Apply for Innovation and Impact Grant Program (Canada)

The Innovation and Impact Grant Program provides funding to support collaborative health research that addresses priority health challenges in Saskatchewan. Researchers can apply for an Innovation Grant of up to CAD 50,000 for one year or an Impact Grant of up to CAD 150,000 over two years to develop, test, or implement innovative solutions in key health focus areas.

Innovation and Impact Grant Program

The Innovation and Impact Grant Program supports collaborative, multidisciplinary, and engaged research that develops innovative solutions to address important health challenges in Saskatchewan.

The program encourages researchers, healthcare professionals, knowledge users, and community partners to work together to improve health outcomes through research that can be translated into real-world practice.

Focus Areas

Applications must address at least one of the following health priorities:

• Brain Health
• Pediatric Brain Health
• Lung Health
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
• Prostate Cancer

Grant Categories

The program offers two funding streams:

Innovation Grant

The Innovation Grant supports:

• New research ideas
• Innovative approaches
• Early-stage health research
• Proof-of-concept projects
• Novel solutions addressing identified health priorities

Funding Available

• Up to CAD 50,000
• Project duration: 1 year

Impact Grant

The Impact Grant supports:

• Translation of research into practice
• Implementation of evidence-based innovations
• Scaling innovative health solutions
• Projects supported by preliminary research data
• Real-world application of research findings

Funding Available

• Up to CAD 150,000
• Project duration: 2 years

Eligible Research Activities

Funding may support:

• Collaborative health research
• Applied health research
• Knowledge translation
• Health innovation
• Multidisciplinary research
• Community-engaged research
• Health system improvement
• Clinical implementation studies
• Pilot projects
• Capacity-building initiatives

Who is Eligible?

Research teams must:

• Include at least three investigators based in Saskatchewan.
• Include one eligible Principal Applicant.
• Include a second researcher from a different disciplinary background.
• Include at least one knowledge user who contributes practical expertise.
• Invite all required team members through the Research Management System (RMS).
• Ensure all invited members accept their invitations before the application deadline.

Team Composition

Strong research teams are encouraged to include:

• Researchers from multiple disciplines.
• Knowledge users.
• Individuals with lived or living experience where appropriate.
• Early-career researchers.
• Established researchers providing mentorship.
• Community organizations.
• Healthcare decision-makers.
• Industry partners.
• Additional collaborators from inside or outside Saskatchewan with clearly defined roles.

Application Rules

Applicants should note that:

• Only one application may be submitted as the Principal Applicant in each annual Solutions competition.
• Applicants must choose either an Innovation Grant or an Impact Grant.
• Applicants may participate as a Co-Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on additional applications.

Why This Grant Matters

The program helps to:

• Improve health outcomes in Saskatchewan.
• Support innovative health research.
• Strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Accelerate knowledge translation.
• Encourage community engagement.
• Build research capacity.
• Promote evidence-based healthcare.
• Develop sustainable health solutions.
• Foster partnerships between researchers and healthcare users.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to prepare your application:

1. Select either the Innovation Grant or Impact Grant stream.
2. Identify the relevant health focus area.
3. Build an eligible multidisciplinary research team.
4. Include a knowledge user in the project.
5. Develop a collaborative research proposal.
6. Prepare a realistic project budget and timeline.
7. Invite all required team members through the Research Management System (RMS).
8. Ensure all invitations are accepted before the deadline.
9. Submit the completed application.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly explain the health problem being addressed.
• Demonstrate collaboration across disciplines.
• Include meaningful knowledge user engagement.
• Present realistic implementation plans.
• Provide measurable expected outcomes.
• Show potential for long-term health impact.
• Explain how research findings can improve healthcare practice.
• Include appropriate stakeholder partnerships.

Common Application Mistakes

Avoid these common errors:

• Not meeting the minimum team composition requirements.
• Missing invitation acceptance through RMS.
• Choosing the wrong funding stream.
• Weak knowledge translation plans.
• Insufficient collaboration across disciplines.
• Unclear project objectives.
• Unrealistic budgets or timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply?

Eligible multidisciplinary research teams that include at least three investigators based in Saskatchewan and meet all team composition requirements.

What is the difference between the Innovation Grant and the Impact Grant?

The Innovation Grant supports early-stage ideas and innovative approaches, while the Impact Grant supports implementing proven innovations supported by preliminary evidence.

How much funding is available?

• Innovation Grant: Up to CAD 50,000 for one year.
• Impact Grant: Up to CAD 150,000 over two years.

Which health areas are eligible?

Projects must focus on Brain Health, Pediatric Brain Health, Lung Health, Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, or Prostate Cancer.

Can researchers submit multiple applications?

Applicants may submit only one application as the Principal Applicant per annual competition but may participate on additional projects as a Co-Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator.

Is multidisciplinary collaboration required?

Yes. Research teams must include researchers from different disciplines and at least one knowledge user.

Are community partners encouraged?

Yes. Community organizations, health system leaders, industry partners, and individuals with lived experience are encouraged to participate where appropriate.

Conclusion

The Innovation and Impact Grant Program supports collaborative health research that addresses Saskatchewan’s most important healthcare challenges. By funding both early-stage innovation and the implementation of evidence-based solutions, the program strengthens research partnerships, promotes knowledge translation, and helps deliver sustainable improvements in healthcare and patient outcomes.