The WAFAR Global Catalyst Award gives interdisciplinary Western teams the funding, time and support to bring an international collaborator to campus. Together, you work on a major challenge facing humanity and build toward a larger external funding application.

At a glance

Teams that need to be larger than the funded core team may cost-share with other grants or funding sources to support additional members.

The number and type of awards will depend on the applications we receive. Applicants should request the amount their project genuinely needs.

What we fund

We’re looking for focused, in-person collaboration that would not be possible with Western expertise alone. Strong proposals will:

• Tackle a major challenge. Advance a timely issue facing humanity and inform society, governments, and the public and private sectors.
• Extend international reach. Bring an international scholar to Western to open up scholarly advances.
• Deepen collaboration. Strengthen interdisciplinary relationships that lead to a large-scale external funding proposal.
• Elevate Western globally. Align with Towards 150 and Mobilize for Impact.
• Engage the public. Share outcomes in accessible language and formats, beyond academic audiences.

Who can apply

Your team must include:

• A lead applicant (PI): a Western faculty member eligible to hold a Western Research account
• At least 2 Western researchers from more than one discipline
• At least 1 international scholar, who spends at least one week (5 business days) in person at Western. This can be one stay, a major workshop, or several shorter visits.
• At least 1 trainee: undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral

Teams must have an existing collaboration with the international scholar. Teams are expected to apply for external funding within one year of the project ending.

Each PI can lead one application per competition.

How funds can be used

You can combine the budget categories in whatever way serves your project, up to $85,000 in total:

• International scholar allowance: up to $35,000 per scholar, for travel, housing, and/or honoraria
• Research allowances for Western faculty: up to $20,000 ($10,000 each)
• Trainee support: up to $15,000
• Operations: up to $15,000 for events, publications, communications and knowledge mobilization

Requesting the maximum is not an advantage. Budgets are assessed on how well they fit the proposed activities. The guidelines include sample budgets ranging from about $35,000 to $80,000.

More than funding

Every funded team gets hands-on support from WAFAR’s research specialist for the length of the project. That includes help shaping the research and impact plan, connecting with networks, preparing large-scale funding applications, promoting the team’s outcomes, and handling events and administration. Teams also have access to office space, meeting rooms and collaboration space in the Western Interdisciplinary Research Building.

How to apply

1. Review the Application Guidelines (PDF).
2. Complete Section A (proposal and team overview) in the online portal.
3. Upload Sections B–E as a single PDF: summary and milestones, a 4-page project description, a 2-page budget, and appendices including evidence of the partnership and CVs.