Funding Streams

There are 3 streams of funding available:

1. Early Career Investigators (ECIs) – a minimum of 3 projects will be funded for up to $200,000 ($100,000 per year for 2 years).

• ECIs are defined as individuals who are within 5 years of their first staff academic hospital appointment.
• ECIs are to indicate that they are eligible for this stream of innovation funding by checking the tick box above ‘Project Title’ on the P1 application form.

2. “Super project” – a maximum of 1 project may be funded with a budget of up to $500,000 ($250,000 per year for 2 years).

• While the maximum is 1 super project per competition, there is no guarantee that SUMO will fund a super project – this determination will be based entirely on merit.
• Primary Investigators (PIs) cannot submit a similar proposal to both the ‘super project’ and the regular funding stream competition.
• All proposals submitted as ‘super projects’ must be accompanied by a one-page letter from the PI outlining the potential impact of the project and providing justification for the enhanced budget. The one-pager should also include information about the multidisciplinary research team, the team track record of productivity, and a description of how the project aligns with the innovation fund mandate. To be funded, the super project must closely align with one of the provincial priorities outlined by IFPOC.
• ‘Super projects’ will be adjudicated with strict adherence to the eligibility criteria for Innovation Funds as described in Section 4.1 of IFPOC’s Framework and Guidelines document. Projects deemed out of scope will not be considered for funding.

3. Traditional stream – a maximum of $200,000 ($100,000 per year for 2 years)

Submission Process & Instructions

Proposal submissions will be made through IFPOC’s Grant Management System, which is now open for the 2025 Innovation Fund Competition.

https://ifpoc.org/

The steps to create your account and instructions on how to navigate the system can be found here:

• AHSC Portal – Account Creation Instructions
• How to Apply to the Innovation Fund Competition
• How to Navigate the Website
• How to Edit an Application

Application Forms

A complete application includes the:

Form P1 – Project Proposal

Form P2 – Proposal Budget

Certificate confirming completion of ONE CIHR training module on sex and gender.

Resources

The IFPOC framework and guidelines and SUMO competition details & scoring criteria will help guide you through the application process and provide you with guidance on what to include in your application, as well as deadlines and instructions for submitting your proposal.

IFPOC Framework & Guidelines

2025 SUMO Innovation Fund – Competition Details & Scoring Criteria

Timelines

The SUMO Innovation Fund competition runs annually. Each cycle begins with a Call for Proposals distributed in early summer, followed by internal application deadlines in the early fall. Applications are reviewed through a peer-review process, with selected proposals submitted to IFPOC for final review and approval. Funding for successful projects begins the following year on April 1.

2025 Innovation Fund Competition (Round 12)

Submissions are due on by 5:00 pm on Friday September 26, 2025. Please submit your application through IFPOC’s Grant Management System: https://ifpoc.org/

Key Dates

• Call for Proposals Issued: July 2025
• Internal Submission Deadline: September 2025
• IFPOC Submission Deadline: January 2026
• IFPOC Approval: February 2026
• Confirmation of Successful Grant: March 2026
• Funding Begins: April 1, 2026

Funded Projects

Please visit ifpoc.org to see the list of projects, with abstracts, for all SUMO Innovation Fund recipients

IFPOC Awards & Project Spotlight

The Innovation Fund Awards are given annually to the best and most innovative projects funded by the Innovation Fund.