Novalait is calling on the scientific community to co-develop innovative, sustainable, and practical solutions that address the research priorities of Quebec’s dairy farms and processing plants.
Important dates
Submission of the letter of intent: October 31, 2025
Submission of detailed application: February 13, 2026
About Novalait
The dairy sector is the largest agri-food industry in Quebec, comprising 4,215 farms that produce 3.57 billion litres of milk and 115 processing plants. The dairy industry generates more than 65,000 jobs in Quebec. It contributes $6.1 billion to the GDP and generates $1.03 billion in tax revenue.
In Quebec, all companies that produce or process milk have contributed since 1995 to a research investment fund managed by Novalait. The company is owned by the Producteurs de lait du Québec, the dairy cooperatives (Agropur, Agrilait, and Nutrinor), as well as all private dairy processors represented by the Conseil des industriels laitiers du Québec.
Novalait sets research priorities based on consultations with dairy companies and issues identified by the sector. Novalait issues calls for proposals to the scientific community and commissions research projects. The knowledge, practices, and processes resulting from research funded by Novalait are transferred to dairy companies and promoted among industry suppliers. Over the past 30 years, Novalait has funded 152 projects with a total research value of $79.6 million, in partnership with funding agencies and private partners.
Details of the call for projects
Objectives
Novalait’s 2025–2026 special call for projects has two objectives:
- Generate new projects that align with Novalait’s research priorities
- Develop follow-up research projects that were previously funded by Novalait in order to increase their readiness for transfer to dairy farms or processing plants
Research priorities
The 2025-2026 call for projects covers all of Novalait’s research priorities.
In dairy production:
- Feed and nutrition
- Health and well-being
- Fertility and reproduction
In dairy processing:
- The technological properties of milk and dairy products
- Indicators and control tools
- The eco-efficiency of processing methods
A sector-wide approach (Production and processing):
- Milk quality
- Sustainable development
Budget
Novalait’s 2025–2026 Special Call for Projects has a total budget of $300,000.
The maximum amount of Novalait’s financial contribution per project is $75,000. This contribution from Novalait must not exceed 35% of the project’s total budget.
Matching funds
For projects selected following the selection process, Novalait will support the research team in developing a funding plan and submitting applications to funding agencies.
Indirect research costs
Novalait’s contribution must include indirect research costs (IRC). The total research costs, including RIC, must not exceed $75,000.
Project duration
The expected duration of projects is 2 to 3 years.
Eligible applicants
Researchers from universities, college technology transfer centers, centers of expertise, and colleges in Quebec, as well as provincial and federal research centers, are eligible for Novalait’s 2025–2026 special call for projects.
Novalait promotes a team-based approach that combines expertise across multiple disciplines from various institutions to effectively address the dairy industry’s research priorities.
Selection and co-development process
Submitting a letter of intent is the first step in the project selection process. Researchers whose proposals pass the relevance assessment will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal along with the required forms.
Step 1 – Submission of the letter of intent by October 31, 2025
Researchers are invited to download the letter of intent submission form by following this link: https://novalait.ca/selection-des-projets/
Letters of intent will be evaluated by a committee of dairy industry experts based on their innovative nature, the project’s relevance, and the potential economic, environmental, and societal impact of the results on dairy farms and processing plants.
Novalait will notify research teams of the outcome and, if applicable, the next steps in early November 2025.
Step 2 – Feedback and discussions with dairy industry experts
Research teams selected in Step 1 will also receive comments and suggestions for improvement from the relevance committee. If further clarification is needed, Novalait will organize a meeting with dairy industry experts.
Step 3 – Full proposal due no later than February 13, 2026
Complete proposals will be evaluated based on their scientific merit, technical feasibility, the team’s expertise, the training of highly qualified personnel, and the realism of the timeline and budget.
Novalait will provide a response to the research teams and, if applicable, further instructions by mid-March 2026.
Funding conditions
Selection of a letter of intent or approval of a full proposal does not guarantee project funding. Any funding offer from Novalait will be conditional upon securing additional funding, including an evaluation process by independent external scientific peers.
Novalait funding is also contingent upon all parties signing a research agreement defining the rights and obligations of research institutions, researchers, and partners, including, but not limited to:
- The responsibilities of researchers and research institutions in conducting the project
- The financial responsibility of the parties with respect to the project
- Reporting
- Publication of project results
- Confidentiality
- Ownership of intellectual property and other proprietary rights
- Commercial use of project results
To verify your project’s eligibility
Please feel free to contact Élise Gosselin, General Manager Novalait.
