Through the International Consortium Initiative (ICI) program, which began in 2002, Genome Canada invests substantially in unique international projects that will boost Canadian science and further enhance the status of Canada and its scientists.
To be eligible for an ICI, the project must:
- have clear international visibility
- have as leader a Canadian researcher whose major research activities will be in this country
- involve an international consortium, usually with funders having a place on the board proportionate to their financial commitment
- require at least $50 million over three years, with other partners committing at least 75% of the total
Genome Canada will at any time accept proposals for projects meeting the above criteria and review them on a 'one-off' basis through a joint process of peer review that the funding partners will develop.
To date, OGI has worked with applicants to launch two ICIs - the Structural Genomics Consortium and the International Regulome Consortium - with total project value of $167.6 million. An additional ICI - the International Barcode of Life Project - is currently in development.
Funding
Funding for ICI proposals can occur in two stages, namely:
- support for an initial International Workshop to develop the full proposal (to a maximum of $50,000)
- funding of the full ICI - at least $50 million over three years - with Genome Canada covering no more than 25% of total eligible costs
Application process
Ontario applicants must first contact OGI to learn more about the application process.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Following the initial contact and expression of interest applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to Genome Canada through OGI, whose Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC) will assist in the review of the LOIs, providing advice to Genome Canada staff on the:
- strategic importance of the proposed area(s) of research
- potential for impact in Canada
- potential for sustained leadership by Canadian scientists in the field
- inclusion of experts and other groups working in the area of proposed research
Applications that demonstrate potential to develop a full ICI proposal may obtain administrative support and funding (up to $50,000) to hold an international workshop. This gathering would bring together stakeholders (researchers and funders) from Canada and abroad to:
- validate and confirm the potential and capacity for a Canadian-led ICI
- identify additional participants and funders
- initiate development of a proposal
Submission of a full proposal
OGI and Genome Canada will work closely with applicants as they develop proposals, advising them on programmatic issues, governance, and funding. OGI will engage in discussions with other potential funders, assist in determining appropriate governance structures and funding models, and, in some cases, collaborate with funders in developing a joint process of peer review.
The general review criteria for ICI projects are consistent with those for other Genome Canada competitions. If it seems appropriate, potential funding partners will undertake joint peer review and submit resulting recommendations to each funding agency for consideration. In some cases, each participating agency may execute an independent review to help it decide on its own financial commitment.
