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

Funding opportunity

NSERC-Alberta Innovates Advance Grants - Stream I

Overview

Closed
Value and duration

Successful applicants will receive two-thirds of NSERC’s annual Discovery Grants (Individual) award value from Alberta Innovates to a maximum of $20,000 per year per award for a maximum of two years.

Application deadline

EOI deadline: August 7, 2026

Full application deadline: September 14, 2026

Who can apply
  • Researcher > University
Eligible institution
  • University
Program type
Alberta Innovates
Summary

A research partnership with Alberta Innovates that supports technology advancements.

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

NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance grants invest in projects that, in alignment with Alberta’s innovation and technology strategies, advance discoveries to develop emerging technologies that can generate economic, environmental, health and social benefits for Albertans and Canadians.

Please consult the Advance Program guide available on the Alberta Innovates website. The guide outlines the eligible emerging technology areas and topics for Stream I and Stream II. Research in these fields holds transformational potential to address challenges across multiple sectors in Alberta. Funding will support projects that accelerate the development, global market entry and adoption of technological solutions. These efforts lay the groundwork for job creation and economic diversification in Alberta and Canada.

Technologies that successfully demonstrate a proof of concept and the potential to work in a laboratory setting may be further advanced to market through other initiatives, including One Health, Energy, Aerospace, Defence and Advanced Materials or Entrepreneurial Capital programs (see Alberta Innovates website), or through federal programs such as NSERC I2I grants. Researchers are encouraged to discuss their project with the industry liaison office (ILO) at their institution early in the project to begin interactions with industry and identify potential partners and business advisors.

Key goals of the NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance grants are to improve the direction of research efforts that could lead to the proof of new ideas, the development of emerging technologies, the transfer and commercialization of these technologies, and their use in various industry sectors; and to develop an enhanced skill and knowledge base (highly qualified personnel [HQP]) for Alberta and Canada.

The NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program has two grant award streams: Stream I and Stream II. The information contained here pertains to Stream I only.

Alberta Innovates offers supplemental funding to researchers in Alberta who hold active NSERC Discovery Grants (Individual) awarded in specific competition years (see website for details) and have R&D activities focusing on targeted emerging technology subject areas/topics. Successful applicants will receive two-thirds of NSERC’s annual Discovery Grants (Individual) award value from Alberta Innovates, to a maximum of $20,000 per year per award for a maximum of two years.

Funding is available to help NSERC-eligible researchers at NSERC-eligible universities in Alberta conduct the research needed to advance high-risk (and high-reward potential) ideas or concepts toward the development stage.

Research objective

Stream I NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program projects have the following objectives:

  • Augment the Alberta academic researcher’s capacity to accelerate and advance research excellence in Alberta’s emerging technology areas
  • Train HQP in emerging technologies responding to identified market needs

Alberta Innovates will support projects aligned with this program’s emerging technology areas/topics (see details in the Advance Program guide available on the Alberta Innovates Advance Program website). Projects must focus on the preliminary concept exploration of a credible idea developed in Alberta that has the potential for commercialization market opportunities and impact.

Eligibility
  • As the principal investigator (PI), you must hold an active NSERC Discovery Grant (Individual) at a post-secondary institution in Alberta for competition year 2025 with research focusing on the key emerging technology area/topic and priority focus areas, as outlined in the Advance Program guide (see Alberta Innovates Advance Program website)
  • You may submit only one application as a PI in each fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • You cannot hold more than one Advance Stream I (Supplement stream) grant simultaneously
Funding Value and duration

Successful applicants will receive two-thirds of NSERC’s annual Discovery Grants (Individual) award value from Alberta Innovates to a maximum of $20,000 per year per award for a maximum of two years.

Joint initiative supplement
  • NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program
Eligible expenses

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.

Application How to apply

Submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the Alberta Innovates SmartSimple Application Portal. If the EOI is approved, you will be invited to submit a full application.

Complete the EOI form through the Alberta Innovates SmartSimple Application Portal:

Apply now

Application deadline

EOI deadline: August 7, 2026

Full application deadline: September 14, 2026

Review

Alberta Innovates reviews all Stream I applications in the order they are received. During the evaluation process, Alberta Innovates takes the NSERC evaluation group’s comments into consideration. Successful applicants will be contacted by Alberta Innovates once a decision is made.

Post-award requirements
Intellectual property

See the Alliance Advantage funding opportunity webpage for information on NSERC’s Policy on Intellectual Property, research agreements, and how these pertain to this funding opportunity.

Reporting

You will be informed of reporting requirements and the corresponding schedule when you are notified of your award. NSERC and Alberta Innovates will strive to streamline their reporting requirements to lessen the burden on participants. Alberta Innovates requires an annual presentation to demonstrate progress.

Extension of grants

NSERC automatically provides an extension period of one year for using the grant funds. This extension period allows you to complete your planned research activities within the specified term of your grant. The extension applies only to the NSERC portion of the grant. To benefit from an extension for the portion of funding from Alberta Innovates, you must seek their approval before the end date of the project.

Results

The table below shows the last five years of funding recipients by the year they applied.

You can find older results by searching NSERC’s Awards Database.

For more detailed breakdowns and data visualizations, visit the Alliance dashboard.

Funding decisions
  • View funding decisions
Regulations, policies and guidelines

NSERC supports excellent, innovative, and impactful research that advances knowledge and understanding and responds to local, national and global challenges. NSERC recognizes that equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles are foundational to research quality and impact. It is essential to recognize and remove systemic barriers that limit the full participation of all individuals and communities, and to integrate EDI considerations in all aspects of research. These principles are integral to the Tri-agency statement on EDI  and the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan. For more information, consult the NSERC EDI webpage.

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
  • Alliance grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan
  • Appeals of NSERC funding decisions
  • Attestation for Research Aiming to Advance Sensitive Technology Research Areas form
  • Canadian Common CV — How to complete NSERC’s version
  • Eligibility
  • NSERC’s Policy on Intellectual Property
  • Personal data form with CCV attachment — Form 100A instructions
  • Professors frequently asked questions
  • Safeguarding your research portal
  • Terms and conditions of applying for applicants
  • Terms and conditions of award
  • Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research (2021)
  • Tri-agency guidance on research security
  • Tri-agency guidance on the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP)
  • Tri-agency guidance on the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy)
  • Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration
  • Tri-agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Contact

For more information contact the Prairies Regional Office or the Alberta Innovates Advance Program manager.