Opportunity Projects Program

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is in a period of renewal. We’re taking a critical look at everything we do, with a focus on better meeting the needs of our climate solutions partners.

The Opportunity Projects Program is part of that review and is not accepting new applications at this time.

Keep visiting PICSCanada.ca for updates and feel free to reach out to us at pics@uvic.ca.

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How does a new climate solutions idea, never before tested, get off the ground?

The targeted design of the Opportunity Projects Program encourages research teams to take bold, but calculated, risks in pursuit of high-impact results. When coupled with solution-seeking partners who are eager to take positive action, this program aims to deliver climate mitigation or adaptation solutions within the relatively near-term.

Each Opportunity Project requires three kinds of contributing partners:

Solution Seekers: Solution Seekers may be based in the private sector, governmental or non-governmental organizations. They bring practical, domain knowledge and experience, and play a key role in identifying and framing the problem, developing solutions, and ultimately implementing the results.
Research Partners: Research Partners bring theoretical knowledge and experience, research skills and academic excellence to the project to help generate and transform novel ideas to produce new knowledge and social, technical and institutional innovations.
The PICS Partner: The PICS Partner is a convenor and knowledge broker that works to help ensure that the project is innovative and impactful. PICS provides financial, engagement and communication support aimed at bridge-building between engaged research and evidence-based practice.

Quick facts:

Up to $180K per project:: Each award is capped at $60,000 per year, for a maximum three-year duration.
Climate solutions value: Projects must demonstrate original research with the high potential to contribute to reduced carbon emissions and/or to effective adaptation to climate change in British Columbia and beyond.
Interdisciplinary teams: An Opportunity Project team comprises researchers and climate solution seekers supported by PICS, and led by a Principle Investigator. Solution seekers must have a clear role in the design, development, and intended use of the project’s results. Projects can include national and international collaboration. At least half of project costs must be allocated to salaries of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at one or more PICS’ universities.
Principal Investigator: Applications must be submitted by the project team’s Principal Investigator, who must be a full-time faculty member at one of the four PICS universities (Research Partner).
Timely and relevant: Interdisciplinary teams carry projects from vision to implementation, working together every step of the way so results are timely and put to use. There is no restriction on the number or location of researchers, but projects should be relevant for use in BC.
International review: Proposals will be subject to external review by nationally and internationally recognized experts relevant to the proposed project.