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 develop and 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.

The SDGs@UofT initiative is a founding initiative of the institutes for Resilience and Inclusive Societies and Ecosystems (iRISE). iRISE is a hub for convergence research aimed at solving the world’s most complex problems. The SDGs@UofT initiative collaborates with the three founding research institutes of iRISE to provide support for research and innovation at the University of Toronto. This catalyst and synthesis grant program is a key activity of this research hub.

Background

There are many definitions of sustainable development that often have three cross cutting dimensions: environment, economy, and equity. Generally, sustainable development is considered to be “development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Research on sustainable development will emphasize 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.

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 aligned with the initiative’s research themes have been identified and outlined here.

Types of grants

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

• Catalyst: these projects will bring together local and international interdisciplinary experts to create knowledge that incorporate the use of critical and “non-mainstream” epistemologies/ methodologies, and that address systems of oppression and marginalization. Catalyst projects should be used to develop and/or evaluate SDGs initiatives that will result in equitable solutions.
• Synthesis: these projects will bring together local, national, and international interdisciplinary experts 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.

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

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 200 words).
3. Proposal category
   1. Synthesis
   2. Catalyst
4. Indicate which two (2) divisions the project 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 template outlining the following:
   1. Research team. Describe the complementary disciplinary academic contributions of each 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 750 words).
      2. Alignment with research theme(s) and nexus area(s). Describe how the proposed project aligns with the chosen thematic and nexus area, with clearly articulated impact outcomes (maximum 500 words).
      3. Research approach, framework, and methods and 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 750 words).
      4. Project milestones and timelines – project should not exceed 24 months (maximum 500 words).
      5. Integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations in research and research process. For EDI definitions, see here (maximum 500 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 500).
      7. Clear plan for knowledge mobilization and community engagement for research findings (maximum 500 words).

2. Completed budget template.

3. References (maximum 500 words).

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

Timelines

• Call for applications – Monday December 4^th, 2023.
• Deadline to submit applications (through the online system) – This opportunity is currently closed .
• Anticipated notice of award – Monday April 15^th, 2024.
• Funding start date – Wednesday May 1, 2024.

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), with clearly articulated impact outcomes (25%)
• Research design, methods, and theory/framework (15%),
• Feasibility (10%)
• 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%)

Information session

This session held on Tuesday January 23, 2024, between 10:00-11AM.