Sponsor

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF)

Program

Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)

For More Information

See the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) - Innovation Networks: Micro-nets - applicant guide [1] webpage.

Description

In response to the rapid development and deployment of quantum technologies, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are seeking to stimulate the application of advances for quantum technologies in the defence and security domain. Currently, most research and development work within academia and industry focuses on commercial applications. To leverage that work to address DND/CAF needs, the IDEaS program is looking to develop several research micro-nets focusing on defence and security applications, specifically: quantum sensing and sensors (including for positioning, navigation and timing), quantum communications, and quantum computing, simulations and algorithms.

Eligibility

The call for proposals for micro-nets is open exclusively to multidisciplinary teams of researchers. The primary affiliation of the investigators must be from at least three separate institutions and/or organizations. Eligible organizations or institutions are:

• Canadian universities and educational institutions chartered in Canada;
• Incorporated for-profit organizations;
• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations;
• Provincial/territorial and municipal government organizations; and
• International universities and educational institutions.

A letter of intent must be submitted by the applicant, a Canadian university, by the stated deadline using the DND letter of intent form template, to be eligible to be invited to submit a full proposal. No letter of intent submissions will be accepted after the deadline.

For more details, consult the applicant guide [1].

Funding Availability

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a non-repayable Contribution Agreement with DND (“Canada”). The maximum contribution per micro-net is $3 million over four years. The duration for the provision of funding is up to the end of June 2027. To determine the amount of funding to be allocated, consideration will be given to the availability of IDEaS funds, the total amount requested, and confirmed other sources of funding supporting the activities of the micro-net. The total funding available under this CFPMN is expected to be $15 million. DND reserves the right to not accept proposals or to reduce the amount of the available funding at its entire discretion.

Maximum Project Value

$3,000,000

Indirect Costs

The administrative overhead costs cannot exceed 15% of the total Eligible Expenditures (before overhead). 

Project Duration

The duration for the provision of funding is up to the end of June 2027.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit a letter of intent by the stated deadline in order to be able to submit a full proposal for this call. The letter of intent must be submitted by using the Connect service provided by the Canada Post Corporation (CPC). CPC Connect is a digital delivery platform that facilitates sending and receiving confidential messages and documents.

Download letter of intent form [3]

How to submit your letter of intent

Step 1: Create a CPC Connect account

If the applicant has an existing CPC Connect account please proceed to step 2.

To register for an account please contact the CPC Connect service [4], click on Login to Connect, then select Register now, and complete your personal Canada Post profile.

Step 2: Request a Connect conversation

1. Applicants must send an email requesting a Connect conversation to IDEaS-IN.IDEeS-RI@forces.gc.ca [5] and provide the email address associated with the CPC Connect service, at least three business days prior to the submission closing date and time. The IDEaS program will initiate the Connect conversation. Requests to initiate a conversation received after the three business day cut-off may not be answered or may result in the late submission of the proposal.
2. The Connect conversation will create an email notification from CPC prompting the applicant to access and action the message within the conversation. The applicant will then be able to transmit its submission at any time prior to the closing date and time.

Step 3: Transmit the submission using Connect

1. Applicants are able to transmit their submission by uploading the letter of intent in the Connect conversation at any time prior to the closing date and time.
2. The applicant will receive a confirmation message from DND within the conversation as soon as possible after submission or after the closing date.

For more details on the application process, consult the applicant form [3].

Information For Co-applicants

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Office of Research with at least five days in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Office of Research (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time.