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Launch of the integrated Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund competition

Posted by Jaq-Lin Larder on March 28, 2022 in Research Funding

The integrated Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) competition has been launched. Both announced in Budget 2021, the CBRF will invest $250M over four years to support high risk, applied research, training and talent development while the BRIF will invest up to $340M to support infrastructure needs. The CBRF and the BRIF are part of a suite of programs that will contribute to Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. The Strategy will invest more than $2.2 billion over seven years to continue growing a strong, competitive biomanufacturing and life sciences sector, and to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics by increasing domestic capacity and partnerships to produce life-saving vaccines and therapeutics.

The CBRF, managed by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat on behalf of the three federal funding agencies, and BRIF, managed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, are based on an ecosystem approach, designed to build on existing assets and infrastructure, and to forge partnerships across multiple sectors, including industry and government research facilities. To maximize impact and ensure investments complement and reinforce each other, the programs feature a two-stage, integrated competitive process:

CBRF Stage 1: selection of three to five research hubs

Integrated CBRF and BRIF competition - Stage 2: open, national call for partnered applied research, research-training, and infrastructure projects associated with the selected research hubs

Funds awarded will contribute to the pipeline of highly qualified personnel and new technologies and will support the translation of academic research into applications and commercial products.

More information is available on the CBRF-BRIF webpage and will continue to be updated throughout the competition, including information on upcoming webinars. 

Dalhousie contact: Sydney.Dale-McGrath@Dal.Ca