[PDADC-L] Launch of New Connaught Programs in Support of Research and Innovation at UOT

RE: Launch of New Connaught Programs in Support of Research and Innovation


I am extremely pleased to announce the launch of the new suite of programs totaling approximately $3.8M annually supported by the University’s Connaught Fund. Following careful review and consultation over the past year, the Connaught Committee approved at its meeting on June 10th a new program architecture that will:

• promote excellence in research and innovation;
• enhance recruitment and retention of emerging and established scholars;
• address unmet needs without duplicating existing funding opportunities;
• expose diverse communities to distinguished international scholars;
• span disciplinary boundaries to achieve comprehensive and transformative impact;
• raise the profile of the U of T and the impact of the Connaught Fund.

The new programs are:
Connaught Global Challenge Award – deadline (LOI) November 1, 2010
Approximately $1M annually to support one award that encompasses an International Symposium, a Distinguished Visiting Scholar and a Research Cluster. The successful proposal will bring together the University’s leading researchers from multiple disciplines with innovators and thought leaders from other sectors to heighten the University’s contribution to important issues facing society

Connaught International Doctoral Scholarship
Ramping up to approximately $1M annual allocation to support up to 10 new awards annually; administered through SGS

Connaught New Researcher Award – deadline: December 1, 2010
Approximately $1M annual allocation for a majority of awards at the $10,000 level and a limited number of awards at the $50,000 level to help new tenure stream faculty members establish competitive research programs. No matching required.

Connaught Innovation Award – deadline: November 1, 2010
Approximately $500,000 allocated annually for awards of up to $100,000 to accelerate the development of promising technology and promote commercialization and/or knowledge transfer.

Connaught Summer Institute – deadline: October 1, 2010
Approximately $150,000 allocated annually for one award to bring together international graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, other scholars in order to foster rich interdivisional collaboration and creative new methods for research and innovation.

McLean Award (continuing) – deadline January 17, 2011
One $100,000 award annually to support an emerging research leader conducting basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences, and the theory and methods of statistics.

Faculty Recruitment Support (administered through the Provost’s office)
To assist in the recruitment of new faculty, particularly in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, by providing support for start-up costs of research.

Program details and guidelines are available on the Research website: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/for-researchers-administrators/funding-sources/university-programs/


These programs present a new and exciting opportunity to support research and innovation at the University of Toronto. By bringing emerging and established research leaders of demonstrated excellence across disciplinary, career stage, geographic and sectoral boundaries, the Connaught Fund will support, as per its terms of reference, “the application of the professional expertise and resources of the University to matters of public interest in all research fields.” On behalf of the Connaught Committee, we look forward to receiving many exciting research proposals.