British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund
Program Guidelines
Leading Edge Fund (LEF) and New Initiatives Fund (NIF) BCKDF Applications Due October 31, 2008
Leaders Opportunity and Canada Research Chairs Applications are accepted throughout the year.
These guidelines are subject to change without notice. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they have the most up-to-date version. Any changes will be posted here.
 The British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) permits public post-secondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit research agencies to invest in research infrastructure.
As the objectives of the fund focus on creating and enhancing research infrastructure within the province, proposals should reflect the manner in which they will contribute to building or enhancing an institution’s long-term capacity for leading-edge research, provincial economic development and job creation.
The objectives of the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund are:
- To maximize the economic and social benefits of investing in research infrastructure within British Columbia.
- To promote excellence in research and the enhancement of research infrastructure within the province.
- To encourage increased collaboration among the province’s post-secondary institutions, as well as between post-secondary institutions and industry.
- To improve British Columbia’s ability to attract and retain high-quality researchers and skilled technicians.
- To ensure British Columbia’s public post-secondary institutions and teaching hospitals are able to compete successfully for private-sector and federal funding, such as that available through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
Appendix 1 provides more details on how the fund's objectives will be addressed in the application review process.
In all cases, funding will be provided at the sole discretion of the Province and only those projects that demonstrate long-term economic and social benefits to British Columbia will be funded.
Prioritization Process
The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development is committed to continuing BCKDF and does not anticipate any difficulties matching CFI awards. However, BCKDF funds are subject to budget availability and the ministry is prioritizing to make sure B.C. research dollars are supporting B.C. research priorities in projects for major competitions.
 The general provincial priorities are:
- Agriculture
- Alternative energy/power technologies
- Health/biotechnology
- Forestry
- High tech (including new media, Information communications, wireless and environmental technologies)
- Indigenous studies
- Ocean sciences (including fisheries/aquaculture)
However, applications in all areas are welcome. The intent is not to restrict other types of research - given sufficient funding, research in other areas will also receive funding. At this time the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development does not intend to prioritize Leaders Opportunity` and Canada Research Chair applications.
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