Call for Proposals: 2027-2030 R3AI Research Clusters

Proposals for Research Clusters must aim to: 

• Demonstrate strong scientific and project ambition, with a clear strategy to ensure high impact and equitable research outcomes. 

• Demonstrate strong coherence and integration among all research activities carried out within the Research Cluster, grounded in a collaborative approach. 

• Enhance and promote the development of local, national and international research collaborations. 

• Reinforce partnerships with industry, government and other external stakeholders, in particular in Québec and Canada. 

• Strengthen knowledge mobilization and support the development of the next generation of researchers and highly qualified personnel. 

• Implement and conduct AI research in alignment with the IVADO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan 2025-2030. 

• Envision and proactively pursue strategies to leverage and secure complementary funding beyond the support provided by IVADO, ensuring the long-term sustainability of existing research actions. 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

IVADO, an initiative funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, seeks to transform AI to make it more equitable, diverse, and inclusive (EDI), as set out in its 2025–2030 EDI Action Plan. EDI is considered essential for developing AI that is robust, reasoning and responsible. 

Success depends on integrating these principles at all levels of programming and within the research environment. IVADO encourages its community to address underrepresentation, create inclusive environments, and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared by all. 

In projects, EDI must be integrated in concrete ways through two complementary approaches: 

• within research teams, to ensure fair and inclusive practices 

• throughout the entire research process, from design to implementation 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

• Deadline to submit the LOI: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) 

• Expected date for invitation to the full proposal stage: September 15, 2026 

• Deadline for submission of the full proposal: November 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., EST (UTC-5) 

• Notice of decision: February 5, 2027 

• Funding start date: March 1, 2027 

IVADO will commit up to $20 million (CAD) over a maximum period of three years (March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2030) to support the implementation or consolidation of approximately 8 to 12 Research Clusters. The level of funding awarded to each Research Cluster will be determined based on the scope of the proposal and the total number of Research Clusters funded.  

Each Research Cluster is eligible for indicative funding of up to $1,950,000 for the entire funding period. 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

Teams will be composed of: 

• One principal investigator (PI) affiliated with a U5 institution 

• Up to three co–principal investigators (co-PIs) affiliated with a U5 institution 

• Researchers (co-investigators) affiliated with universities in Canada 

Clusters are encouraged to include collaborators from any sectors (academia, government, non-profit, private industry, and community organizations), as well as partners based in Canada or abroad.

The suggested size of the research team is 4 to 8 members (PI, Co-PI, and co-investigators). 

The participation of early-career researchers (ECRs) as PIs, co-PIs, or co-investigators is required. The participation of IVADO professors is encouraged. 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

The application process consists of two stages: the submission of a letter of intent (LOI), followed by the submission of a full proposal. Please refer to the call guidelines for additional information on the evaluation criteria. 

LOIs will be evaluated based on the five main relevance criteria: 

• Strategic positioning: alignment with the R3AI objectives 

• Scientific quality: identification of major, original and ambitious scientific problem and objectives  

• Anticipated outcomes and impacts, with explicit consideration of underrepresented groups  

• Team strength: composition of the team, demonstrated leadership and expertise and engagement of community 

• Budget: alignment with the research activities 

Full proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Strategic positioning: alignment with the R3AI objectives, and local, national and international collaborations  

• Scientific quality: identification of major scientific problem, objectives, ambition and transformative nature of the project, robustness of methodology, integration of EDI and interdisciplinarity; 

• Outcomes and impacts, including the credibility of knowledge mobilization strategies, involvement of knowledge users, and training of highly qualified personnel  

• Implementation: credibility and feasibility of the work plan, justification of roles and responsibilities of team members, identification of key research risks, and strategies to leverage existing resources and complementary funding. 

• Budget: alignment with the research activities. 

LOIs will be evaluated by an evaluation committee composed of external experts with expertise aligned to the subject areas of the submitted LOIs. The strategic positioning of each LOI will be assessed by a joint committee composed of IVADO’s internal (co-)scientific leadership and external experts. At the conclusion of this stage, feedback will be provided to all applicants. The decision to invite the submission of a full proposal will be made by IVADO leadership based on the assessment results. 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

As recipients of funds under the Research Clusters, researchers undertake, in particular, to: 

• Submit reports on time: 

• Progress reports. At the end of Years 1 and 2, outlining progress achieved, milestones reached, challenges encountered, and any adjustments to the work plan. 

• Final report. Required at the end of the funding period, providing a comprehensive overview of the Research Cluster’s activities, scientific outcomes, achievement of objectives, key results and impacts, lessons learned.  

• Financial reports at the end of each financial year.  

• Ensure that their projects comply with all ethical requirements, if applicable.  

• Notify IVADO of any change in the composition of the research team or in the professional situation of the PI, co-PIs or co-Is.

• Provide IVADO with the necessary information related to the research conducted whenever data is required for Tri‑Agency reporting. 

• Comply with the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Open Access Policy on Publications.  

• Commit to establishing linkages between the project and IVADO’s Scientific Thematic Semester Program and the IVADO Visiting Scholar Program. 

• A statement regarding conflicts of interest from the research cluster leadership team will be required upon submission of the full application. 

See the Call for Proposals Guidelines for full details. 

For any questions or requests for information, please feel free to write to: regroupements@ivado.ca.