Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

NSERC is one of the Tri-Council Agencies, along with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). All research that is funded by the Tri-Council Agencies must be in accordance with the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions. This agreement describes the basic requirements for obtaining and maintaining institutional eligibility to administer research funds. For a full listing of NSERC deadlines, please click here.

2020 Competition Deadlines

Funding Program

RSO Deadline**

NSERC Deadline

U of A Approvals Required

Alliance Grant

Option 1 - $20,000 to $1,000,000 per year (continuous intake)

Option 2 initial phase - over $30,000 to $100,000 per year (continuous intake) Limited number of applications (within a 12 month period only one proposal is allowed from a researcher as either an applicant or co-applicant)

Alliance Grant Application Guide (New)

NSERC external
co-applicant confirmation form

Alliance Grant Application Tip Sheet

Equity Diversity and Inclusion in Alliance Grants

 5 business days Continuous intake Yes
CREATE LOI U of A internal adjudication TBD n/a No
CREATE LOI May 25 June 1 Yes
CREATE full application Oct 15 Oct 22 Yes
Discovery Grants NOI N/A Aug 3 No

Discovery Grants

2020 Discovery Grant Merit Indicators

 Oct 21 Nov 2 Yes
Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grant 5 business days Jan 6, Mar 30, Jun 22, Sep 28 Yes
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 1 Oct 19 Oct 26 Yes
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 NOI N/A Aug 3 No
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 Sep 24 Oct 1 Yes
Subatomic Physics MRS NOI N/A Aug 3 No
Subatomic Physics MRS Sep 24 Oct 1 Yes
Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/yr NOI N/A Aug 3 No
Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/yr Sep 24 Oct 1 Yes

RTI Category 1 (Application Checklist)

NSERC RTI External Co-applicant Confirmation Form

 Oct 19 Oct 26 Yes

NSERC Alliance Grants have replaced NSERC CRD, IRC, Engage, Connect, Strategic Partnership Grants programs which are now closed. The Alliance Grants Option 1 and the initial phase of Option 2 are now available.

**Your faculty may have additional internal submission deadline requirements. Please contact your research facilitator for more information.

For a complete list of NSERC Application Deadlines and Notification of Decisions click here. If you have any questions, please contact your research facilitator.

Self-Identification Data Collection in Support of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

As of Summer 2018, NSERC is asking all applicants for funding competitions (grants, scholarships, and fellowships) to self-identify with information on age, gender, Indigenous identity, and status as a member of a visible minority group or person with a disability.

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