Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
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Opportunity
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) hosts a variety of funding competitions for both investigator-led and strategic, priority-driven research. NSERC funding competition deadlines occur throughout the year, usually in May or September. For more information on specific upcoming deadlines, please review the Important NSERC Deadlines at a Glance table below, or the competition-specific pages on the left side bar.
Please note that the NSERC is asking all applicants to complete a self-identification questionnaire concerning information on age, gender, Indigenous identity, and status as a visible minority group member or person with a disability.
- For more information on this questionnaire, please review these Frequently Asked Questions.
- For more information on applying to an NSERC grant competition, please review our how-to guide or contact your applicable Research Partner.
Important NSERC Competition Deadlines at a Glance
| Funding Program | **RAS Deadline - Submit to RAS via the Researcher Home Page |
Final Version Submission Deadline | NSERC Deadline | U of A Approvals Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alliance Grant |
5 business days before application submission date |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
| Alliance International | 5 business days before application submission date |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
| Alliance Quantum grants |
5 business days before application submission date |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake |
Yes |
| CREATE Letter of Intent (LOI) |
April 1, 2023 12:00 pm MST |
May 1, 2023 10:00 am MST Submit final LOI to the NSERC via their online system. |
May 1, 2023 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| CREATE full application |
September 14, 2023 4:30 pm MST |
September 22, 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
September 22, 2023 6:00 pm MST |
No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant LOI | N/A |
TBA - Expected to be June 2023 Submit LOI directly to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
TBA – Expected to be June 2023 | No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant full application | TBA |
TBA - Expected to be October 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
TBA – Expected to be October 2023 | Yes |
| Discovery Grants NOI | N/A |
By 6:00 pm MST August 1 Submit NOI directly to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
August 1 | No |
|
Discovery Grants full application Discovery Grants Northern Research Supplements DND-NSERC Discovery Grant Supplements |
October 20, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST October 31, 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
TBA | Yes |
| Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grant | 5 business days before the applicable NSERC deadline |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application via the NSERC Online System |
January 6 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| NSERC Alliance – Mitacs Accelerate grants | 5 business days before application submission date |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
|
NSERC – German Research Foundation (DFG) Call for proposals on Sustainable Processes and Chemistry Alliance International Collaboration Grant |
November 30, 2022 |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
December 7, 2022 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
|
NSERC – German Research Foundation (DFG) Call for proposals on Sustainable Processes and Chemistry Invited full application(submitted to DFG) |
May 30, 2023 |
5:00 pm CEST (German Time) June 6, 2023 German lead to submit to DFG |
N/A | Yes |
|
NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative Preparatory Funding |
May 1, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
May 8, 2023 | Yes |
|
NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative Full project funding |
November 1, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
November 8, 2023 | Yes |
| Subatomic Physics RTI Category 1 | October 18, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST October 25, 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
October 25 | Yes |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 NOI Subatomic Physics MRS NOI Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year NOI |
N/A |
By 6:00 pm MST August 1 Submit NOI directly to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
August 1 | No |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 full application Subatomic Physics MRS full application Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year full application |
September 25, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST October 2, 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
October 2, 2023 |
Yes |
|
RTI Category 1 |
October 18, 2023 |
By 10:00 am MST October 25, 2023 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
October 25 | Yes |
Who Can Help Me?
The U of A's Research Partner Network (RPNet) and your Faculty Associate or Vice Dean of Research offer proposal development assistance to U of A researchers interested in applying for NSERC grants.
For more information about the specific assistance programs available to you, please contact your Research Partner for more information or reach out to your Faculty Associate or Vice Dean of Research.
Quick links
- NSERC Website
- NSERC Contact Information
- NSERC Frequently Asked Questions
- NSERC Program Guide for Professors
- NSERC Summary of Changes to Programs
- NSERC Research Portal
- NSERC Canadian Common CV
- NSERC Deadlines
- NSERC News
- Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
- RAS Review Requirements
- RPNet Contact Page
- Researcher Home Page Login