Calendar
TRSM

AI Research Cluster Grant (AI-RCG)

Call for Proposals — TRSM Grant Planning Calendar

1. Grant Description

The TRSM AI Research Cluster Grant is a limited-time internal funding program offered over three years (2026 to 2028). The program is designed to build research momentum, raise TRSM's national and international profile, and strengthen knowledge exchange within and beyond the university. It aims to support collaborative, high-impact research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and management.

Funded teams are expected to use this support to develop a competitive Tri-Council grant proposal, or an equivalent national or international application, focused on AI in management, AI-driven data insights, or closely related areas. In addition, proposed projects must also demonstrate a clear social impact, such as advancing equitable access to AI innovation, promoting inclusive economic opportunity, or helping reduce systemic barriers in the workplace and society. Research should also align with TRSM’s strategic priorities and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, and Gender Equality.

2. Funding Amount & Eligible Expenses

Eligible Expenses

  • Grant development costs: research assistant hiring, data acquisition, software licensing, pilot studies, and expenses related to preparing a Tri-Council grant application.
  • Travel or other research-related expenses directly tied to the grant's deliverables.

All expenses must align with TMU's research funding policies and be pre-approved by the ADR Office.

Ineligible Expenses

  • General operating expenses not directly connected to Tri-Council proposal development.
  • Expenses incurred without ADR pre-approval.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply

  • Interdisciplinary teams of 2 (minimum) to 4 (maximum) researchers.

  • The team PI and Co-PI must both be Tenured and Tenure-Track (TFA) TRSM faculty members.

  • Up to two additional collaborators may be included. These can be: TRSM Tenured and Tenure-Track (TFA) faculty, relevant research staff, PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows; or external tenured or tenure-track researchers, PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows from institutions or departments outside TRSM or TMU.

Who Cannot Apply

  • Any PI or Co-PI who has previously received a TRSM AI Research Cluster Grant.

4. Important Dates

  • Call for Proposals Announced: Jun 22, 2026
  • Application Deadline: Sep 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Adjudication Period: Sep 16, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
  • Notification of Decision: Nov 1, 2026
  • Grant Effective Date: TBD

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, no exceptions. You may update and resubmit before the deadline.

5. Application Process

AI Research Cluster Grant (AI-RCG)

  1. Download and complete the AI-RCG Research Application.

  2. Save the Research Application as a PDF.

  3. Upload the PDF via this Research Submission Form by the deadline

The AI-RCG Research Application includes the following sections.

  1. Project Title and Research Theme: State the project title and describe its alignment with AI in management or AI-driven data insights. (Up to 700 characters space included ~100 words)

  2. Team Composition: List all team members with their roles and institutional affiliations.

  3. Proposal Description: Written for an interdisciplinary audience. Must address: (a) the primary problem to be addressed; (b) a summary of the current state of knowledge; (c) the proposed methodology; (d) the research's potential contribution to advancing knowledge; (e) wider social benefits and broader impacts; and (f) how this funding enables a meaningful collaboration that would be difficult without it. (Up to 12,000 characters space included ~2000 words)

  4. Justification of Target Grant Competition: Identify the specific Tri-Council program or equivalent competition and explain why it is the appropriate target. (Up to 2000 characters, space included ~300 words)

  5. Budget Plan: Outline how the allocated funding will be used.

  6. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Considerations: Describe how the team will ensure inclusive participation and how EDI is embedded in the research design. (Up to 2000 characters, space included ~300 words).

6. Evaluation & Review Process

Applications are reviewed by an adjudication committee of faculty members associated with TRSM. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Committee members may not apply for grants during their tenure on the committee.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Relevance and Innovation (30%): Alignment with AI in Management or Data Insights with AI, originality, and potential for impact.
  • Feasibility and Planning (25%): Clarity of deliverables, realistic timeline, and appropriate budget allocation.
  • Team Composition and Collaboration (20%): Strength of the research team, interdisciplinary nature, and inclusion of diverse expertise.
  • Impact (15%): Potential for scholarly, industry, or public impact.
  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) (10%): Demonstrated commitment to inclusive practices in research and/or event planning.

7. Expected Deliverables & Reporting

Deliverables

  • Within 18 months of receiving the funding: Submit a full Tri-Council grant proposal (e.g., SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) or an equivalent national or international research funding competition with a minimum requested budget of $100,000.

  • The proposal must be centred on AI in management, AI-driven data insights, or a closely related area.

  • The proposal must be submitted by a qualified TRSM faculty member on the team acting as the Principal Investigator (PI).

Reporting

  • Recipients are expected to notify the TRSM Research Support Team upon submission of their Tri-Council or equivalent proposal, including the proposal title, target program, submission date, and requested budget.

8. Policies & Compliance

  • All expenses must align with TMU's research funding policies and must be pre-approved by the ADR Office.

  • Grant recipients are expected to acknowledge TRSM funding support in any publications, presentations, or grant proposals that result from this award.

9. Inquiries

Questions about eligibility, the application process, or budget rules should be directed to the TRSM research support team:

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Include the grant name (AI-RCG) and your department in the subject line

  • Allow [2–3] business days for a response during peak submission periods