You must complete the NOI according to the instructions, using the Research Portal. You must also complete and link a Canadian Common CV (CCV) to the NOI. Refer to the resource video for a demonstration.

1. Sign in to the Research Portal.
2. Click Create application.
3. Select the funding opportunity under Stage: NOI and select Create.
4. Under Applications, open the NOI.
5. Click Edit to complete the different sections.

Administering organization

Organization – Select the organization that will administer the grant.

Department – Enter the department where you hold your eligible position. If your department is not in the list, select Head office.

Application title – Provide a short and descriptive title. It may be used for publication purposes. Limit the use of acronyms (for example, DNA, NATO, etc.) and avoid company or trade names. Note: you may edit the application title at the full application stage.

Language of the application – Indicate the language in which the application will be submitted. The main body of the application must be written in either English or French, rather than a mix of both official languages. The NSERC CCV should be in the same language as the application.

Suggested evaluation group – You must select the evaluation group you consider most appropriate to review your application. Refer to the list of research topics covered by each evaluation group. NSERC reserves the right to make the final evaluation group assignment.

If you intend to apply to the Subatomic Physics (SAP) Discovery Grants program (individual) rather than the Discovery Grants program (evaluation group 1505 – Physics), you will need to first select the appropriate funding opportunity in the Research Portal and then refer to the relevant instructions on how to complete an NOI.

Indigenous research – You must indicate if your proposed research includes Indigenous research. In answering this question, applicants should review and use NSERC’s definition of Indigenous research for its programs.

Note that you will be asked to confirm whether your research includes Indigenous research at the full application stage. If it does, you will be required to submit an Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration Agreement template at that stage.

For guidance on NSERC’s expectations related to Indigenous research, including its definition and guiding principles, applicants should review  the CCI guide for research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities and consult NSERC’s Indigenous research resources.

Proposed research topics

The first research topic must be within the evaluation group you have suggested. You may select, in order of relevance, up to four additional research topics as required. Refer to the examples in the List of evaluation groups and research topics.

Keywords

Provide up to 10 keywords that best describe this proposal. It is important to separate the keywords by commas.

The summary of proposal must not exceed 6,000 characters and should:

• state the objectives of the proposed research program
• summarize the scientific approach
• highlight the novelty and expected significance of the work to a field(s) in the natural sciences and engineering

Should your proposed research program change substantially from the time you submit your NOI to the time you submit your application, please contact the program officer responsible for the evaluation group you have selected.

Provide five external reviewers who:

• are not in a conflict of interest
• are not from your own institution
• are from different institutions from one another
• can provide an independent assessment of your application
• are capable of reviewing your application in the language in which it is written

Applicants are encouraged to suggest a diverse cross-section of potential reviewers with appropriate expertise (Canadian, international, established and early–career, women and other underrepresented groups from academic and non-academic institutions).

Avoid proposing reviewers who, to the best of your knowledge, are currently affiliated with or are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from a Named Research Organization (NRO), especially if your proposed research aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA). Note: In accordance with the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy), applicants will be asked to identify whether their research aims to advance a STRA at the full-application stage.

Applicants must not contact suggested external reviewers in advance.

Applicants should note that NSERC will not select members currently serving on an NSERC evaluation group.

Conflict of interest guidelines

A conflict of interest may be deemed to exist, or perceived as such, when external reviewers:

• are a relative or close friend, or have a personal relationship with the applicant
• are in a position to gain or lose financially/materially from the funding of the application
• have had long-standing scientific or personal differences with the applicant
• are currently affiliated with the applicant’s institutions, organizations or companies—including research hospitals and research institutes
• are closely professionally affiliated with the applicant, as a result of having in the last six years
  • frequent and regular interactions with the applicant in the course of their duties at their department, institution, organization or company
  • been a supervisor or a trainee of the applicant
  • collaborated, published or shared funding with the applicant, or have plans to do so in the immediate future
  • been employed by the institution
• feel for any reason unable to provide an impartial review of the application

NSERC reserves the right to resolve areas of uncertainty and to determine if a conflict exists. For more information, refer to the Conflict of interest and confidentiality policy of the federal research funding organizations.

How to enter your external reviewer suggestions in the Research Portal

1. Family name (required)
2. First name (required)
3. Initials (optional)
4. Email (required)
5. Expertise (required)

6. Organization (required)

   To enter the organization, click on the Edit button. Using the drop-down menu, select the country where the organization is located. Then, select the state or province (for organizations in the United States or Canada). Then, search for the organization. If the organization cannot be found, enter the organization name in free-form text. The system will accept it.

   Certain Canadian universities are listed under “The”, such as The University of British Columbia.

7. Department (optional)

You may request that some researchers, organizations or large collaborations not be involved in the review of your application. While NSERC cannot be bound by this information, the agency will take it into consideration when selecting reviewers. NSERC may also exclude reviewers because of conflicts of interest, as described in the Conflict of interest and confidentiality policy of the federal research funding organizations.

Information concerning exclusions may be accessible to those individuals named in this section under the Privacy Act.

Note that the exclusion type Collaboration refers to large research groups that work on specific projects.

To upload your CCV successfully, the first name and family name used to create your CCV site account must match the names used to create your Research Portal account. The email address used to create your Research Portal account must also match at least one of the emails listed in your CCV account.

• In the Application Overview page, click Attach.
• Enter your CCV confirmation number (see the NSERC CCV instructions for professors for details on how to obtain your confirmation number).
• Click Upload.
• Click Back to Application Overview.
• Preview your CCV in the Research Portal to make sure it was uploaded correctly and includes all the records you want to submit for peer review. Your CCV must be in the same language as your NOI. You may update your CCV at the full application stage.

While the NSERC Canadian Common CV website is bilingual, you can only save your NSERC CCV in one official language at a time. To save a French version, you must sign in to the platform in French, as the saved language corresponds to the platform’s language setting.

Click on the Submit button at the bottom of the Application Overview page. A pop-up message will appear. You will be required to extract and review your NOI to ensure that it is complete. The CCV will not appear in the extracted application. Save a copy of your NOI for your records. Once you have checked the confirmation box, click Submit in the pop-up message.

To complete submitting your NOI, you must read and accept the terms and conditions by clicking the I Accept button. You will see a confirmation message on the screen and receive a confirmation email that your NOI was received and that the status of your submission is Received by Agency.

You can verify the status of your submission on the home page. The status will be Received by Agency.

You must include all requested information in your application, and the submitted application must meet the Research Portal presentation and attachment standards. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected, or be at a disadvantage, in comparison with those that are complete and respect the presentation standards. Information that is not required, based on the application instructions, will be removed.

You must complete the application according to the instructions, using the Research Portal. In addition, you must complete and link the NSERC Canadian Common CV (CCV) to your application. Refer to the resource video for a demonstration.

Note: If you have not submitted a notification of intent to apply (NOI) for this program, you cannot create or submit an application.

For guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), see Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the development and review of research grant proposals.

• Sign in to the Research Portal.
• Select the funding opportunity and click Create.
• Select your notification of intent (NOI) to apply; it will form the basis for your application.
• Complete your eligibility profile and click on Validate. Note: On the eligibility profile page, if your official title of position does not appear in the dropdown menu, enter it as freeform text. The system will accept it.
• Click on Continue and Create Application.
• Under Applications, open the application.
• Click on Edit to complete the different sections.

Some fields are pre-populated based on the information provided in your NOI. You may edit these fields as needed.

Administering organization

Organization – Select the organization that will administer the grant.

Department – If your department is not in the list, select “head office.”

Application

Suggested applicant category – Select the applicant category that fits your profile as a researcher based on the Discovery Grants – applicant categories defined by NSERC. If early career researcher (ECR) is selected, you must identify all positions that meet NSERC’s requirements for an independent academic position in the text box provided. If applicable, you should also justify why the positions previous to your first academic position did not meet the NSERC requirements. NSERC will make the final decision on the applicant category. The information provided in this section will not be shared with evaluation group members or external reviewers.

Application title – Provide a short and descriptive title. It may be used for publication purposes. Limit the use of acronyms (for example, DNA, NATO, etc.) and avoid company or trade names. The title of the application can differ from the title provided on the NOI.

Language of the application – Indicate the language in which the application will be submitted. The main body of the application must be written in either English or French, rather than a mix of both official languages. The NSERC CCV must be in the same language as the application.

Note: To ensure linguistic equity, applicants submitting in French are eligible for a 20% increase in the space available for key narrative sections, as French text typically requires more space than English. This additional space applies to the following sections: HQP Training (Training Plan and Past Contributions), Most Significant Contributions to Research (Research Contributions and Additional Information), and Proposal.

To access this additional space, applicants submitting in French may upload three Optional Supplemental Attachments when submitting their application through the Research Portal. These attachments are only available when “French” is selected as the application language in the Portal.

Suggested evaluation group (not editable) – If the evaluation group is not what you had suggested in your NOI, or if your proposed research program has changed substantially from the time when you submitted your NOI, and you consider that a different evaluation group should review your application, contact resgrant@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

Hours per month to be devoted to the research/activity, or use of equipment or facility – Enter the number of hours per month you, the applicant, plan to devote to the proposed research/activity. Do not include hours contributed by others (e.g., highly qualified personnel).

Secondary consent – Indicate if you consent to the use of your self-identification information found in the Person Profile of the Research Portal.

NSERC has undertaken several initiatives to better support research through addressing systemic barriers that limit the full participation of all talented individuals. For the Discovery Grants program, self-identification information may be used to adjust the proportion of funded applications from those who self-identify as members of underrepresented groups to be similar to the proportion of applications received from these groups. These adjustments would only be made amongst meritorious applications.

Indigenous Research – You must indicate if your proposed research involves Indigenous Peoples, Nations, communities, societies or individuals or involves activities on lands or waters where Indigenous Peoples, Nations or communities may have an interest in, or Indigenous rights over. For the purpose of the Discovery Grants application, if you answer “yes” to any of these, your proposed research is considered Indigenous research. If your proposed research involves Indigenous research, you must complete and attach the Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration Agreement template. This agreement is a required part of the application and serves to demonstrate meaningful engagement and shared understanding between the applicant and the Indigenous community partner.

If you wish to be considered for the DND/NSERC Discovery Grant supplement or the Discovery Grants - Northern Research Supplement (NRS), check this section of the application. The information you provide for these supplements will not be shared with evaluation group members or external reviewers; it will be used solely for the review of the supplement.

DND/NSERC Discovery Grant supplement

• Supplement(s) or joint initiative(s) – Select the DND/NSERC Discovery Grant supplement.
• Department of National Defence (DND) defence and security target area(s) – Select up to six target areas and associated topics.
• Statement of relevance – In a maximum of 3,000 characters, describe how your research fits within the target area(s) you have selected.

Northern Research Supplement (NRS)

• Supplement(s) or joint initiative(s) – Select the Northern Research Supplement (NRS).
• Note: By selecting NRS, you will be given access to a budget table and two additional attachments for the submission of your NRS Budget justification and Proposal and references documents. The NRS Selection Committee will not see all DG application material submitted. Refer to the NRS’ List for a complete application for more information.
• The DG review committee does not have access to any of the information contained in the NRS application.

A maximum of 3,000 characters is allowed in the text box.

Provide a plain-language summary of the proposal that will be available to the public. Using simple terms, briefly describe the nature of the work to be done. Indicate why and to whom the research is important, the anticipated outcomes and the benefits to the research field and to Canada.

If you wish, you may also provide a summary in the other official language in the text box for that purpose.

A maximum of 450 characters is allowed per field.

You must provide a five-year budget. Keep in mind when preparing your budget that NSERC will not award annual Discovery Grant instalments greater than the average amount requested by the applicant over five years, in agreement with the Directive on Transfer Payments policy. The need for a five-year budget applies to all applicants, regardless of the amount of time you plan to hold the award if successful (e.g., retirement, researchers under contract). Verify all of your entries carefully. The total amount requested from NSERC is calculated automatically by subtracting the total cash contributions, if any, from the total proposed expenditures.

Note: In this section, the quantity and the amount fields are not linked. If you increase the quantity of students, you must also increase the amount. The system will not do this automatically.

Important: You must validate your total amount requested from NSERC by clicking on the Calculate totals button.

Use the Budget justification attachment section to explain and justify each budget item and any contributions from other sources toward the support of the proposed research activities.

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.

All project 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.

Salaries and benefits

Give the names (if known), categories of employment and proposed salaries (with explicit indication of the non-discretionary benefits) of students, postdoctoral researchers and research staff. Briefly describe the responsibilities for each position and indicate the percentage of time they will be spending on this research program over its life span. Do not include salaries of faculty in project costs.

Refer to the NSERC CCV instructions for information on obtaining consent to name individuals in your proposal.

Equipment or facility

Give a breakdown of the items requested, models, manufacturers, prices and applicable taxes. Justify each item requested.

Note: While the Research Tools and Instruments grants program provides the primary avenue to obtain support for tools and instruments with a net cost between $7,001 and $250,000, equipment of any value can be purchased using a Discovery Grant.

Fees to be paid for the use of equipment or a facility should be described (e.g., hours and rate).

The need for beam time or other special facilities and whether time has been allocated for these should also be reported.

Materials and supplies

Provide details of the budget requested for materials and supplies and explain major items.

Travel

Explain briefly how each travel activity relates to the proposed research program.

Dissemination

Provide details of publication costs, user workshops or other activities.

Other expenses

List all items not covered in previous categories and provide a brief explanation for major items.

Contributions from other sources (if applicable)

If appropriate, explain any financial contributions from other sources.

A maximum of 12,000 characters is allowed in the text box.

Refer to Selecting the appropriate federal granting agency for additional information.

This section refers only to other research support that will be or may be active during the funding period of the proposed Discovery Grant. Do not include information concerning previous applications or grants that ended or will end before the funding period of the proposed Discovery Grant.

Support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and/or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Discovery Grants support research programs that are distinct from research that is supported or applied for through CIHR and/or SSHRC.

When research funding is held or applied for from CIHR and/or SSHRC, you must clearly explain

• how the proposed ideas, objectives and expenditures of the Discovery Grant application are entirely distinct from those supported or applied for through CIHR and/or SSHRC
• how the anticipated contributions to research resulting from the proposed Discovery Grant will be distinct from those resulting from CIHR and/or SSHRC support

Explanations of other research support (held or applied for) are considered in the evaluation of the merit of the proposal. Therefore, you must provide sufficient information for the evaluation group to determine whether the application meets the requirements listed above. Failure to clearly demonstrate that the Discovery Grant application meets all these requirements will result in a rating of “Insufficient” for the merit of the proposal criterion.

Sources of research support other than CIHR or SSHRC

You may hold funds from other sources for the same research ideas/objectives as long as they are used to cover different expenses and the funding sources are not CIHR and/or SSHRC. Other sources of research support include grants and contributions (held or applied for) from federal and provincial funding agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector companies, universities (e.g., institution start-up funds), primary places of employment (for adjunct professors employed outside of academia), and others.

You must indicate that the funds requested from the Discovery Grant program will be for expenses that are distinct from those covered by support from other sources. For funding applied for, you must indicate that there will be no duplication of funding for the same expense(s) and explain how funds will be used if all applications are successful. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a rating of “Insufficient” for the merit of the proposal criterion, or the application may be rejected.

Note: New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) is a tri-agency initiative and is considered a source of support other than CIHR or SSHRC.

A maximum of 9,000 characters is allowed in the text box for Training Plan (including both Training philosophy and Research training plan components).

Note for applications submitted in French: To ensure linguistic equity, applicants submitting in French may include a one-page supplemental PDF attachment providing additional space for the Training Plan (including both Training philosophy and Research training plan components) and Past Contributions to the training of HQP. This attachment must not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces).

Training philosophy

The Training philosophy should describe your approach to training HQP, detailing the mentoring approach and the type of research training and development opportunities provided.

Describe your planned approach to training and mentoring HQP and the type of research training and development opportunities provided. Include your strategy for promoting participation from a diverse group of HQP, taking into account equity and inclusion in recruitment practices, mentorship approaches and initiatives aimed at ensuring an equitable and inclusive research and training environment and trainee growth. Describe qualitatively any challenges or barriers encountered in ensuring an equitable and inclusive research and training environment.

Applicants are expected to address barriers and increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. An inclusive research training environment exists where all people are respected and have equitable access to the same inclusive opportunities and where each individual can reach their full potential unimpeded by inequitable or discriminatory practices or environments. A commitment from all researchers to implement specific actions that acknowledge and address barriers to HQP participation (e.g., physical, procedural, visible, invisible, unintentional) is required to increase access to the full pool of qualified potential participants and the overall excellence of research, across all natural sciences and engineering disciplines. For more information, refer to Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for research teams.

Research training plan

In the Research training plan, outline how the proposed research program and its anticipated projects are appropriate for HQP training in natural sciences and engineering. Discuss the involvement of trainees in individual projects. Provide details on the planned contributions to training in a co-supervisory or collaborative context, if appropriate. Explain the planned future contributions to knowledge and the expected training value of the proposed projects. Provide justification if a limited training plan is provided.

As part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that a wide range of contributions are considered and valued in the merit review, the Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring will support the evaluation of NSERC applications.

For additional context, refer to the FAQ on the evaluation of the HQP criterion.

For additional guidance related to EDI best practices related to HQP strategy, refer to the following guides:

• Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for research teams;
• The Canada Research Chairs’ (CRC’s) Equity, diversity and inclusion: A best practices guide for recruitment, hiring and retention; and
• NFRF’s Best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion in research.

A maximum of 6,000 characters is allowed in the text box.

Note for applications submitted in French: To ensure linguistic equity, applicants submitting in French may include a one-page supplemental PDF attachment providing additional space for the Training Plan (including both Training philosophy and Research training plan components) and Past Contributions to the training of HQP. This attachment must not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces).

The assessment of past contributions to HQP training focuses on quality and impact and includes three components: the Training environment, HQP awards and research contributions, and Outcomes and skills gained by HQP. Each component should be supported by information provided in your application and/or CCV.

Discuss your most significant contributions to the training of HQP over the last six years. (Applicants with eligible leaves of absence may include supplemental contributions from their most recent active research period prior to the last six years for a period equivalent to the duration of the leave.) Training supported by NSERC ranges from undergraduate theses and summer projects to postdoctoral research and includes technical and other research personnel.

You must clearly explain your role in any co-supervision of HQP.

Training environment

Describe the research training and development opportunities provided for HQP (e.g., science outreach and engagement, interdisciplinary research, promoting EDI in the NSE, collaborations, interaction with the private and public sectors).

Describe specific actions implemented to support equity, diversity and inclusion in recruitment practices, mentorship approaches, retention, and initiatives aimed at ensuring an equitable and inclusive research and training environment and trainee growth. Describe qualitatively any challenges or barriers encountered in ensuring an equitable and inclusive research and training environment.

Important: Trainee demographic data should not be submitted. It is not requested or required to assess impacts resulting from consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment. How an individual self-identifies is considered personal and confidential information.

HQP awards and research contributions

With prior consent, describe research contributions by HQP (e.g., publications, patents, key presentations) and highlight awards, scholarships and fellowships won by HQP within the Past contributions to HQP training section of the application. These contributions are not to be included within your CCV. Note that the character limit for this section has been increased in 2025, and such listings can be summarized and/or selectively included according to your judgement of their importance. If consent cannot be obtained, applicants are asked to withhold names or other information that would identify those supervised.

For more information, refer to Obtaining consent from individuals supervised in the CCV instructions.

Outcomes and skills gained by HQP

Describe your most significant examples of HQP outcomes and explain how your training contributed to their success (e.g., skills and experiences gained, outcomes such as further studies or career). A successful outcome can be broadly defined as any outcome in which the HQP has an impact. This impact can be in natural sciences, engineering, or other fields, but it needs to be clear how the HQP is using the skills, experience and knowledge gained or developed in the applicant’s research training environment.

Cases of HQP delays (e.g., maternity, parental, personal illness, chronic illness, mental illness, or disability associated with reduced research activity, leave taken for family-related illness, bereavement, delays related to COVID-19) that are beyond your control can be considered. A pattern of prolonged periods of study or frequent student withdrawal from programs should be described, while providing only minimal personal information needed to explain the issue.

For further guidance related to past contributions to the training of HQP, refer to the following documents:

• Contributions to training and mentoring section within NSERC’s Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring;
• Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for research teams;
• The Canada Research Chairs’ (CRC’s) Equity, diversity and inclusion: A best practices guide for recruitment, hiring and retention; and
• NFRF’s Best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion in research.

For additional context, refer to the FAQ on the evaluation of the HQP criterion.

A maximum of 9,000 characters is allowed in the text box.

Note for applications submitted in French: To ensure linguistic equity, applicants submitting in French may include a one-page supplemental PDF attachment providing additional space for Contributions to Research and any additional Information on Contributions. This attachment must not exceed 2,400 characters (including spaces).

Describe up to five of your most significant contributions to research and/or to practical applications over the last six years (applicants with eligible leaves of absence may include contributions from their most recent active research period prior to the last six years for a period equivalent to the duration of the leave). Contributions made more than six years ago that are having an impact now (e.g., exploitation of patent, inclusion in a code, etc.) may be described in this section only.

For each contribution, describe its impact, significance to, and use by other researchers and end users. For collaborative contributions, describe your role.

Impact can be seen as, but is not limited to, advancing knowledge, developing technology, addressing socio-economic or environmental needs, engaging in meaningful knowledge co-creation with Indigenous Peoples, or contributing to increased equity, diversity and inclusion in research and in society.

A contribution does not have to be a single publication or report. For example, a group of publications on a specific subject could be discussed as one contribution.

Possible research outputs can include (but are not limited to):

• publications, including articles, books or book chapters, conference presentations and/or proceedings, communications, pre-prints, monographs, memoirs or special papers, review articles, conference/symposia/workshop proceedings, posters and abstracts, government publications, and reports documenting industrial contributions or contributions to engineering practice; 
• communications for specialist or non-specialist audiences, including the public (e.g., magazine/newspaper articles, media interviews, blog posts, social media publications or public lectures) that share NSE research results and knowledge;
• intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets;
• products, technology, processes, services or advice useful to specific organizations (in the private, public or non-profit sectors), communities or society;
• development of tools, datasets and software.

For researchers engaged in Indigenous research, contributions could include but are not limited to respecting and supporting traditional knowledge and Indigenous practices in scientific and social contexts, actively engaging in public outreach activities with Indigenous communities, co-authoring reports in collaboration with Indigenous communities and efforts towards fostering reconciliation and advancing decolonization within the research landscape.

Important:

• To be assessed under Excellence of the Researcher, contributions must be primarily in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). The onus is on the applicant to indicate how the objectives or impact of the contributions advance knowledge in one or more of the NSE disciplines other than the health or social sciences.
• Include the full reference to your contributions in this text box or provide the appropriate reference to your NSERC CCV.
• Provide dates and clearly explain the impact of any significant delays in the research activity or in the dissemination of research results (e.g., maternity, parental, personal illness, chronic illness, mental illness, or disability associated with reduced research activity, leave taken for family-related illness, bereavement, extraordinary administrative duties, delays related to COVID-19) in the NSERC CCV under the section on employment (leaves of absence/delays and their impact on research).

A maximum of 3,000 characters is allowed in the text box.

Provide an explanation for the contributions listed in your NSERC CCV. Such details may include:

• the nature of collaborations with other researchers
• the rationale or practice used for:
  • the order of authors in the publications listed
  • the inclusion of students in the list of authors
• your role in joint publications
• reason for selecting certain venues (e.g., journals, conferences) for publications and particular features of the venues (e.g., target audiences, review procedures)
• impact or potential impact of patents and technology transfer
• nature of industrially relevant R&D activities
• significance of technical reports
• attestation to the nature and the significance of confidential technical and internal reports
• original research reported in books or technical reports

To be assessed under Excellence of the Researcher, contributions must be primarily in the natural sciences and engineering. The onus is on the applicant to indicate how the objectives or impact of the contributions advance knowledge in one or more of the natural sciences and engineering disciplines other than the health or social sciences.

You are encouraged to include other activities or information to help committees evaluate your contributions to and impact on science and engineering, including interdisciplinary research.

For more information, refer to the following:

• NSERC’s Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring
• Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process, and a new video series on Strengthening research by integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the research process 

Certification requirements

Before completing this section, consult the Requirements for certain types of research.

Research involving humans: If you select Yes, you must provide your institution's administration with the appropriate certification indicating that research involving humans has been reviewed and has received the required approval.

Research involving the use of animals: If you select Yes, you must provide your institution's administration with the certification from the animal care committee at the institution that the experimental procedures proposed have been approved and that the care and treatment of animals are in accordance with the principles outlined in the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guide.

Research involving human pluripotent and/or totipotent stem cells: If you select Yes, or if the application is found to fall into this category through peer review and is recommended for funding, it will be forwarded, with your consent, to CIHR’s Stem Cell Oversight Committee (SCOC) to ensure compliance with Chapter 12, Section F of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2). The SCOC review is in addition to the normal review by local research ethics boards (REBs). Funding will not be released until approval has been obtained from the SCOC.

Research involving hazardous substances: If you select Yes, you must provide your institution’s administration with the certification from the biosafety committee at the institution that the laboratory procedures being used comply with the safety precautions necessary for the level of containment required by the research.

Environmental impact: For more information, consult NSERC’s guidelines on impact assessment.

Sensitive Technology Research Areas : If you select Yes, you must complete and attach attestation forms to your grant application – in the STRAC Attestation Attachment section – to comply with the policy. In accordance with the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, all researchers involved in the activities supported by a research grant that aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA) must review the List of Named Research Organizations.

Research subject codes: Consult the Research subject codes web page for more information. A primary research subject code is required.

Area of application codes: Consult the Area of application codes web page for more information. A primary area of application code is required.

Keywords: Modify, as required, the keywords to best describe your proposal.

You must re-validate your eligibility profile. Review your information and ensure it accurately reflects the details of your eligible position. If your position is not in the list provided, enter free-form text. Click on Save and Validate.

On the Application Overview page, click Attach to include each required document type. Attachments are free-form and must respect the Research Portal presentation and attachment standards and page limits, where appropriate.

Important: You must preview all of your attachments in the Research Portal to ensure that the documents have been uploaded correctly and that the content is viewable. NSERC will not accept corrupted or protected files that cannot be opened or viewed.

Five pages max.

Note for applications submitted in French: To ensure linguistic equity, applicants submitting in French may include a one-page supplemental PDF attachment providing additional space for this section.

Addressing the points below, describe the proposed research to be supported. Images and graphics are included in the page limit.

Recent progress

Describe your recent progress in research activities related to the proposal; for returning grantees, describe as well the progress attributable to your previous Discovery Grant.

Objectives

Define the short- and long-term objectives of your research program. Note that a research program should have a long-term vision that expands beyond the five years of the Discovery Grant. A single, short-term project or collection of projects does not constitute a research program.

Literature review

Discuss the literature pertinent to the proposal, placing the proposed research in the context of the state of the art.

Methodology

Describe the methods and proposed approach, providing sufficient details to allow the reviewers to assess the feasibility of the research activities.

Considering equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the research process promotes research excellence by making research outcomes more ethically sound, rigorous, reproducible, and useful. It is important to consider EDI through each stage of the research process, including, but not limited to, the research questions, design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of results, and integrate these considerations where relevant. For more information, consult Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process, and a new video series on Strengthening research by integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the research process.

Impact

Explain the anticipated significance of the work.

Note:

• If the information provided is insufficient, NSERC reserves the right to take appropriate action, such as not soliciting reports from external reviewers or withdrawing the application from the competition.
• If your research proposal includes Indigenous research, you must follow the guidance outlined in Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada (TCPS 2). Additional considerations for Indigenous research are described below.
• If relevant for your research, consult NSERC’s Guidelines for the preparation and review of applications in interdisciplinary research.
• If NSERC determines that the subject matter is outside of its mandate at any time during the review cycle, the application will be rejected. See Selecting the appropriate federal granting agency for more information.

Two pages max.

Provide a detailed explanation and justification for each budget item identified on the Proposed expenditures page. Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess whether the resources requested are appropriate. This section must only be used for the purpose of justifying the proposed budget.

File size cannot exceed 10 MB.

If you currently hold, or have applied for, research support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), you must provide a summary page and budget page for each of these proposals. Failure to provide these documents will result in an incomplete application, which will be rejected.

However, a summary and budget page are not required if you hold, or have applied for, research support from sources other than CIHR and/or SSHRC.

Do not include information concerning previous applications or grants that ended or will end before the funding period of the proposed Discovery Grant.

Two pages max.

• Provide a list of references in support of your proposal.
• Do not refer reviewers to websites for additional information on your proposal.
• Do not include hyperlinks or footnotes in your list of references.

Maximum of four PDF attachments; the file size of each PDF cannot exceed 10 MB.

A maximum of four samples of research contributions—such as reprints, preprints and/or manuscripts, technical reports, etc.—must be submitted electronically with your application. The samples of contributions will be used by reviewers to assess the quality of your work. These documents should be chosen to represent your most significant and recent contributions, or those most relevant to the proposed work. All samples must be from the last six years (applicants with eligible leaves of absence may include contributions from their most recent active research period prior to the last six years for a period equivalent to the duration of the leave).

Each PDF attachment should include only one sample of a research contribution (for example, a single publication or report). Additional information will be removed.

Submissions that are viewed as contributions primarily to health or social sciences will not be considered under the Excellence of the Researcher criterion.

File size cannot exceed 10 MB.

Many contributions to industry or other end users take the form of technical and internal reports, some of which may be confidential to protect proprietary information. This attachment is for applicants who wish to report on any confidential reports that cannot otherwise be listed in the application. You may attach letters from industry or end users attesting to the nature, importance and significance of these confidential reports.

Note: Any attachments that do not adhere to these instructions will be removed.

File size cannot exceed 10 MB.

If you selected Yes to the question regarding Sensitive Technology Research Areas (STRA) in the Activity Details section of your application, you must complete and attach an attestation form to your grant application to comply with the policy. By using the attestation form template, you certify that you have read, understood, and are compliant with this policy. The attestation form must include the current date, first and last name, primary affiliation (institution), email address, public profile link (optional) and attestation statement check. Your response to the STRA question and your submitted attestation form are not accessible to, nor shared with, external reviewers and/or committee members.

Should your application be successful, you will also be required to comply with the policy for the duration of the grant. For more information, please read the Tri-agency’s detailed guidance for this policy.

File size cannot exceed 10 MB.

If you selected Yes to the question regarding Indigenous research in the Identification section of your application, you must complete and attach the Indigenous Engagement & Collaboration Agreement template. This agreement is a required part of the application and serves to demonstrate meaningful engagement and shared understanding between the applicant and the Indigenous community partner.

This requirement also applies to research that takes place on lands or waters where Indigenous Peoples, Nations or communities may have an interest in, or Indigenous rights over. The nature and depth of engagement may vary depending on the research context, from notification and authorization for land access, to full collaboration grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and community priorities. The information provided will be shared with evaluation group members and external reviewers as part of the evaluation of the Discovery Grant application. NOTE: the Agreement will be shared with NRS committee members.

The template should be downloaded and completed by the applicant in collaboration with the Indigenous community partner involved in the research.

Two pages max.

If you have reported an eligible leave of absence or delay in your CCV, you are entitled to an attachment that must be used to list only supplemental contributions to research (list of presentations, interviews and media relations, publications, intellectual property and recognitions, etc.) and to training (list of supervisory activities) beyond the last six years, for a period equivalent to the duration of the leave or delay reported in your CCV. Supplemental contributions must be taken from the most recent active research period prior to the last six years and must be listed in the attachment along with dates (month and year).

If you are reporting a period of reduced research and training for an eligible reason, you must calculate and provide the full-time equivalent duration of the delay in the CCV: the affected time period and a percentage of reduction in time devoted to regular research and training activities.

Eligible leaves of absence and delays (e.g., maternity and parental leave, personal illness, chronic illness, mental illness, or disability associated with reduced research activity, leave taken for family-related illness, bereavement, extraordinary administrative duties) are those taken within the last six years. This attachment may also be used to list supplemental contributions to research and to training for a period equivalent to the duration of delays related to COVID-19. For further guidance on how to describe and consider the impacts of COVID-19 delays, refer to Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on research: Guidelines for NSERC’s community.

To access the Leaves of absence attachment, you must answer Yes to the question “I entered one or more eligible leaves of absence in my Canadian Common CV for this application,” found on the Identification page of the application.

Examples of the use of the leaves of absence attachment:

To successfully upload your CCV, the first name and family name used to create your CCV site account must be identical to those used to create your Research Portal account. The email address used to create your Research Portal account must be identical to at least one of the emails you listed on the CCV site.

• In the Application Overview page, click Attach.
• Enter your CCV confirmation number (refer to the NSERC CCV instructions for professors for details on how to obtain your confirmation number).
• Click Upload.
• Click Back to Application Overview.
• Preview your CCV in the Research Portal and verify that it was uploaded correctly and that it contains all of the records that you wish to submit for peer review.
• Your CCV should be in the same language as your application.

Note: While the Canadian Common CV website is bilingual, you can only save your NSERC CCV in one official language at a time. For example, to save a French version of your NSERC CCV, you must sign into your account using the French platform.

NSERC specifies Indigenous research as being research in any field or discipline related to the natural sciences or engineering that is conducted by, grounded in, or meaningfully engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous Peoples and Nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

These considerations also apply to research that takes place on lands or waters where Indigenous Peoples, Nations or communities may have an interest in, or Indigenous rights over. This may include fieldwork, sampling, monitoring, observation, site access, equipment installation, or other research activities carried out on, adjacent to, or likely to affect lands, waters, ice, harvesting areas, culturally significant places, reserve lands, settlement lands, treaty lands, traditional territories, or other areas where an Indigenous Nation or community has identified rights, responsibilities, protocols, governance expectations, or other interests.

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 Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration Agreement:

• 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 Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration Agreement should focus on the nature, scope, and outcomes of engagement with Indigenous Nations, communities and/or organizations.  The Agreement is not intended to restate the research plan but to reflect the development of relationships, co-created responsibilities, and shared understandings between the applicant and the Indigenous community partner. Care should be taken to avoid duplication of content between these two components.

For additional guidance on NSERC’s expectations, read the CCI guide for research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities.

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
• OHCHR: Consultation and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)

Click on the Submit button at the bottom of the Application Overview page. A pop-up message will appear. You will be required to extract and view your application to ensure that it is complete and that all relevant attachments extract properly. Note that the CCV will not appear in the extracted application. Save a copy of your application for your records. Once the confirmation box has been checked, click on the Submit button displayed in the pop-up message.

To complete the submission process, you will need to read and accept the terms and conditions by clicking on the I accept button. You will receive a confirmation message on the web page, as well as a confirmation email.

When you submit your application, it is sent to your research administrator for approval and submission to NSERC. The status of your application will be changed to Received by administrator. Once your research administrator has approved and forwarded your application to NSERC, the application status will be changed to Received by agency.

To verify the status of your submission, return to the home page.

Note: The retention period of applications in the Research Portal is four months after the deadline date.

NSERC does not require original signatures on applications or other documents submitted electronically using the Research Portal. User ID/password-based "signatures" allow applicants, supporting organizations and authorized institutional representatives—such as research grants officers, scholarships liaison officers and business officers—to "sign" and submit online applications and other documents to NSERC. Refer to the frequently asked questions in the program guide for professors for more details.

What do the “signatures” mean?

For applicants

Before you can submit your application to NSERC or upload your NSERC CCV to an application, you must read and agree to the terms and conditions of applying that appear in a pop-up window during the submission process. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the agreed terms and conditions for your records.

The “signatures” of the institutional authorities certify that

• the institution will abide by the roles and responsibilities set out in the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions ("the Agreement") with the three federal granting agencies, including the Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, and the relevant program literature
• as required by the agreement, the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the relevant funding opportunity
• before submitting the application, the institution has obtained written approval from any other institutions involved in the application process
• you will not use or disclose any information that you obtain or view on the Research Portal for any purposes other than your participation in the agency’s process
• you understand that the agency reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate or restrict your access to the Research Portal at any time, without notice

The “signatures” of authorized officers of other supporting organizations certify that the organization

• agrees with the content of the application and will provide the committed resources
• agrees to the release of the public summary of the award and to the publication of the organization's name as a supporter of the initiative

If you are both the applicant and a principal of a collaborating organization, another senior official must “sign” on behalf of the organization.