NSERC Funding opportunities
Funding Prizes About Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Funding opportunity

Discovery Development Grants

Overview

Closed
Value and duration

Two years

Application deadline

Not applicable

Program type
Discovery Research
Summary

The Discovery Development Grants (DDG) is a complementary program element to the Discovery Grants (DG) program. Its goal is to promote and maintain a diversified base of high-quality research in small universities across Canada; and provide a stimulating environment for research training in small universities across Canada.

On this page
  • Description
  • Eligibility
  • Funding
  • Application
  • Review
  • Award
  • Post-award requirements
  • Results
  • Regulations, policies and guidelines
  • Resources
Description

The DDG program provides resources to researchers from small universities whose DG applications were deemed to be of appropriate quality to merit research support but were not funded in the DG competition.

Each award has a two-year duration and provides recipients with resources to build their research program. These resources may be used to expand the recipient’s research group (e.g., students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians), to purchase or access specialized equipment, or for other initiatives or resources that would accelerate the recipient’s research program. It is expected that the DDG will facilitate recipients’ access to additional funding from other sources.

Eligibility

In addition to the usual NSERC eligibility criteria for applicants, the program is only accessible to researchers at small universities who have been evaluated in the most recent DG competition.

Recipients of a DDG must provide NSERC with evidence of support from their university, indicating what additional measures will be taken to support the individual’s research program. Support can include, but is not limited to, matching funds, the purchase of research equipment, scholarship support, travel support, teaching release, etc.

Funding Value and duration

Two years

Eligible expenses

All expenditures are subject to the principles and directives governing the appropriate use of grant funds as outlined in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

Application How to apply

No separate application is required. NSERC selects recipients based on the results of the evaluation of Discovery Grants (DG) applications.

Application deadline

Not applicable

Review

Evaluation Groups will evaluate and rate DG applications in accordance with established DG evaluation criteria. DDGs will be awarded based on the ratings received by the DG application. Recipients will be those from small universities whose applications were deemed to be of appropriate quality to merit research support but were not funded in the DG competition.

Expected assessment time

Results are shared annually in April.

Award

Each award will normally be paid over two years. NSERC reserves the right to limit the total number of new awards per year, depending on availability of funding.

Researchers may not concurrently hold a DDG and a DG. Holders of a DDG may apply for a DG in the last year of the award. Researchers may hold up to two (2) DDG awards throughout their careers.

Notification of results

Expected mid-April

Post-award requirements

Reporting requirements

DDG recipients are required to complete a Grants in Aid of Research Statement of Account (Form 300) at the end of each fiscal year. Furthermore, recipients are required to submit a final report at the end of the DDG period. Details regarding the final report will be communicated to the recipients.

Results Funding decisions
  • View funding decisions
Regulations, policies and guidelines

To ensure the Canadian research ecosystem is as open as possible and as secure as necessary, the Government of Canada has provided clear information on research security considerations for the development, evaluation and funding of grant applications.

For more information on the granting agencies’ implementation of harmonized research security measures, as well as further guidance and resources on how to safeguard your research, please refer to the Tri-agency guidance on research security.

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to research that advances sensitive technology research areas performed with research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security. The STRAC Policy applies to this funding opportunity.

Applicants must identify whether their proposed research aims to advance a sensitive technology research area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles in the grant application (see the list of named roles specific to this funding opportunity) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a named research organization.

The Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements, including the responsibilities of researchers and the responsibilities of institutions.
Resources
  • Discovery Grants program
  • Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants program
  • List of small Canadian universities eligible for Discovery Development Grants (list is subject to change year to year)
  • Primary caregivers who are eligible for but decline taking extended leave (maternity, parental or adoption) - NSERC Discovery Grant, Individual Subatomic Physics Discovery Grant and Discovery Development Grant holders only
Contact

For program-related information, email ddg-sdd@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.