The goal of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Exploration stream is to inspire high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research.

Amount: Up to $100,000 per year (+ up to $25,000 indirect costs/year) for up to 2 years

Deadlines: There are 2 stages of application to the program – Notice of Intent and Full application
Faculty Research Office (Notice of Intent): One week prior to agency deadline (for internal review allow 2-3 weeks)
Western Research (Notice of Intent): TBA – Submit a complete notice of intent (NOI) in the Convergence Portal for administrative review and submit a corresponding ROLA proposal for e-approvals. 
NFRF-Notice of Intent: Aug 27, 2024**, 10 am ET
Faculty Research Office (Full Application): One week prior to agency deadline (for internal review allow 2-3 weeks)
Western Research (Full Application): TBA – Submit a complete application in the Convergence Portal for administrative review and submit a corresponding ROLA proposal for e-approvals. 
NFRF-Full Application: Nov 5, 2024**, 10 am ET
Results Announced: March 31/25
**Applications at each stage must be submitted by Western Research.

Description: Exploration grants support research that pushes boundaries into exciting new areas. Researchers are encouraged to think “outside of the box” and undertake research that would defy current paradigms; brings disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives; and has the potential to be disruptive or deliver game-changing impacts.

Exploration stream grants support projects that:

• bring disciplines together beyond traditional disciplinary or common interdisciplinary approaches;
• propose to explore something new, which might fail; and
• have the potential for significant impact.

Eligibility: The fund encourages research proposals led from any discipline, from those in the social sciences and humanities, to health, the natural sciences and engineering. Applicants must hold an eligible academic research appointment at Western.
Individuals:

• Can participate in only one application as either a Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI), a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) or a Co-Applicant.
• Individuals cannot participate in any of these roles if they are a grantee or co-grantee on an active exploration grant.

Teams of at least two eligible participants:

• Must include at least the NPI and a Co-PI or co-applicant.
• Cannot remove themselves from the application to join a different application to the same funding opportunity after submission.

For a proposal to be considered led by early career researchers (ECRs) both the NPI and Co-PI must qualify as ECRs

More Information (website) and applications (Convergence Portal)
Western’s NFRF Information and Resources…

Webinars: In preparation for the NOI deadline, all applicants interested in submitting a NOI, as well as the research administrators, are encouraged to participate in one of the two upcoming webinars. Below are the dates, times and links to the webinars. The webinars will be recorded and made available, along with the presentation slides, to the research administrators after the session. 

NFRFE-2024 – NOI Webinar (English)
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 1:00 PM | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Join link
Webinar number: 2346 543 2566
Webinar password: xHQ5D3uX8mm

FNFRE-2024 – Webinaire Avis d’intention (French)
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 10:00 AM | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Join link
Webinar number: 2340 187 8916
Webinar password:  WFwnC7gPr82