The goal of the is to inspire high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research.
Exploration grants support research that pushes boundaries into exciting new areas. Researchers are encouraged to think “outside of the box,” undertake research that would defy current paradigms, and bring disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives. With the Exploration stream, there is recognition that innovation often carries risk; proposals for high-risk research projects that have the potential to deliver game-changing impacts are strongly encouraged.
Updates
There are no notable changes from the previous competitions. serves as the general guideline for eligibility of expenses and use of funds related to the direct costs of research. Exceptions to those policies for Exploration grants are noted in the competition overview.
The following table is a summary of key agency / Ӱֱ deadlines. Please see the note on Research Services' internal processes below.
|
Event |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Notice of Intent to apply deadline* * Email application documents to Dora Baczyk (d.baczyk@queensu.ca) for review. |
Monday, August 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM (Eastern) |
|
Notice of Intent to apply deadline |
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM (Eastern) |
| EDII Review** ** If you don’t have a clear EDII plan in place, please reach out to Aleks Bergier (a.bergier@queensu.ca) as soon as possible to initiate the conversation and the planning process. If you haven’t already, we also strongly recommend that you take the EDI in Research Training Modules. |
Monday, August 25, 2025 |
| TRAQ deadline (hospital-based research) |
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
| TRAQ deadline (non-hospital-based research) |
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 |
| Application Review deadline (optional but recommended) |
Monday, October 6, 2025 (Ӱֱ internal process) |
|
Application Convergence Portal Deadline*** *** Applications are forwarded to the agency by Research Services. Strict adherence to internal deadlines is required to ensure applications are submitted on time. |
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 by 9:00 AM |
| Results Announced | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding Start Date | March 31, 2026 |
Notice of Intent (NOI):
The deadline to receive a NOTICE OF INTENT REVIEW (not mandatory but is strongly recommended) from a Research Projects Advisor (RPA) is Monday, August 18, 2025. NOIs will be used, by the agency, for administrative purposes (identifying external reviewers and composing the multidisciplinary review panel). The NOI is not adjudicated; however, your proposed project must be clearly defined and must show that it fits the requirements of the NFRF Exploration Call (i.e., high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary).
If you would like to have your NOI reviewed by an RPA, please email your document to Dora Baczyk (d.baczyk@queensu.ca) by Monday, August 18, 2025 by 9:00 AM.
Full Application:
The deadline to receive a FULL APPLICATION REVIEW from a Queen’s RPA is Monday, October 6, 2025. Please note that this is not a scientific review (i.e., a review by a researcher in your discipline). The review will be performed by an RPA. The advisor will:
- Perform a detailed reading and content review of your full application (including editing suggestions)
- Perform a budget review
- Provide detailed comments/feedback
If you would like to have your application reviewed, please email your application to an assigned RPA no later than Monday, October 6, 2025. Please remember that the more complete the application, the more useful the review process will be. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Your application must be submitted using the agency's . When you click submit your application will be electronically directed to the Research Services for review and approval. Then, administrators at Research Services will forward your application to the funding agency on your behalf. Please note the deadlines for Ӱֱ are shown in the "Important Dates" tab above.
- A is required at the full application stage for this funding opportunity. The TRAQ DSS deadline for research that is hospital-based (i.e., projects that will use hospital resources, space, staff, and/or require access to hospital patients, patient samples, and/or data) is Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The TRAQ deadline for research that is not hospital-based is Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The TRAQs must include:- a DRAFT of the research proposal;
- a DRAFT of the budget/budget justification, and;
- a copy of the hospital-impact form (if the research would be considered hospital-based)
See the TRAQ Resources section in the "Information & Resources" tab below for more information.
Ӱֱ NET ID required to access non-public links.
NFRF Exploration Competition
Ӱֱ webinar - August 8, 2024
2024 Exploration Competition
Webinar for Applicants and RGOs - September 17, 2024
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Webinar for Applicants - October 22, 2024
Research Summaries from previously successful NFRF applications from Ӱֱ.
Please note that these sample applications are intended for internal use at Queen’s only. You must enter your Ӱֱ NetID and password to access the files.
It is prohibited to circulate the sample applications outside of Queen’s or to host the example applications elsewhere online. Similarly, it is strictly prohibited to duplicate any of the text provided.
NFRF Exploration 2024
NFRF Exploration 2023
NFRF Exploration 2021
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:
- - An NFRF guide that describes best practices for EDI in Research, and includes a list of question questions applicants should consider.
- (Net ID & password required) - An overview of EDI guidelines, best practices and resources available to researchers at Queen’s.
- Integrating Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenization (EDII) in Research - a “toolkit” created by Research Services of useful EDII resources to help our research and innovation community implement EDII policies and practices into their respective research programs, projects and research environments.
- - This guide provides the research communities served by NSERC with information and resources to help include EDI considerations in their research.
- : The FHS EDI Style Guide is to be used by FHS learners, staff, and faculty to make communication with diverse audiences more equitable and inclusive. The guide provides advice on how to engage with issues concerning race, gender, and sexual orientation, among other intersecting identities.
- A list of Further Reading and EDI Concepts and Terms (PDF 416 KB)
- - CIHR website that provides an overview of key terms, online training, and key resources for researchers
- - CIHR website outlining key considerations for the appropriate integration of sex and gender in research
- - short training videos on SGBA from CIHR
- – Services, information, and resources towards advancing equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression through the inclusion of people of all genders
- – Learn about GBA+ and strategies to apply GBA+ to your work
- – Women and Gender Equality Canada training course on GBA+
Completing the TRAQ DSS for Hospital-Based Research
- View the TRAQ DSS form Hospital-based Research Checklist page for step-by-step -by-step explanation for how to complete the TRAQ DSS Form for hospital-based research.
- A Hospital Departmental Impact & Information Form is required for all hospital-based research conducted at KGH, HDH, and Providence Care. View the Hospital Departmental Impact & Information Form & Tips page on the TRAQ website to download the Hospital Impact form and helpful tips to completing it.
- To view FAQs for hospital-based research, including the definition of hospital-based research please consult “Hospital-based Research Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” on the website.
Completing the TRAQ DSS for Research that is not Hospital-Based
- View the TRAQ DSS form General Checklist page for step-by-step instructions for how to complete the TRAQ DSS Form for research that is not hospital-based.
Contact Information
Research Services Contacts
All Research Projects Advisors (RPA) are working collaboratively to support this program. Please contact your discipline-specific RPA if you have any questions about the program.
|
Health Sciences |
Natural Sciences and Engineering |
Social Sciences, Humanities and Creative Arts |
EDII & Indigenous Initiatives |
|---|---|---|---|
Jennifer Robinson j.robinson@queensu.ca Faculty of Health Sciences Dora Baczyk |
Bei Cai Adam Jeziorski Merline Fonkwe |
Diane Davies diane.davies@queensu.ca All faculties Adrian Kelly |
Aleksandra Bergier a.bergier@queensu.ca All faculties |