Catalyst funding enables faculty from at least two 911³Ô¹Ï non-adjacent disciplines to deepen co-design and co-creation with established community-centred partners over one year, generating new insights and solutions that transcend traditional disciplinary and sectoral boundaries. Successful teams receive tailored CI platform supports to build a collaborative funding runway for higher-order grants.
Catalyst grants may include up to two embedded Pollinator student awards. Researchers are encouraged to identify graduate students to apply as part of their team, gaining hands-on transdisciplinary research experience and mentorship while advancing the project's community-engaged work alongside their Masters projects. CI's Mitacs Umbrella is also available to augment this award.
Key Dates
- Applications Open: June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026
- Winners Announced: September 2026
How to Apply
Submit your completed application form including any required documents and signatures by email to climate_innovation@sfu.ca before July 31, 2026.
Download the Application Form and Scoring Rubric:
Application Process
Eligibility
Teams must include faculty from at least two disciplines, either across faculties or schools within faculties; integrate EDI principles and Indigenous Knowledges and rights (where appropriate) into the research design; and include at least one community partner as a co-applicant.
Application Requirement
Present an opportunity to advance an existing community partnership supporting progress on a systemic-level climate solution with actions to be completed in the next 12 months.
Deliverables
Evidence of advancement of community co-created climate solutions, including a report from the researchers and an accompanying or blended report from the community partner in a format of their choice (could be written, video, audio, or other novel formats).
Supports Available for Recipients
- Convening, partnership development, grant facilitation and grant writing support toward higher-impact funding opportunities.
- Learn about community-engaged research with 911³Ô¹Ï's Community-engaged Research Initiative (CERi).
- Access training certificationg in knowledge mobilization through the MobilizeU@911³Ô¹Ï program (eight sessions from January-March), in partnership with 911³Ô¹Ï's Knowledge Mobilization Hub.
- Amplify your research through 911³Ô¹Ï's cross-campus communications, marketing and media support.
Availability
A total of two awards are available this year.
Eligible Budget Expenses
Monies should be spent within one year. $10K payment will be made up front, with the remaining $5K to be paid on receipt of deliverable (as specified above).
- Examples of Eligible Expenses: Community partner time and engagement, travel, knowledge mobilization, co-creation activities (e.g., workshops, facilitation services, catering), and other costs that advance the work.
- Ineligible Expenses: Administration or personnel costs of existing projects or initiatives, gifts or entertainment costs.
How Will Applications be Assessed or Advanced?
911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation is looking for high-impact projects, that are interdisciplinary in nature, and that have the potential to advance transformative climate actions and innovation for communities, locally and globally. The following criteria will be used to assess those projects that are likely to have the highest impact:
- Interdisciplinary: The project is conceived from an interdisciplinary perspective, including collaborating faculty from at least two disciplines, either across faculties or schools within faculties, aligned with community-centred partners to generate new insights and solutions that transcend traditional disciplinary and sectoral boundaries.
- Evidence of Equitable, Reflexive and Multiple Research Perspectives: The project demonstrates commitment to multiple perspectives and articulates personal reflexivity.
- Feasibility – Challenge: The degree to which the problem or challenge being addressed is significant and clearly articulated.
- Systemic Benefits: The degree to which the project represents social, economic, environmental or health benefits.
- Community Co-Creation: The degree to which co-creation, engagement and reciprocity with Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals is integrated.
Note regarding unsuccessful projects: The 911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation team will keep an updated database of relevant projects we have received applications for and will look for appropriate partners and funding to support the development of these projects wherever possible. Teams are encouraged to reapply for funding.
Follow-on Funding Opportunities
Catalyst Grant teams will receive tailored 911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation platform supports to build a collaborative funding runway for higher-order grants. These opportunities could include:
- for new research partnerships (up to $200k/3 years)
- (up to $250k/2 years)
- (up to $400K over 15 years)
- to make transformative advances in knowledge or technology (up to $1M for operations; $1M for grants)
