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Aspiration Research Cluster Program

The Aspiration Research Cluster program was established by the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation to support research excellence, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and raise the external profile of the university through capacity-building resources and support. Clusters can emerge from any discipline, but those that align with the Aspiration 2030 impact areas and/or institutional priorities are of particular interest.

Cluster funding is intended to support catalytic activities that will help to build the cluster’s identity and collaboration potential. Clusters have the potential to develop into global leaders on relevant topics, attract major new external funding (e.g. NFRF Transformation, SSHRC Partnership Grant, CFI Innovation Fund, major NSERC Alliance, governmental programs, donors or foundations, international grants, etc.) and/or demonstrate significant impact (e.g., new strategic partnerships, generate meaningful intellectual property for licensing or commercialization activities, creation of new centre or institute, influencing public policy or major government directions, leading public discourse on major issues, etc.).

In the first round of the competition, six groups were awarded the title Aspiration Research Cluster, representing over 70 UVic faculty members across the 10 faculties. Three more were established in round two. All clusters bring together multidisciplinary teams to collaboratively tackle critical issues and address local and global challenges and opportunities.

What is a research cluster?

In this context, a research cluster is defined as a group or network of UVic researchers with complementary and interdisciplinary expertise — working together to address important economic or societal challenges.

Adjudication process

During an active application cycle:
  • An interdisciplinary panel of internal faculty and external partners will review and score all applications.
  • Shortlisted applicants will pitch their presentations to a strategic panel.
  • Shortlisted cluster applications will be reviewed by the strategic panel, taking into consideration the pitch presentation and the feedback from the first interdisciplinary panel review. Applications will be evaluated on their ability to meet the criteria outlined in the call for proposals and the overall institutional objectives of the cluster program.
  • The strategic panel will make recommendations to the VPRI Executive who will determine the funding allocation.

Evaluation criteria

Applications are assessed on the following criteria: 

  • Research excellence and potential impact
  • Strength of the team and complementarity
  • Cluster plan

Refer to program terms below for full details.

Contact

strategicpo2@uvic.ca

FAQs

Yes, teams are welcome to revise their cluster proposal and submit again.

No, all full applications must be preceded by an NOI.