The IPSFC will provide support to eligible Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, university consortia and research organizations to award scholarships and research fellowships to graduate students, academics and researchers at their institutions, to study or undertake research in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The IPSFC program will:

• Enhance the study and research capacity of Canadians in areas related to the Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Increase connectivity between Canadian and Indo-Pacific institutions dedicated to research and education
• Support new research streams and academic pursuits in Canada on the Indo-Pacific region

Study or research must be in line with the strategic objectives of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Individual projects may receive up to $520,000 in funding. Projects must start after November 1, 2025, and end before March 31, 2028.

Host universities or research institutions must be based in one of the eligible countries and economies in the Indo-Pacific region.

For more information on this call for proposals, please consult the program guidelines. 

Each organization may submit one (1) proposal to the competition; therefore, UPEI applicants must follow the internal selection process outlined below.

Anyone interested in applying to the call for proposals must first confirm the support of their supervisor (e.g., Chair/Dean/Director), then submit a letter of intent (LOI) to Research Services (researchservices@upei.ca) by July 7, 2025 at noon.

The LOI must include the following information:

1) A maximum two-page document outlining:

• Project description, including areas of study or research and anticipated host country 
• Your team’s existing engagement and partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, and how the proposed project will support the strategic objectives of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Proposed process for project delivery, including the selection of awardees and how the project will take reasonable efforts to ensure diversity in awardees
• The project team’s organizational structure with key roles and responsibilities
• Confirmed and anticipated partner organization(s) 

2) A maximum one-page budget description 

• Anticipated number of scholarships and/or fellowships
• Anticipated budget including any contributions from other sources

3) Proof of the involvement of an Indo-Pacific host institution for awardees of scholarships or fellowships. Correspondence can be informal (e.g., an email) at the internal LOI stage. 

An internal selection process will be jointly coordinated by the Office of Study Abroad and International Relations, Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Research Services. One applicant will be selected to proceed with a submission to the program. The application deadline is August 6, 2025 at 1pm (Atlantic Time). 

For more information, contact Leslie Cudmore, Research Grants Coordinator (lcudmore@upei.ca or 902-566-0709).