The OFI Seed Fund supports ocean-related projects that offer high potential for innovation success but need small amounts of funding to help them move forward — and grow.
Round VIII of the Seed Fund is now closed. Check back on updates on future funding calls.
For further information please contact:
Tracey Woodhouse
Programs Manager
Email: tracey.woodhouse@ofi.ca
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty, staff, technicians, postdocs, or students (Please note: students, postdocs, and technicians that are awarded funding must be supervised by a current faculty member who would be identified as the grant holder and assume responsibility for distribution of funds and terms of the deliverables).
Applicants from Dalhousie may be eligible for funding from OFI, NSERC, Invest NS and Genome Atlantic. Co-funders with specific project interests are outlined below:
- Genome Atlantic: focus on enabling socio-economic impact through genomics innovation
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must be administered in accordance with Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles, and are to be used only for eligible expenditure as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty, staff, technicians, postdocs, or students (Please note: students, postdocs, and technicians that are awarded funding must be supervised by a current faculty member who would be identified as the grant holder and assume responsibility for distribution of funds and terms of the deliverables).
Applicants from Memorial may be eligible for funding from OFI, NSERC and Genome Atlantic. Co-funders with specific project interests are outlined below:
- Genome Atlantic: focus on enabling socio-economic impact through genomics innovation
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
Please note:
Faculty, staff and students must follow the institute’s procedures for applying to this opportunity. Please consult with your faculty’s Grants Facilitators to determine internal deadlines.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must be administered in accordance with Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles, and are to be used only for eligible expenditure as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty and the project must provide some type of training or some type of partnership.
Applicants from UNB may be eligible for funding from NSERC, NBIF and Genome Atlantic. Co-funders with specific project interests and matching funds criteria are outlined below:
- Genome Atlantic: focus on enabling socio-economic impact through genomics innovation.
Supervisor or institutional matching funds required.
- NBIF: Supervisor or institutional matching funds required.
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership includes evidence of training and partnership
Please note:
Applicants must follow the institute’s procedures for applying to this opportunity. Please consult with the Office of Research Services (ors@unb.ca) to determine internal deadlines.
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must follow Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty, staff, technicians, postdocs, or students (Please note: students, postdocs, and technicians that are awarded funding must be supervised by a current faculty member who would be identified as the grant holder and assume responsibility for distribution of funds and terms of the deliverables).
Applicants from UPEI may be eligible for funding from NSERC and Genome Atlantic. UPEI has a small amount of matching funds available for one project. Co-funders with specific project interests and matching funds criteria are outlined below:
- Genome Atlantic: focus on enabling socio-economic impact through genomics innovation.
Supervisor or institutional matching funds required.
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership includes evidence of training and partnership
Please note:
Applicants must follow UPEI’s procedures before applying to this opportunity. Applicants must submit their application in the UPEI Researcher Portal before submitting to the OFI. The deadline for receipt of the application by the Office of Research Services is June 27, 2023.
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must be administered in accordance with Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles, and are to be used only for eligible expenditure as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty and the project must provide some type of training or some type of partnership.
Applicants from UQA R may be eligible for funding from NSERC. Co-funders with specific project interests are outlined below:
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership includes evidence of training and partnership
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
Please note:
Applicants must obtain the signature of the Dean of Research one week prior to the deadline for all departments, except ISMER. At ISMER, the applicants must obtain the signature of the Director one week prior to the deadline.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must follow Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty and the project must provide some type of training or some type of partnership.
Applicants from ULaval may be eligible for funding from NSERC. Co-funders with specific project interests are outlined below:
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership includes evidence of training and partnership
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must follow Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.
OFI's Seed Fund supports innovative projects that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts relating to the ocean. To qualify, applicants must be current faculty and the project must provide some type of training or some type of partnership.
Applicants from UVic may be eligible for funding from NSERC. Co-funders with specific project interests are outlined below:
- NSERC: includes evidence of training and partnership includes evidence of training and partnership
The following information must be compiled and sent to ofi@dal.ca and ofi@mun.ca as one PDF document:
OFI aims to foster a systemic, intentional, and holistic approach to diversity and inclusiveness to ensure welcoming, respectful, and inclusive communities and campuses. Please ensure proposals include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups.
By applying for the Seed Fund, you agree that your proposed project will be reviewed by interested parties such as community organizations and industry for potential co-investment and collaboration who may co-fund projects in partnership with Mitacs.
The fund cannot be used to supplement OFI's large research projects currently underway.
Funds must follow Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) guidelines and principles as outlined in the Use of CFREF Funds, CFREF Administration Guide. Specifically, as per those guidelines, awarded funds must not be used to pay an awardee researcher’s salary or other remuneration. For co-funded projects, sponsor funds must additionally be administered in accordance with the sponsoring partner's guidelines.
OFI does not accept responsibility or obligation for funds expended in excess of the amount provided through the Seed Fund, or for funds expended before or after the term of the Seed Fund.