Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
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Research Security Update
As of May 1st, 2024 there are new Tri-Agency and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) research security requirements in place that could impact your research funding application. Check out the Safeguarding Research Office webpage for more information or you can talk to someone on our team at safegrd@ualberta.ca to find out what these requirements could mean for you.
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) |
Jan 10, 2024 12:00 pm MST |
May 1, 2024 10:00 am MST Submit final LOI to the NSERC via their online system. |
May 1, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| CREATE full application |
Sep 15, 2024 4:30 pm MST |
Sep 22, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Sep 22, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant LOI | N/A |
Jun 14, 2024 Submit LOI directly to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
Jun 14, 2024 | No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant full application | TBA |
Oct 18, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
Oct 18, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| Discovery Grants NOI | N/A |
Aug 1, 2024 Submit NOI directly to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Aug 1, 2024 | No |
|
Discovery Grants full application Discovery Grants Northern Research Supplements DND-NSERC Discovery Grant Supplements |
Oct 22, 2024 |
Oct 31, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Nov 1, 2024 | 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 |
Jan 8 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 |
| Subatomic Physics RTI Category 1 | Oct 18, 2024 |
Oct 25, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 25, 2024 | Yes |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 NOI Subatomic Physics MRS NOI Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year NOI |
N/A |
Aug 1, 2024 |
Aug 1, 2024 | No |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 full application Subatomic Physics MRS full application Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year full application |
Sep 24, 2024 |
Oct 1, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 1, 2024 |
Yes |
|
RTI |
Oct 18, 2024 |
Oct 25, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 25, 2024 | 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