Deadline: 13-Apr-23
The Building for the Future Round 4 is now open for applications.
This challenge is about finding ways to make it easier to build houses. It addresses construction-related barriers to housing supply. This can be done by funding activities that support the adoption and preparation for replication and scaling, and to accelerate the use of:
- construction processes
- techniques
- systems
- materials
The challenge prioritizes solutions that accelerate the creation and preservation of housing that is affordable, climate compatible and meets people’s needs.
Stages
Round 4 consists of 3 stages:
- Stage 1: concept development and initial application
- Stage 2: design and feasibility plan and final application
- Stage 3: implementation
Barriers
- Housing construction and renovation in Canada face many barriers including high costs, lengthy processes and project complexities. The construction, maintenance, retrofitting and renewal of the housing supply involves numerous stakeholders and experts – and considerable investments.
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There are numerous disincentivizing barriers to construction innovation that create major systemic impacts on the construction industry. These barriers include, but are not limited to:
- access to materials and resources
- complexities in retrofitting existing housing supply
- the complexity of project delivery
- high costs and sunk costs
- knowledge management and sharing
- There are many innovative construction processes, techniques, systems and materials that have been explored. Some have been demonstrated, others adopted in limited capacities but neither have been broadly replicated or scaled to their potential.
Funding Information
- Funding up to $40M and they are looking for solutions to improve construction-related barriers to housing supply.
- Applicants shortlisted for Stage 2 would be eligible to receive no more than $150,000 in Incubation Funding to fund the further development of their solution in support of the Stage 2 application.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities are those associated with replication, scaling or adoption of the solution. These may include:
- research (for example, scaling opportunities);
- data collection or acquisition (for example, data acquired while testing a prototype);
- testing construction systems (for example, testing a building component in a wall);
- public engagement and consultation (including honoraria for consultation relating to reconciliation and community consultation costs);
- obtaining insurance, consulting or professional services related to the development of the solution (for example, testing with industry members who will use or be impacted by the solution);
- certification processes (if timeline is possible within the Challenge);
- administrative costs (for example, staff time spent addressing regulatory dependencies);
- training (for example, applicable if required for the Applicant`s solution to be feasible and viable, to contribute to reconciliation efforts, to build skills for working with vulnerable populations, to provide educational support to residents who need to learn how to use a new climate compatible housing components in order for the solution to be fully operational);
- business and/or marketing plan development;
- development of plans for prototyping and demonstrating an adaptation of a construction innovation; and
- presentation costs for demonstrating a construction innovation.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be considered for and potentially receive funding under the Challenge, an Applicant must submit an application and must meet the following eligibility criteria:
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Be a legal entity duly incorporated and validly existing in Canada, including the following:
- For-profit and not-for-profit organizations (for example, companies, associations, research centres, etc.)
- Indigenous governments, organizations, and groups
- Canadian post-secondary institutions
- Provincial, territorial, municipal, local, and regional governments
- Submit no more than one application per Round of the Housing Supply Challenge.
- Not be in default under any previous Stage or Round of the Housing Supply Challenge, including but not limited to the Building for the Future Round.
- Not be in receipt of any other funding from CMHC for a purpose similar or substantially similar to the purpose of the Building for the Future Round. Please note that stacking is permitted, but duplication is not.
- Employees of CMHC, Evergreen, Innovation 7, and anyone connected with the evaluation of the applications for the Housing Supply Challenge and all its Rounds are prohibited from entry, whether as Applicants or as members of an Applicant’s team.
- Note: The “Applicant” is the legal entity that is responsible for receiving and distributing funding to realize the solution. Multi-sector teams and partnerships are encouraged. Any arrangements between the Applicant and its team/team members are strictly the responsibility of the Applicant. Team members can work with multiple Applicants, but an Applicant (legal entity) can only submit one solution.
For more information, visit CMHC.
