SDGs@UofT Catalyst and Synthesis Grants Call for Proposals

Overview

Overview

The Catalyst and Synthesis Grant program aims to:

• Support multidisciplinary teams of researchers to test novel research questions and pursue pioneering conceptual and methodological approaches that have high potential to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inform future goals.
• Create and mobilize knowledge that enhances learning and catalyzes equitable action on the SDGs by engaging faculty and trainees and building strong, inclusive, and innovative partnerships.

Background

There are many definitions of sustainable development that often have three cross cutting dimensions: environment, economy, and equity. Generally, sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Research on sustainable development emphasizes the intersections of complex environmental, social, political, cultural, health, and economic problems that influence equity. Equity is a key component of sustainability and addresses systematic disparities based on underlying and unfair advantages/disadvantages that the SDG framework is meant to address. 

Types of grants

Projects should aim to fall into one of the following categories:

• Catalyst: these projects will bring together local, national and/or international experts across disciplines to create knowledge that incorporate the use of critical and “non-mainstream” epistemologies/methodologies. Catalyst projects should be used to develop and/or evaluate SDGs initiatives that will result in equitable solutions that address systems of oppression and marginalization.
• Synthesis: these projects will bring together local, national, and international experts across disciplines to work on a specific problem aligned with one more of the research themes, to produce knowledge syntheses, such as scoping, systematic or literature reviews that respond to the needs of knowledge users (e.g., policymakers, community organizations, educators, private sector organizations, etc.) in areas relevant to the SDGs.

Funding Streams

Applicants are invited to select one of two streams for proposal submission:

Stream 1: Select a Nexus 

The Catalyst and Synthesis funding will prioritize research projects that emphasize the intersections of the SDGs and address sustainable development challenges in an integrated and intersectional way. To facilitate this, several questions lined to the initiative’s research themes have been identified and outlined below.

Select 2: Build a Nexus

Applicants will be invited to create their own nexus problems and questions that are aligned with our research themes. This provides applicants with an opportunity to propose research projects that are diverse and meet our requirements of having an interdisciplinary focus and collaborators across multiple differences and U of T campuses.

Eligibility

• Principal Investigators (PI) and co-investigators must be at minimum an affiliate of the SDGs Scholars Academy at the time of application.
• Each PI and co-investigators must have a continuing, full-time academic appointment with salary commitments from a U of T academic unit.
• PIs must also be eligible to hold research funding at the University of Toronto and will. 
• Researchers can be a PI and Co-Investigator on only ONE application in each SDGs@UofT competition at a time, in either the catalyst or synthesis stream.
• Research teams must include investigators from at least two disciplines. Preference will be given to team members from different Faculties/Divisions and teams comprising more than one UofT campus.
• Applications can include faculty members as co-investigators. Co-investigators can be appointed at institutions in Canada or internationally.
• Applicants are highly encouraged to include trainees on the research team, including post-docs, graduate, and undergraduate trainees.

Submission Process

Submission Process

The full application includes an online form, a written component of the application, and CVs for the PI and co-investigators. Applicants will need the following information to complete the online form and application template:

1. Project title.
2. Project abstract (maximum 100 words).
3. Proposal category
   1. Synthesis
   2. Catalyst
4. Indicate which two (2) divisions your research team falls into:
   1. Humanities and arts
   2. Social sciences
   3. Medical, health sciences and life sciences
   4. Engineering and technology
   5. Agricultural sciences
   6. Natural sciences

Applicants should upload the following to the online form:

1. Complete application form outlining the following:
   1. Research team. Describe the complementary disciplinary academic contributions of each team member, including the role of trainees who will be involved. Include a list of collaborators if relevant.
   2. Project proposal including the following:
      1. Project rationale, goals, and objectives that outline the need for the research. (maximum 400 words).
      2. Alignment with research theme(s) and nexus area(s) (if stream 2, please provide a description of your nexus. Describe how the proposed project aligns with the chosen theme and nexus area (if relevant), with clearly articulated impact outcomes (maximum 200 words).
      3. Research approach, framework, methods, and description of the feasibility of your study. Note how your project will innovatively apply theoretical and methodological approaches to investigate the intersecting complex nature of the SDGs (maximum 500 words).
      4. Project milestones and timelines – project should not exceed 24 months (maximum 200 words).
      5. Integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations in research and research process. For EDI definitions, see here (maximum 300 words).
      6. Description of the research environment, and budget justification. Funds can be used to support student research assistantships (“RAs”), student stipends, research staff salaries, data access, data generation, cloud computing or storage, and fees (conference registrations, open access, etc.). Please distinguish clearly between trainee salaries (PDFs, Ph.D., Masters, and undergraduate students) and staff. Eligible expenses must align with U of T’s Guide to Financial Management (maximum 300).
      7. Clear plan for knowledge mobilization and community engagement for research findings (maximum 300 words).

2. Completed budget template. Eligible expenses must align with U of T’s  Guide to Financial Management

3. References (maximum 400 words).

4. Abbreviated CVs of all research members (three-page maximum using required format for each). Required sections:
   1. affiliations and positions,
   2. Relevant publications, and
   3. additional information, if any.

Timelines

• Call for applications – Tuesday October 1^st, 2024.
• Deadline to submit applications (through the online system) – Tuesday December 3^rd, 2024.
• Anticipated notice of award – Monday March 3^rd, 2025.
• Funding start date – Tuesday April 1, 2025.

Review Process & Evaluation

A review committee will be formed to evaluate the applications. The SDGs@UofT administrative team will conduct a review to identify applications in alignment with the objective of the grant opportunity. Submissions will be assessed using the following criteria:

• Description of rationale, objectives, and goal (10%),
• Alignment with initiative’s research theme(s) and nexus area(s) (selected from stream 1 or proposed) (10%)
• Impact outcomes (10%)
• Research design, methods, and theory/framework and feasibility (20%),
• Appropriateness of research team, including demonstrated collaboration between two or more departments/divisions across the tri-campus; (10%)
• Potential for training of highly qualified personnel (HQP); (10%)
• EDI considerations (10%)
• Quality of plan for knowledge mobilization and broader community engagement (10%)
• Budget justification (10%)

Contact

Should you have any questions related to this funding opportunity, please contact Nicoda Foster, Associate Director, sdg.admin@utoronto.ca.