Quantum science is the study, manipulation and control of systems at the atomic and subatomic level. Quantum technologies are at the leading edge of science and innovation, both in Canada and worldwide. They will support the growth and transformation of key sectors, enable new economic opportunities and help advance a range of benefits for society. Canada is a leader in quantum research, and Canadian scientists are well positioned to capitalize on these opportunities.

In Budget 2021, Canada committed to launch a National Quantum Strategy (NQS) to amplify Canada's significant strengths in quantum research; grow its quantum-ready technologies, companies and talent; and solidify Canada's global leadership in this area. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supports the implementation of the NQS through funding opportunities that build on NSERC's sustained investments in quantum research. The results of the consultations held by the NQS Secretariat informed these funding opportunities.

Alliance Quantum grants will reinforce, coordinate and scale up Canada's domestic research capabilities in quantum science and technology through partnerships between university researchers and organizations from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. This funding opportunity will be delivered through various calls for proposals, of which Strengthening Canada's quantum research and innovation capacity is the first.

Your proposal may address any challenges in quantum science, but its thrust must aim to advance one or more of the NQS missions through the development of any of the following areas of quantum technologies:

• quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• quantum communications
• quantum computing
• quantum materials
• quantum sensing

Collaborations that synergistically couple any of these quantum technology thrusts to other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering would be accepted.

Grant support ranges from $50,000 to $500,000 per year, for a duration of up to five years. NSERC will provide support for 100% of the eligible costs of research. Although partner organizations do not need to provide cash contributions to participate, they must actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions. A broad range of in-kind contributions could be made toward a project; refer to the Partner organizations web page for additional information.

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers.

NSERC encourages the participation of early career researchers (ECRs) as applicants or co-applicants on Alliance Quantum grant applications. While applications led by ECRs will be assessed using the same evaluation criteria, the merit indicators used for the assessment include provisions for cases where the applicant's experience in managing projects or mentoring trainees is nascent. NSERC will monitor the success rate for ECR-led proposals to ensure that it is consistent with NSERC's aim to effectively support researchers throughout their careers. For more information on how NSERC categorizes an applicant as an ECR, refer to the Discovery Grants — applicant categories.

Even though NSERC will cover 100% of the project's eligible costs, you must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) whose cash contributions would be recognized for cost sharing, had there been any required (see Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations). You may include other partner organizations that play an important role in your research project, whether or not their cash contributions would be recognized for cost sharing, had there been any required. At least one partner organization must have the ability to exploit the project's research results.

Grants awarded for this call will support proposals of varying scale and complexity, from projects involving one researcher to projects involving researchers across several universities, and from one-on-one collaborations with one partner organization directly involved in the research to collaborations involving many partner organizations across multiple sectors.

In the case where your application involves one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors, you must complete the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships' risk assessment form and include it as an integral part of your application.

At all times, Canadian researchers are encouraged to exercise appropriate levels of due diligence to safeguard their research. Resources to do so are provided by the Government of Canada on the Safeguarding Your Research portal.

Your partner organizations can be private, public or not-for-profit. You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results to achieve the desired impact. At least one of these partners must have a demonstrated ability to exploit such research results, while other partners may be chosen for their ability to generate or mobilize knowledge. Each partner organization must actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions. Such involvement must be achieved by doing at least one of the following:

• play an active role in the project's research activities
• utilize the project's research results to help achieve its desired outcomes
• play an active role in translating or mobilizing knowledge to ensure that the research results have an impact

Various in-kind contributions could be made toward the project, such as the time of the partner organization's scientific, engineering or technical staff to provide direction and participate in the project; provision of equipment, materials or services; and provision of access to data or special equipment.

Active participation in the project and in-kind contributions are not required from funding organizations (e.g., other provincial or federal funding agencies) providing financial support to the project alongside NSERC (see Funding your research project).

You must have at least one partner organization whose cash contributions would be recognized for cost sharing, had there been any required.

Consult the Alliance Advantage: Role of partner organizations web page for complete guidelines regarding partner organizations, including requirements for partner organizations whose cash contributions can be recognized for cost-sharing purposes with NSERC.

Your proposal may address any challenges in quantum science, but its thrust must aim to advance one or more of the NQS missions through the development of any of the following areas of quantum technologies:

• quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• quantum communications
• quantum computing
• quantum materials
• quantum sensing

As the development of quantum technologies may require coupling to other areas of research in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), you may collaborate with academic researchers to this end. Such researchers may be co-applicants on your application if they meet NSERC's eligibility criteria for faculty.

You cannot use an Alliance Quantum grant to support secret or contract research.

You may incorporate international collaborations into your project proposal. Refer to the Tri-agency guide on financial administration regarding the eligibility of expenses you may incur in support of such collaborations.

You may also initiate and develop collaborations with international academic researchers in the above areas of quantum technologies through NSERC's Alliance International Catalyst Quantum grants or Alliance International Collaboration Quantum grants.

Your research or the application of its results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the NSE. You may collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants if they meet NSERC's eligibility criteria for faculty. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the project costs covered by NSERC and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification.

You can request $50,000 to $500,000 per year from NSERC for up to five years. Cash contributions from partner organizations are not required. Even though NSERC will cover 100% of the project's eligible costs, your project must involve at least one partner organization whose cash contributions would be recognized, had there been any required.

You and your co-applicants may receive funds from other sources to cover direct costs of your project. These sources of funds could include cash contributions provided by the university or by other funding agencies. Such funds would add to and complement those requested from NSERC. You must include all of the project's direct costs funded by sources other than NSERC in the budget table. All costs must be explained in the proposal and are considered in the merit assessment of your proposal.

In-kind contributions are important for the success of the project. All partner organizations participating in the project must play an active role in it and make in-kind contributions through such involvement (see Partner organizations). In-kind contributions are considered in the merit assessment of your proposal (see Review of your application).

Alliance Quantum grant funds from NSERC cover the direct costs of the research. The funds from NSERC are paid to eligible universities and cannot be used to buy equipment, products or services from any partner organization, or to cover any part of the travel and travel-related subsistence expenditures for partner organization personnel.

You can only include NSERC-eligible direct costs of research in your project budget, such as

• salary support for undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows to perform research and related training
• salary support for technicians and research professional personnel
• materials and supplies
• activities that support collaborations and knowledge mobilization related to the project
• activities to develop and grow the research collaborations with the partner organizations

Refer to the guidelines on the use of grant funds in the Tri-agency guide on financial administration.

You can also include the costs of equipment, provided that the equipment is

• essential to achieving the objectives of the research project
• incremental to the equipment already available at the university or at the partner organization's location

If your total expected equipment cost (including operation and maintenance) exceeds $400,000 over your project's duration, then you should apply for an alternate source of funding such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI's) John R. Evans Leaders Fund. NSERC and CFI have developed a joint application and review procedure for these cases. Contact NSERC or CFI for more details.

For projects involving multiple partner organizations and/or universities, you may include project management costs, up to 10% of the total direct research costs (see Guidelines for research partnerships programs project management expenses).

In fiscal year 2023–24, through its Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) program—Stream II, Alberta Innovates may leverage NSERC Alliance Quantum grants to provide additional support toward projects led by NSERC-eligible researchers from Alberta universities and involving a for-profit small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) incorporated or registered in Alberta. Alberta Innovates' CASBE program will leverage NSERC's award up to $150,000 per year for up to two years. CASBE support could be for a maximum of two years; however, your Alliance Quantum grant application can request NSERC support for up to five years. For additional information and application instructions, refer to Alberta Innovates' CASBE program guide. You may also consult the How to apply web page.

You can apply at any time. This funding opportunity will be available and will accept applications on an ongoing basis until October 31, 2023 before 8:00 p.m (ET). Applications will be evaluated as they are received.

You may apply for multiple grants as the principal applicant or as a co-applicant in order to support separate projects. The grants must cover distinct expenses; there must be no duplication of funding.

1. Log in to NSERC's online system and choose Create a new form 101.
2. Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants.
3. For the Proposal type field, select Full proposal.
4. For the Type of call field, select Quantum - Strengthening Capacity from the drop-down menu.
5. Following the instructions for completing an Alliance Quantum grant application, fill out the Alliance Quantum grants proposal template and complete the other sections of your application.
6. In the case where your application involves one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors, also complete the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships' risk assessment form.
7. Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the personal data form with CCV attachment for the applicant and all co-applicants, through NSERC's online system. Your partner organization's contact person will be invited through the online system to provide information about the organization following the partner organization instructions.

By submitting your application, you and your co-applicants (when applicable) agree to the terms and conditions of applying for applicants. By participating in your application, your partner organizations agree to the terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations.

If you are an NSERC-eligible researcher at a university located in Alberta and you intend to submit your Alliance Quantum grant application in conjunction with an application to the Alberta Innovates Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) program—Stream II (see Funding your research project), follow the instructions provided in Alberta Innovates' CASBE program guide. Particularly, in NSERC's online system, you must

• for the Type of call field, select Quantum - Strengthening Capacity from the drop-down menu
• in the Contributions section of form 101, add Alberta Innovates as Other funder (not involved in the research)
• attach Alberta Innovates' conditional approval using the Other documents section of form 101

By submitting your CASBE application to Alberta Innovates and the related Alliance Quantum grant application to NSERC, you, your co-applicants and your partner organizations agree to the sharing between Alberta Innovates and NSERC of any and all information, including personal information, in any way related to the applications, to their adjudication and to the awards.

NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and is aligned with the objectives of the Tri-agency EDI action plan.

Excellent research considers EDI both in the research environment (forming a research team, student training) and in the research process. For Alliance grants, EDI considerations are currently evaluated in the training, mentorship and professional development opportunities for students and trainees. The aim is to remove barriers to the recruitment and promote full participation of individuals from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups as one way to enhance the excellence in research and training. For additional guidance, applicants should refer to Alliance grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan and the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research.

When NSERC receives an Alliance Quantum grant application, it first undertakes an administrative assessment to ensure the application is complete and complies with all requirements. Once the administrative assessment is satisfactorily completed, NSERC proceeds with the merit assessment of the application.

All proposals undergo peer review. A committee of national and international peer reviewers normally assesses the merit of applications on a quarterly basis. Committee members are drawn from universities as well as public, private or not-for-profit organizations. The members may be informed in their assessment by reports from external reviewers. NSERC reserves the right to select the most appropriate review process.

The merit of your application is evaluated using the following four equally weighted criteria. The proposal must address all the listed points (criteria and sub-criteria) to be considered for funding.

• Significance of the intended outcomes and of the economic, social and/or environmental benefits for Canada
• Originality of the research to address the topic and the potential for generating new scientific knowledge
• Extent to which the strategy to apply the research results is likely to achieve the intended outcomes

• Appropriateness of the partnership to achieve the intended outcomes; leveraging of different types of partner organizations and the integration of their unique perspectives and knowledge in the project, as appropriate
• Clarity of each partner organization's role in the collaboration with respect to defining the challenge, co-designing and implementing the research, and using the results to achieve the desired outcomes
• Appropriateness of the level of in-kind contributions from each partner organization

• Clarity of the objectives and deliverables; appropriateness of the scope and size of planned activities to achieve the expected outcomes; justification for the planned expenditures
• Appropriateness of the identified indicators and methods for monitoring progress during the project and for assessing outcomes after the project
• Appropriateness of academic researchers' expertise, and that found within the partner organizations, both for carrying out the planned research activities and in mentoring trainees

• Opportunities for enriched training experiences for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows) to develop relevant research skills as well as professional skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship
• Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan (for guidance, consult the Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan web page)

NSERC uses established merit indicators to rate each evaluation sub-criterion/criterion. Since cash contributions from partner organizations are not required, they are not taken into account when assessing the appropriateness of the level of contributions from each partner organization. Only in-kind contributions are taken into consideration.

In the case where your proposal involves one or more partner organizations from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors, NSERC reviews the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships' risk assessment form that you provide with your application (including the risk mitigation plan, when applicable). When additional expertise is required, NSERC seeks advice from Canada's national security departments and agencies, and/or from academic experts.

NSERC's funding decision takes into consideration the merit evaluation as well as the assessment of potential risks for Canada's national security, when applicable.

NSERC uses the merit indicator ratings assigned to applications to select proposals for funding on a competitive basis. Decisions stemming from the national security risk assessment are based on the risks identified and the mitigation measures proposed.

After receiving an application, NSERC normally requires 12 to 24 weeks to complete its assessment. NSERC is committed to achieving these service standards for 80% of applications, recognizing that some proposals may require additional time.

If your Alliance Quantum grant application is approved for funding, you will receive an award letter, and you must adhere to the terms and conditions of award.

Your award letter will indicate the start date of your project. NSERC will normally transfer your grant funds to your university within 30 days of that start date.

NSERC recommends that you and your university follow best practices by signing a research agreement that defines the intellectual property rights and obligations of all the partner organizations involved in your research project. The agreement must be aligned with NSERC's policy on intellectual property, which promotes the use and/or exploitation of knowledge and open access to results of research funded by NSERC.

Note:

• NSERC claims no rights of ownership to any intellectual property generated through projects funded by Alliance Quantum grants.
• NSERC's policy on intellectual property stipulates that each of your students must maintain their right to defend their thesis without delays or impediments.
• All participants, including any trainees, should consult this policy to ensure that they are aware of their rights and obligations.

You must acknowledge NSERC support in any communications or presentations about the research supported by your Alliance Quantum grant.

You must report regularly on how you use the funds from your grant, the activities you carry out during your funded project and the outcomes of this project. You will be informed of reporting requirements upon receiving your award letter.

You will be required to report on progress in implementing practices to support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in your training plan, as described in your application.

Subsequent instalments of your grant depend on your adherence to all conditions specified in the terms and conditions of award, in addition to the demonstration of satisfactory progress in implementing EDI practices in the training plan, when requested by NSERC.

You must notify NSERC

• if any of your partner organizations no longer actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions, as committed to in the application
• if any of your partner organizations leave the project—in this respect, during the entire project, you must have at least one partner organization whose cash contributions would be recognized for cost-sharing, had there been any required

If you and your partner organizations fail to provide requested feedback, your subsequent applications may be denied.

NSERC automatically provides an extension period of one year for using the grant funds. This extension period allows you to complete your research activities planned for within the specified term of your grant.

Consult the  Alliance frequently asked questions web page for additional guidance and information that may help you prepare your application.

• Partner organization self-assessment tool for Alliance grants
• Alliance grants: Partner organization form instructions

Application instructions and materials

• Instructions for completing an Alliance Quantum grants application – form 101
• Alliance Quantum grants proposal template
• National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ risk assessment form
• Instructions for completing a personal data form with CCV attachment – form 100A
• How to complete NSERC's version of the Canadian Common CV

Supplementary guidelines

• Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan
• Safeguarding Your Research portal

Terms and conditions of applying

• Terms and conditions of applying for applicants
• Terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations

Presentation on Alliance Quantum grants and Alliance Consortia Quantum grants

• Presentation on Alliance Quantum grants and Alliance Consortia Quantum grants: slides
• Presentation on Alliance Quantum grants and Alliance Consortia Quantum grants: slides with notes

• Alliance Quantum grants merit indicators
• Alliance Quantum grants instructions to external reviewers

• Terms and conditions of award
• Policy on intellectual property

• Eligibility
• Tri-agency guide on financial administration