Apply for Grants Offered by School of Cities Research Catalyst Grants 2026-2027 India, this Grant Program offers funding to support collaborative research projects between University of Toronto scholars and partner institutions in India, aimed at strengthening the sustainability and climate resilience of Indian cities. With grant support ranging from INR 9 to 15 lakhs, the program encourages innovative research that tackles critical urban challenges such as air quality, water management, energy systems, mobility, and affordable housing.
Projects are expected to deliver evidence-based insights, actionable policy recommendations, and capacity-building outcomes that can drive meaningful urban transformation. The initiative emphasizes equitable and impactful partnerships, ensuring that both Canadian and Indian collaborators contribute and benefit equally. Selected projects will be implemented between April 2026 and March 2027.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 16th February 2025
Overview of the grant
(Apply for Grants Offered by School of Cities Research Catalyst Grants 2026-2027 India)
The UofT India Foundation (UTIF) is providing seed funds to support collaborative research initiatives through a Call for Proposals. The University of Toronto (U of T) and UTIF are committed to the positive impact that universities can have through international partnerships and co-creation, and through this Call for Proposals are supporting new or existing collaborations that:
Objectives: Support the sustainability and climate resilience of Indian cities and city-regions, addressing issues that might include (but are not limited to) air quality, water and sanitation, infrastructure and construction, energy, mobility, urban planning, housing, sustainable livelihoods, data-driven sustainability, and waste. The funders recognize that urban India is diverse, encompassing the spectrum from small towns to megapolises and their peripheries, and therefore welcome proposals focused on building sustainable cities of all sizes.
Impact: Facilitate high-impact research and solutions resulting in evidence-based recommendations, joint publications, and/or enhanced capacity to increase the sustainability and/or climate resilience of Indian cities and city-regions.
Partnership model: Develop collaborative partnerships between U of T researchers and Indian academic, research, non-profit, or government entities to co-create impactful research that yields evidence, insights, and solutions for sustainable Indian cities.
Eligibility Criteria
(Apply for Grants Offered by School of Cities Research Catalyst Grants 2026-2027 India)
The U of T India Foundation was established in 2023 and is the University of Toronto’s research and entrepreneurship centre in India. Based in Mumbai, UTIF facilitates collaboration between U of T and India-based partners, with a focus on creating more sustainable Indian urban areas.
Eligibility to submit the proposals:
A proposal must include at least one co-Principal Investigator (PI) from U of T and at least one co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) from an Indian partner organization.
The U of T co-PI must meet the University’s definition of a Principal Investigator (PI) and must hold an appointment for the full duration of the grant’s funding period.
The Indian co-PI must be employed by the Indian partner organization. The partner organization could be a university, research center, NGO, civil society organization, foundation, or government body. For-profit or industry co-PIs are not eligible to act as co-PIs or hold grant funds. The Indian research partner must be based in and operate in India.
The application must include a letter of support signed by a designated signatory of the Indian partner organization. Further, it should describe the Indian partner organization’s proposed involvement in the project; their desired outcomes and how these would contribute to their organization’s objectives; and a brief overview of the organization’s experience with financial management of grants. The letter must be on the Indian institution’s letterhead.
Both the U of T co-PI and the Indian co-PI must have demonstrated experience of working and/or engaging with the problem they aim to address in the research.
Proposals
(Apply for Grants Offered by School of Cities Research Catalyst Grants 2026-2027 India)
We welcome proposals from a wide range of academic disciplines, and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged but not required. Collaborative proposals that bring together researchers from various organizational sectors are also welcome. The potential for proposals to have a tangible impact on increasing the sustainability and resilience of Indian cities will be a core feature of assessment.
The proposal must clearly outline the urban sustainability and/or climate resilience issue that it wishes to address, and demonstrate a need/rationale for investigating the problem.
The proposal must demonstrate an equitable partnership between the Indian and U of T researchers in designing and undertaking the project.
Proposals that demonstrate additional committed funding or potential for additional funding are encouraged but not required.
The proposal must outline measurable outputs, which could include peer-reviewed publications; knowledge translation, capacity-building, and dissemination; spatial or design-based interventions; policy briefs or white papers; or technological products/design prototypes.
Proposals must comply with U of T’s policies on ethics, health, safety, and international travel, and with U of T and UTIF financial policies.
Evaluation criteria
(Apply for Grants Offered by School of Cities Research Catalyst Grants 2026-2027 India)
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Partnership (equitable nature of the collaboration, team member expertise and complementary skills, implementation capacity)
- Clarity, relevance, and focus of research problem (innovation/critical thinking, relevance to the theme, and justification)
- Potential impact and outcomes of the project
- Research approach (study design, rigor, ethics, analysis plan, participant mobilization/ engagement strategy, and feasibility)
- Timeline and workplan (clear milestones and appropriate budget projections)
- Advantageous, but not a required criterion: Proposals that can demonstrate potential for long-term sustainability and scalability of the project are particularly encouraged.
- The peer review committee will select 3-5 proposals for funding.
How to apply?
<Apply by February 16, 2026: Download the application template >
<Apply by February 16, 2026: Download the application budget>
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
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