New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) - Exploration

Program Summary - Objective

• To inspire high risk/ high reward research that extends beyond traditional or common interdisciplinary approaches.
• To explore new projects that may fail but have the potential for significant impact.

Award Amount and Duration

• Up to $100,000 for direct costs per year plus 25% in indirect costs funding for up to 2 years.
• 25% must be added to the budget in addition to the direct costs.

Resources

Quick links to NFRF-E application development resources (access by CCID only)

How to Apply

The submission for the 2025 competition is now closed. NFRF will announce the 2025 competition results by March 31, 2026. It is anticipated that the 2026 competition will have a similar timeline and process as the 2025 competition outlined below. The exact dates and guidelines will be updated once the 2026 competition is launched, which typically happens at the end of April annually.

Application Stages

Two mandatory stages, using the Convergence Portal:

1. Notice of Intent (NOI)

• Institutional deadline (submission to Researcher Home Page): Your NOI needs to be received by the Research Administrative Services (RAS) via Researcher Home Page by Aug 7, 2025 during core business hours. For the institutional deadline, DO NOT submit your NOI in the Convergence Portal. Instead, please download a PDF of your NOI and submit it via the Researcher Home Page. IMPORTANT: RAS must confirm that all participants meet the NFRF eligibility criteria and the definition of ECR (if applicable). Written approval from all other institutions with participating Co-PIs and/or Co-applicants must be obtained using the NFRF-E external applicant eligibility form. The signed eligibility forms must be combined as one single PDF and submitted to the Researcher Home Page along with the NOI before the institutional deadline. The list of participants cannot be modified between this date and the Agency deadline for NOI.
• Agency deadline: Submit your final NOI in the Convergence Portal by 10 am MT on Aug 18, 2025; RAS will forward your NOI to the Agency by Aug 19, 2025.

2. Full application

• Institutional deadline (submission to Researcher Home Page): Your full application needs to be received by RAS via Researcher Home Page by Oct 8, 2025 during core business hours. For the institutional deadline, DO NOT submit your application in the Convergence Portal. Instead, please download a PDF of your application and submit it via the Researcher Home Page. IMPORTANT: Written approval from all other institutions with participating Co-PIs and/or Co-applicants that are added after the NOI must be obtained using the NFRF-E external applicant eligibility form. The signed eligibility forms for newly added co-PI/co-applicants must be combined as one single PDF and submitted to the Researcher Home Page along with the full application before the institutional deadline. The list of participants and budget cannot be modified after this date.
• Agency deadline: Submit your final full application in the Convergence Portal by 10 am MT on Oct 20, 2025; RAS will forward your full application to the Agency by Oct 21, 2025.

For U of A Co-PIs and Co-Applicants on Externally-Led Applications

If you're a co-PI or co-applicant on an NFRF-E NOI or application led at another institution, and the lead institution requires a signature from the U of A, please follow these steps:

1. Confirm your role: Ask the NPI if you're the ONLY U of A co-PI or co-applicant.
2. Submit a proposal request: If you are the only U of A co-PI/co-applicant, create and submit a proposal request via the Researcher Home Page (RHP). Attach the following documents:
   • The draft application (or NOI if you are at the NOI stage)
   • The U of A scope of work and budget (not needed at the NOI stage)
   • The form(s) that need to be signed

RAS will sign and return the form(s) to you or email you if additional information is needed.

If there are multiple U of A co-PI/co-applicants:

• Designate a lead: The team must choose one person to act as the lead U of A PI. This person will create the proposal request in the RHP and add the other U of A co-PI/co-applicants as co-PIs.
• Check for an existing request: It's possible someone on the team already submitted the request. If so, get the RES# from that team member. Then, email rsoinfo@ualberta.ca to have your name added and your form signed.