In support of New Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan and aligning with federal and provincial goals of shifting to a low-carbon economy, NBIF is partnering again with the Province of New Brunswick to fund for research that addresses climate change and its effects. The Climate Impact Research Fund will support research into technologies with potential to mitigate green house gas emissions (climate change mitigation) or improve our capacity to respond to climate changes (climate change adaptation). The fund is open to researchers working in all fields of applied research and aims to support a broad range of climate solutions. These include those projects with strong potential for the development of new technology that could be scaled-up for implementation in a commercial and/or industrial context, as well as projects that will give a greater understanding of how climate change will impact our natural environment and communities.

NBIF is soliciting applications for grants of up to $90K for projects to be completed within 2 years. Projects MUST include a non-academic collaborator or partner (e.g., a commercialization or knowledge partner) and MUST include a strong HQP training & development component (students or research professionals).

Project Areas

Projects in both climate change mitigation (GHG reduction, sustainability) and climate adaption (building capacity to address effects of climate change) are eligible for support. Applicants should clearly state the climate change challenge the project is intended to address, and the potential impact the results would have in addressing the province’s climate challenges.

Mitigation projects could include (but are not limited too):

  • Energy: Including grid technologies, electrification, renewable energy, and storage
  • Reducing GHG emissions from industry. For example, improving efficiencies in manufacturing, reducing inputs for agriculture etc.
  • Reducing GHG emissions from transportation (e.g., alternative fuels, enabling electrification of transport)
  • Invention or development of materials that enable lower-carbon technologies
  • Carbon capture, usage, and storage. Any technology that sequesters or makes useful materials from CO2 or other greenhouse gases.
  • Creation or use of carbon-sinks or off-sets (e.g., development of sequestration approaches for natural land or agriculture)
  • Resource conservation, recycling, or implementation of technologies enabling circularity.

NB researchers are encouraged to explore the potential of their current research to be applied toward climate challenges that have potential for environmental impact.

Potential projects focusing on climate adaptation could include (but are not limited to):

  • Studies that aim to understand impacts of climate change on NB natural resources and geography and/or how to implement plans to address these changes.
  • Studies that address impacts of climate change of NB industries, especially fisheries, forestry, agriculture.
  • Building knowledge and capacity to adapt infrastructure susceptible to the effects of climate change
  • Research into the effects of climate change on NB communities, including impacts on indigenous communities, NB cities, and coastal communities.
  • Research on the impacts of climate change on the health of New Brunswickers.

We encourage interested researchers to connect with NBIF staff if they have any questions about project eligibility and focus. The program manager is Paul Thornton, paul.thornton@nbif.ca.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be scored on the following criteria, with each criteria awarded a score from 1-10.

  • Does the project address a clearly defined climate change challenge, either through development of GHG reduction technology or informing measures for climate adaptation?
  • Does the project have potential to make significant impact? Impact refers to the either the scale or importance of the field in either reducing GHG emissions or in protecting NB’s industries, communities, or human health. Is the proposed impact supported through data or other information conveyed in the application?
  • Does the project plan establish well thought out milestones that will contribute to the overall success for the project? Are the milestones achievable? Is there an established way of assessing progress (for example TRL scale progression for technology development)? Does the project plan incorporate a plan for implementing project results or the potential for a follow-on project?
  • Does the project engage one or more collaborators or partners (e.g., industry, or not-for-profit organizations) for mobilization or potential commercialization of research outcomes? Does the involvement of the partner identified align with the context and plan of the project?
  • Does the project include a strong HQP component? Will one or more researchers (students or research professionals) be engaged full-time in the project for the duration?
  • Does the project include sufficient leveraged funds? For FY2022-2023, the matching requirement for the Climate Impact Research Fund is 1:1 match with other sources (non-Provincial funds).
  • Application is well-written and complete. The reviewer can readily assess the project based on the above criteria.

Project Duration

Projects should be completed within 24 months. Projects should start no later than April 2023.

Financial Structure

  • Maximum award size $90K.
  • Leverage requirement: 1:1 matching funds (limit in-kind to 50% of the match)
  • Provincial funds (Environmental Trust Fund) are not eligible as matching funds.

Eligible Expenses

  • Student or research professional salaries
  • Small lab equipment purchases or supplies, materials and reagents.
  • Costs to travel to collect data or use facilities in the course of the project
  • Costs to draft and create intellectual property (patent applications etc.).
  • Costs for third-party testing or prototyping
  • Knowledge transfer work or engagement with industry

This list is not exhaustive. Please include specifics for proposed expenses in the application budget.

Timelines

Aug 15, 2022: Portal opens for applications
Oct. 24, 2022: Last date for application intake in the portal
Nov. 29, 2021:  Funding decisions made, and applicants notified of results
Feb 28, 2023: Award conditions to be confirmed and projects to have commenced.

Note that the time allowed to confirm conditions is three-months from receipt of the funding decision. 

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