The Lawson Climate Institute is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Catalyst Grant, open to all eligible proposals across the tri-campus that align with our broad goals.
Meeting the complex challenges of climate change requires interdisciplinary insights and potential for impact beyond academia. Even the most advanced technological climate solutions won’t be truly effective unless they’re practical and adaptable, taking into consideration overlapping and evolving regulatory frameworks, economic and policy incentives to ensure uptake, commercialization potential and other external factors.
Funds will be awarded on a highly selective and competitive basis to support projects from across the spectrum of solutions-oriented climate research with a clear path to impact beyond academia.
By supporting research aligned with these priorities, the Lawson Climate Institute will play a key role in generating practical, and equitable solutions and technologies to help Canada and the world achieve urgent emissions targets by addressing the challenge of climate change, both through decarbonization and by building a more robust and climate-resilient society and economy.
The Catalyst Grant is available in two streams: Societal Transformation and Technological Innovation. Please ensure that you are applying to the most applicable stream for your proposed project.
It is anticipated that results will be announced in May 2026.
Successful applicants are invited to actively participate in the Lawson Climate Institute’s activities and programs.
Eligibility, Value and Duration:
- Applications are open to faculty members at all divisions across U of T, as well as collaborations between U of T researchers and companies, not-for-profits and/or governments within Canada and internationally.
- Each project must feature potential for impact on at least two pillars of the institute: Sustainable Innovation and Technology, Climate Policy and Sustainable Finance, Leaders for a Sustainable Future, and Climate Positive Campus.
- Grants will be valued up to a maximum of $50,000 per successful application, and to be spent over a funding period of 1-2 years at awardee’s discretion
- Researchers must demonstrate progress on a yearly basis to sustain funding, and a formal final report must be submitted at the end of the project.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons, persons of colour, women, Indigenous and Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
Application:
Please ensure that that you submit your application to the most applicable stream for your proposed project. Applications must be submitted no later than April 20, 2026 at 11:59PM EST.
Technological Innovation
This stream covers research related to technological, engineering and scientific climate solutions. The innovation proposed should address a market need or solve a current problem, and generate practical and equitable solutions to help Canada and the world address climate change through greenhouse gas emissions reduction or through increasing climate-resilience.
Technological Innovation stream application form
Please note this application is hosted on Microsoft Forms. You may need to log into your Microsoft 365 account to access this form.
Societal Transformation
This stream covers any area of research related to social change. To encourage the widest breadth of applicants, this could include but is not limited to: Social justice, consumer behaviour, adaptation, mitigation, climate action, climate awareness, equitable and just transition to renewable energy, talent upskilling, regulations, policy, finance, economics or law, agriculture, food systems and security, arts and humanities, and community experience. The grant could also provide funding to support proposals aimed at activities such as data collection, knowledge mobilization, knowledge translation, community engagement, surveys, field studies.
Societal Transformation stream application form
Please note this application is hosted on Microsoft Forms. You may need to log into your Microsoft 365 account to access this form.
Applications must address, and will be reviewed based on, the following criteria. Each section is equally weighted (25% each):
- Proposed Project
- Fit and Impact
- Team Composition and Expertise
- Project Implementation
MRAs are not required. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please direct any questions to samanthak.young@utoronto.ca.