CANARIE Issues $3M Call Supporting Innovative Research Software

CANARIE continues to champion the development of software tools that accelerate scientific discovery

[Ottawa, ON]

CANARIE, a vital component of Canada’s national digital infrastructure supporting research, education and innovation, today announced the first call of its Research Software Program (Research Software Call 1) for the 2015 – 2020 mandate, supported by an initial investment of $3M.

CANARIE has been investing in the development of research software since 2007, and during its most recent mandate (2012 – 2015) funded the development of nearly 70 research software tools.  These tools enable Canadian scientists to analyze, visualize and share immense volumes of research data, transforming data into knowledge and insights that contribute to Canada’s economic and social development.

This call will achieve two outcomes:

  1. Investment in innovative software tools for research
  2. “Matchmaking” between research software development teams and researchers in need of software development expertise

The first phase of the application process requires applicants to complete a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form. To foster collaboration among the research and software development communities, CANARIE is also inviting research software development teams and researchers with existing re-useable software to indicate their availability for collaboration and co-development at the EOI stage.

Anticipated Research Software Call 1 milestones:

  • Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted to CANARIE by August 14th 2015;
  • EOIs evaluated by CANARIE and Research Advisory Committee by September 21st 2015;
  • Successful EOIs invited to submit a full proposal, due to CANARIE by the end of November 17th 2015;
  • Successful proposals announced February 1st 2016;
  • Development of software for a maximum period of 24 months.

Interested parties may visit canarie.ca/software/funding to obtain full call documentation and submit Expressions of Interest.

CANARIE’s Research Software Program adopts a highly efficient development model: new software draws from an existing toolkit of software components, developed by other researchers in previous rounds of CANARIE funding.  Funded participants in this Program pledge to add new software to the toolkit, resulting in significant process and cost efficiencies through a powerful cycle of software development and reuse. The full suite of software services is available at no cost to the worldwide scientific research community at science.canarie.ca.

For more information:

Ela Ienzi
Communications Manager
CANARIE
(613) 943-5432
[email protected]