The Lawson Climate Institute is now accepting applications for our 2026-27 Themed Grants.
Green Industrial Policy: Green industrial policy involves deliberate, coordinated action to build and scale industries in the green economy through targeted investments, incentives, regulations, and strategic support. It advances both the expansion of new green sectors and the transition of traditional industries toward cleaner, more efficient production, unlocking economic opportunity while reducing emissions and environmental impacts.
Industrial Electrification: Industrial electrification involves replacing fossil fuel based processes with electric technologies powered increasingly by clean energy. It accelerates the transition of manufacturing, heavy industry, and processing sectors toward lower emission, more efficient operations. By modernizing industrial activities, it has the potential to reduce pollution, enhance productivity, and support the growth of a resilient, climate‑aligned industrial economy.
Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems: Regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems involve coordinated action to rebuild soil health, restore agroecosystems, increase efficiency of food supply chains, and develop a sustainable model for global food production. This approach recognizes that agriculture is both a major contributor to climate change and a powerful solution. It supports the transition toward more resilient, productive, and environmentally restorative food systems.
The Lawson Climate Institute’s mission is to catalyze U of T’s multidisciplinary strengths to translate solutions-oriented research into real-world sustainable technologies and equitable, practical climate policies – in collaboration with governments, the private sector and public-sector institutions.
Why themed grants? Annual themes enable the LCI to fund and bring the support of staff and partners to timely research topics where there is potential for world-class research to achieve impact beyond academia. The grants will be valued at $100-200K each and are to be spent over a funding period of 1-2 years, to be determined at awardee’s discretion.
What is the process? A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required of all lead Principal Investigators (PIs), by July 3, 2026, via MS forms: Lawson Climate Institute Themed Grants – Letter of Intent
Please note that this application is hosted on Microsoft Forms. You may need to log into your Microsoft 365 account, with UTORID, to access this form.
The Theme Lead and LCI staff will review the LOIs and may suggest improvements to consider for the full proposals. The LOIs will not be scored, and all may proceed to submit a full proposal. The full proposals are due September 18, 2026, via MS Forms, link to follow. These will be reviewed by a combination of relevant UofT experts, LCI Expert Advisory Committee members, and external reviewers, and it is anticipated that final decisions will be communicated by the week of November 9. Projects may commence any time after the award letter is received, and no later than April 1, 2027.
Who can apply? 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. The majority of LCI funding must be spent on eligible U of T expenses, as Themed Grants are intended to support our research activities, PIs, students and staff.
What are the criteria? LCI grants will support world class academic research that is designed to have impact beyond academia. Thus, proposals must be for both research excellence and impact (e.g. real-world sustainable technologies and/or equitable, practical climate policies and pathways to implement those policies).
Each section of the application will be equally weighted (25% each):
- Quality of the proposed research: How will this project advance the leading edge of research in the theme area?
- Potential for impact beyond academia: How will this project translate solutions-oriented research into impact, in collaboration with governments, the private sector and public-sector institutions.
- Appropriateness of the research team and partners: How is the team suited to the challenge, and inclusive of the breadth of disciplines and perspectives needed? Do the partners have sufficient external reach to achieve impact? Collaborations that demonstrate strategic value for the University of Toronto are especially valued.
- Feasibility of achieving research and impact outcomes & project implementation plans: Does the project have a feasible plan for outreach and public-facing products or events? Is the budget, milestones and deliverables, and risk mitigation plan realistic, feasible, and well-justified?
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.
LCI staff are available to support public-facing components of their proposed projects, so grant funds do not need to be budgeted for events and communications expenses.
Please note that applications are hosted on Microsoft Forms. You may need to log into your Microsoft 365 account, with UTORID, to access these forms.
MRAs are not required for this opportunity, and late applications will not be accepted.
LOI Deadline: July 3, 2026
Full Proposal Deadline: September 18, 2026
Please direct any questions to samanthak.young@utoronto.ca.
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.