to $138.5 million in requests for CFI funding for research infrastructure components.  This ‘envelope’ applies at both the notice of intent (NOI) and full application stages. To provide flexibility, a hub may exceed its envelope by up to 10% at the NOI stage.
• For the BRIF component of an application, the CFI will fund up to 60% of the project’s eligible infrastructure.  Total cost of the infrastructure must be greater than $1M per project/application.  The CFI will also contribute to the operating and maintenance costs of funded infrastructure (equivalent to 30% of the CFI contribution for funded infrastructure) through its Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF).  CFI Policy and program guide rules apply.
• For proposals to be considered for CBRF-BRIF funding, they must:
  • be endorsed by a research hub; and
  • in the case of infrastructure or talent development components, directly support one or more CBRF research proposals.

Hub-endorsed NOIs are due to TIPS on June 8, 2023; full applications are due on Sept 7, 2023.

Stage 2 HI³  Timelines — Key Dates

• March 14: HI³ Echo Announcement
• March 20: HI³ All Partner Townhall Info Session
• March 27: HI³ All Partner Project Discussion Workshop
• April 27: EOI submission deadline. Please email EOI forms to hi3@utoronto.ca.
• May 25: Internal NOI submission & review
• June 8: Endorsed NOI submission deadline
• August 10: Internal full proposal submission & review
• September 7: Endorsed full proposal submission deadline