Funding opportunity
Overview
Up to $25,000 per year for up to five years
Opens: August 12, 2026, 8:00 am (ET)
Deadline: November 2, 2026, 8:00 pm (ET)
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Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants program (individual) -
Discovery Grants program (individual)
The Northern Research Supplements (NRS) program has been established to augment and promote Canadian university-based northern research and training. The main purpose of the NRS program is to recognize the added costs that are unique to conducting research in the Canadian North.
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The NRS program is aimed at NSERC-funded researchers who intend to conduct Discovery research in Canada’s North. Successful applicants will typically receive a supplement to their Discovery Grant (DG) of up to $25,000 per year for the duration of their DG. The amount awarded may vary depending on the logistical costs requested and in recognition of outstanding contributions to outreach, engagement and collaboration with northerners (note: in the context of this program, “northerner” refers to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members).
Recipients of NRS awards are not restricted to the specific activities described in the application, but they must pursue research interests in the Canadian North. Only costs associated with working in the Canadian North are eligible expenses. For a detailed list of eligible expenses, including this program’s definition of the Canadian North, consult the
In order to reduce field costs, researchers may also consider Natural Resources Canada’s
NRS funding is only accessible to researchers who meet NSERC’s
For a detailed list of eligible expenses, including this program’s definition of the Canadian North, please consult the
Up to $25,000 per year for up to five years
Only costs associated with working in the Canadian North, incurred within Canada, are eligible expenses.
In the case of adjunct professors whose primary place of employment is outside the university sector (e.g., government, industry or colleges), NSERC will award funds only for the direct support of students (salaries or stipends and student travel costs). All other costs must be covered through other sources of funding. Consult the
Any expenses included in the NRS budget table must be additional expenses incurred due to conducting research in the North; any expenses that would be otherwise incurred conducting research outside of the indicated northern limits would not be eligible. The onus is on the applicant to justify how these costs are unique to conducting research in the Canadian North.
For the purposes of this program, Canada’s North is defined as the land- and ocean-based territory north of the southern limit of isolated patches of permafrost from northern British Columbia to Labrador, including the entirety of the three territories. Geographic eligibility does not include the stretch down the central Rocky Mountains along the BC/AB border and several other non-contiguous pockets further to the south. For outlining the location of permafrost (shown in bands of yellow, green, blue, purple and red), visit Natural Resources Canada’s
All requested budget items must be clearly explained and well-justified within the
Eligible expenses are detailed below.
Costs associated with work in the North
Provide an outline of the expenses that are expected to be incurred due to the high costs of undertaking research in the North, including community consultations and outreach, as well as engagement and collaborations with northerners.
Stipends/honoraria/salaries for local students and northern participants, including Indigenous researchers
Give a breakdown of the required individuals to be supported and any applicable fees. Justify each position requested. Note that university-based student stipends and university research personnel salaries are not eligible expenses — formally supervised HQP cannot be paid with NRS funds.
Equipment or facility
Provide a breakdown of the items requested, models, manufacturers, prices and applicable taxes. Justify each item requested and explain how it is specific to use in the North.
Fees to be paid for the use of equipment or a facility in the North should be described (e.g., hours and rate).
Materials and supplies for use in the North
Provide details and explain major items and their use in the North.
Travel to and from northern Canada
Explain briefly how each activity relates to the proposed research and to whom they apply (e.g. HQP, researcher, etc.). As only costs incurred within Canada are eligible expenses, only costs related to domestic travel within Canada are considered eligible for this program.
Dissemination, outreach, engagement and collaboration with northerners and Indigenous communities
Provide details of dissemination costs, translation costs, workshops, consultations, or other community engagement activities undertaken in the North. Publication costs in peer-reviewed journals are not normally an eligible expense from an NRS award.
Other expenses
List any items not included in previous categories and provide a brief explanation for major items. All additional costs should be related to undertaking research or research-related activities in the North.
Note: All expenditures are subject to the principles and directives governing the appropriate use of grant funds as outlined in the
The NRS application is done as part of the DG application process within the Research Portal.
When submitting their DG application through the Research Portal, applicants must first indicate their interest in being considered for this supplement. Applicants must then complete the NRS proposed expenditures table and provide two additional PDF attachments to the application as follows:
- A
budget justification (2 pages max) - The NRS
proposal with a list of references (proposal: max. 3 pages; references: max. 1 page)
Notes:
- All attachments must meet NSERC’s
Research Portal presentation and attachment standards . - The NRS application consists of the NRS proposed expenditures table, the NRS budget justification, the NRS proposal and references attachments (detailed in sections below), and several modules and/or attachments from the DG application. See the List for a complete application below for a summary of what is to be included in the NRS application, including details about which portions of the DG application that will be available to the NRS selection committee.
The following information will be reviewed by the NRS selection committee:
- Application profile (from full DG application)
- Summary of proposal (from full DG application)
- Relationship to other research support (from full DG application)
- Most significant contributions (from full DG application)
- Additional information on contributions (from full DG application)
- Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration Agreement (from DG full application), if applicable
- NRS proposed expenditures table
- NRS attachment: Budget justification
- NRS attachment: Proposal and references
- Canadian Common CV
Note: Pages in excess of the number permitted will be removed from the application material and will not be seen by the committee.
The following DG application information will NOT be seen by the NRS selection committee:
- DG proposed expenditures table
- DG budget justification
- HQP training plan
- Past contributions to HQP training
- DG proposal (5 pages) and references (2 pages)
- Four submitted samples of research contributions
Provide a five-year NRS budget (distinct from the DG proposed expenditures). Verify all entries carefully.
- Before completing this page, read the instructions below and consult the
Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration for information about the eligibility of expenditures for the direct costs of research and the use of grant funds. - Only costs associated with working in the Canadian North are
eligible expenses . University-based student stipends and salaries for university research personnel are not eligible. Any costs incurred outside of Canada cannot be paid from an NRS award. - The Total Amount Requested from NSERC should be a maximum of $25,000 annually; this is calculated automatically by subtracting the Total Cash Contributions, if any, from the Total Proposed Expenditures.
- While the actual amount needed from the NRS may vary by year, with higher expenditures in years involving more travel to the North, due to their direct link to the DG, NRS awards typically follow the same payment schedule and format as the DG. Therefore, the yearly requested amount from NSERC for NRS should be equal instalments over 5 years and not exceed $25,000 for any given year. Clear explanations regarding the requested expenses and the distribution of the budget should be provided in the Budget Justification section.
Budget justification (2 pages max)
Provide a detailed explanation and justification for each budget item identified in the NRS proposed expenditures table. These pages should only contain information pertinent to the NRS proposed expenditures budget table.
Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess whether the resources requested are appropriate and specific to conducting research in the North. Please refer to the
Note: The NRS selection committee does not have access to the DG proposed expenditures table nor the DG budget justification.
Proposal (3 pages max)
The NRS proposal is distinct from the DG proposal and should detail the components of the proposed DG research program that are specific to conducting research in the Canadian north, with emphasis on the planned outreach, collaboration, engagement and communication initiatives. It must also define the northern Canadian location(s) where the research will be conducted, including the names of surrounding towns or specific communities, or the latitudes and longitudes.
The proposal must clearly address all components of each of the NRS selection criteria as described in the
Note: The NRS selection committee does not have access to the full DG proposal or HQP information from the DG application.
References (1 page max)
- Provide a list of literature references
- Do not include hyperlinks in the list
- Do not refer to websites for additional information on the proposal
NSERC specifies
Meaningful engagement means engagement at all stages of the process, “ensuring that various world views are represented in planning and decision making from the earlier stages of conception and design of projects through to the analysis and dissemination of results” (Tri-council policy statement 2).
Indigenous research requires that research activities respond to community needs and priorities. This may involve:
- contributing to the enhancement of community members’ skills and/or community capacity;
- exploring opportunities for reciprocal learning and transfer of skills and knowledge between the community and the research team;
- supporting a community in maintaining its culture, language and/or identity, as well as supporting its self-determination.
The following elements, which align with best practices outlined in relevant literature, are important to consider when developing a research program which includes Indigenous research, and should be discussed, as appropriate, within the proposal and/or the
- Ensure that the proposed research aligns with and contributes to the current goals, needs, and priorities of the Indigenous communities involved. Outline strategies for promoting the participation of community members, including students, trainees, and research personnel, within the research team. Efforts should be made to establish a culturally safe, equitable, inclusive, and accessible research environment for all involved.
- When research involves activities on lands or waters where Indigenous Peoples, Nations or communities may have an interest in, or Indigenous rights over, ensure that appropriate engagement with the interested/affected partners has taken place. This includes obtaining any permits or authorizations required, and securing free, prior and informed consent for the proposed research activities.
- Integrate Indigenous concepts, principles, and protocols into the research methodology at each stage of the process. This may involve engaging with existing research processes and protocols within Indigenous communities while respecting the validity and value of Indigenous ways of knowing and perspectives. Implement methodologies for co-creating knowledge, including interpretive approaches jointly developed, reviewed, and confirmed by community members or their delegated organizations.
- Develop plans for engaging and appropriately recognizing the role of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and/or Knowledge Holders in the research process. This may include identifying and involving recognized individuals from the community in the design, execution, and interpretation of the research, as well as demonstrating reciprocity through appropriate remuneration for their contributions.
- Take into consideration community expectations regarding authorship, management, and governance of research outputs. Ensure that the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including self-determination, self-governance, and ownership of knowledge and data resulting from the research, will be upheld by adhering to principles such as
OCAP® and/or any other relevant guidelines determined by Indigenous partners. - Recognize that consent is ongoing throughout the research process. If the scope or nature of the research changes, or if data or findings are to be used in ways beyond those originally agreed upon, applicants are expected to re-engage with the relevant interested/affected partners to reconfirm consent before proceeding.
NOTE: The proposal should describe the objectives, methodologies, and scientific contributions. In contrast, the
For additional guidance on NSERC’s expectations, read the
For more information, consult the following resources:
TCPS 2– Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada SSHRC: Guidelines for the merit review of Indigenous research FACETS: Towards reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to natural scientists working in Canada Tri-agency guideline on remuneration for Indigenous people participating in funded projects
Your application must be received at your institution’s research grants office by its internal deadline date; contact your research grants office for that deadline.
Unless specified otherwise, your application must be received at NSERC by 8:00 pm (ET) on the deadline date. If it is not received by NSERC by the deadline, it will be rejected.
In cases of systems interruptions, refer to the Service standards for NSERC and SSHRC’s online application systems policy on
Once an application has been submitted to NSERC, it cannot be updated or modified, either before or after the deadline date.
Opens: August 12, 2026, 8:00 am (ET)
Deadline: November 2, 2026, 8:00 pm (ET)
Evaluation Groups will evaluate and rate DG applications in accordance with established DG evaluation criteria without seeing the NRS-specific attachments. Following this evaluation, NRS applications from those whose DG applications have been recommended for funding will be forwarded to the NRS selection committee (note: this is an entirely distinct committee from the DG Evaluation Groups).
The NRS selection committee will evaluate the NRS application packages according to the weighted selection criteria described below, and the onus is on the applicant to address all components of the selection criteria explicitly within their application.
As part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that a wide range of contributions are considered and valued in the merit review, the
Note: The NRS selection committee does not have access to all of the information contained in the DG proposal. Please refer to the
- Summarize the objectives and plans for research in the North.
- Detail plans for the inclusion of traditional and local knowledge in the research, if appropriate.
- Demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed research, given the available facilities, services and infrastructure support.
- Illustrate the potential to produce new knowledge and research results of benefit to Indigenous communities, to the North and to all Canadians.
- Report on recent progress of research in the North.
- Describe recent research collaborations and interactions with northerners.
- Detail unique logistical expenses, due to the high costs of undertaking research in the North (excluding university-based
student stipends and salaries for university research personnel). Please seeEligible expenses section for more information. - Highlight needs related to community outreach, engagement, collaboration and communications initiatives undertaken in the North (e.g., consultation expenses, extended accommodation costs, or honoraria, stipends and salaries directed at northerners and community members).
- Outreach and consultation costs are only considered when clearly indicated in the expenditures table and well-described in the budget justification.
- Demonstrate appropriateness of, and justification for, the NRS budget.
- Clarify availability of other sources of funding and the relationship to the current proposal.
- Indicate amount of time to be spent conducting research and research-related activities in the North.
- Highlight community outreach and consultation activities to engage northerners in planning and conducting the research.
- Describe the plans to interact and collaborate with, and to incorporate northerners in the research program.
- Include and demonstrate the impact of community engagement and training activities for northern researchers, northern students and any local participants.
- Describe how equity, diversity and inclusion are considered in outreach (e.g., community engagement and training activities).
- Explain planned strategies to communicate and disseminate research results, and to promote northern research and training.
- Explain plans to ensure the proper
management of data and information resulting from research activities.
- Outline the quality and extent of past contributions and demonstrate opportunities to train university-based HQP (e.g., postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, technicians) in the North.
- Demonstrate the involvement of HQP in the proposed research activities.
- Summarize considerations of equity, diversity and inclusion specific to past and planned training of HQP in the North.
EDI considerations should be reflected in the rationale of the composition of the northern collaborators and trainees and in the designated roles within the team. For more information, refer to the
Demographic data should not be submitted. It is not requested or required to assess impacts resulting from consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion. How an individual self-identifies is considered personal and confidential information.
The NRS selection committee is a multidisciplinary panel comprised of experts in the natural sciences and engineering, as well as experts from public and/or private sector organizations with experience in northern issues. The NRS selection committee reviews and scores applications and recommends funding levels to NSERC, which makes all final funding decisions.
Results are shared annually in April.
Results are shared annually in April.
Refer to the
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View funding decisions
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Discovery Grants program description -
Research Portal presentation and attachment standards
For program-related information, email
For technical matters related to the Research Portal, contact the online services helpdesk by email at