• Context
• Research objectives
• Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern
• Who can apply?
• Partnering Organizations
• Research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities
• Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering
• Eligible expenses
• How to apply
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Review
• Merit evaluation criteria
• Funding decision
• Award
• Post-award
• Reporting
• Automatic one-year extension (no additional funding)

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) are collaborating to enhance research and knowledge, strengthening the science needed for regulatory decisions regarding the safe and secure deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). Phase I (2022) provided funding to support effective and efficient regulation and regulatory oversight of SMRs. Phase II (2025) aims to build upon the foundational research established in Phase I. This phase will focus on extending existing projects and funding new research endeavours to address critical challenges in the deployment of SMRs. Phase II will support innovative research over a two-year period, emphasizing advancements in reactor safety, efficiency, and environmental impact.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

The CNSC’s mandate involves four major areas:

• Regulation of the development, production and use of nuclear energy in Canada to protect health, safety and the environment
• Regulation of the production, possession, use and transport of nuclear substances, and the production, possession and use of prescribed equipment and prescribed information
• Implementation of measures respecting international control of the development, production, transport and use of nuclear energy and substances, including measures respecting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices
• Dissemination of scientific, technical and regulatory information concerning the activities of CNSC, and the effects on the environment, health and safety of persons, of the development, production, possession, transport and use of nuclear substances

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), through grants, fellowships and scholarships, promotes and supports research and research training in the natural sciences and engineering to develop talent, generate discoveries and support innovation in pursuit of economic and social outcomes for Canadians.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer a promising pathway to support Canada’s low-carbon energy transition and are expected to be less complex, easier to operate and more cost effective than current nuclear technology. For example, a 300-megawatt SMR could supply enough clean power for an estimated 300,000 homes. With approximately 76,000 Canadians employed across its supply chain, Canada's nuclear industry is well positioned to leverage its more than 60 years of science and technology innovation to become a leader in the development and deployment of SMR technology.

The Government of Canada has determined that supporting the development of this technology can position Canada as a clean energy leader; support the decarbonization of provincial electricity grids; facilitate the transition away from diesel power in remote communities; and help decarbonize heavy emitting industries. It is important that SMRs are safely and securely deployed and that regulatory decisions are based on solid science.

The NSERC-CNSC Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative is intended to support activities that will:

• increase the scientific information available to support regulatory decision-making and oversight
• increase capacity to regulate SMRs
• enhance the capabilities of Canadian universities to undertake research related to SMRs
• increase training and help produce a new generation of nuclear scientists, engineers and policy makers

Research proposals must address one or more of the following specific research challenges and knowledge gaps:

Some SMRs will be operating at elevated temperatures and pressures and use coolants different from those in CANDU reactors. These reactors require a significant amount of material behaviour data before they are licensed to operate. The regulation of the pressure boundary at elevated temperatures around 1,000°C requires an understanding of the effects of high temperatures and pressures on the pressure boundary and other reactor components. To understand the material behaviour under reactor-specific environmental degradation mechanisms at elevated temperatures, an increased understanding of material behaviour and reactor component fabrication processes, including welding, is needed. Additionally, the separate and combined effects of high temperature, pressure, and corrosive environments on the durability of sensors monitoring thermal behaviour and reactivity control systems need to be understood to increase the reliability of those components. The availability of qualified and reliable data is crucial for designing and constructing SMR reactor structures, systems and components using new materials when internationally accepted standards are not available.

SMRs based on novel fuel concepts (e.g., molten salt) or novel coolants require an enhanced understanding of chemistry control for nuclear facilities. Additional knowledge of degradation mechanisms and their relationship with operating conditions (i.e., radiation, temperature, pressure and contaminants) is required to license and operate these reactors safely. For example, new molten salt reactor designs are considering novel ways to reduce and control corrosion of reactor components. There are still gaps in understanding the degradation mechanisms for molten salt reactor designs in industrial settings and in a radiation environment. This understanding will support the development of appropriate chemistry control measures and operating conditions to maximize safety, reduce radioactive dose for workers and reduce corrosion on components retaining molten salt. New knowledge of chemistry control for reactors using various materials such as salts, graphite and TRISO fuels at high temperatures is of interest to the CNSC.

Source term characterization refers to the comprehensive understanding of radiological and hazardous substances source terms. This understanding is key to protecting workers, the environment and the public for operational and emergency planning purposes. It drives design, engineering and all programmatic aspects covered under the CNSC’s safety and control areas (i.e., as per the protection hierarchy).

Extensive operational experience is available for CANDU reactor designs, though it is still being determined how relevant much of this would be to the current suite of proposed SMRs. Reactor design is also critical for emergency response to ensure mitigating actions can be taken and habitability for control of the emergency. Research on potential source term characterization relevant to potential reactor designs with an emphasis on the following points is of interest:

• How do differences from the current reactor design influence current radiation and environmental protection practices?
• How do the anticipated SMR releases compare to those of currently operating CANDU reactors?
• Compared to CANDU reactors, will there be a potential reduction in radiological (e.g., tritium)/hazardous releases from SMRs?
• Based on emissions/effluent characteristics, are there novel treatment or monitoring technologies/techniques for the control of releases (i.e., best available technologies and/or techniques)?
• Effects of SMR deployment in unconventional locations and its impact on the environment, including baseline/background data, transport and accumulation of Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPCs), and climate impacts.
• Identification of Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) model parameters for SMR source terms.
• How do novel cooling technologies affect the environment?
• How do novel containment isolation methods for penetrations compare to conventional isolation methods?
• Source term characterization and potential impact on high-level radioactive waste disposal.

A characteristic common to a number of SMR designs is the potential for partially or fully underground emplacement of a substantial part of the reactor unit itself. This provides a number of safety benefits but raises issues related to the potential for locating SMRs in less common geotechnical conditions in the Canadian environment. This includes use in the Canadian northern permafrost regions or other unconventional locations, especially with changing dynamics arising from climate change. Thus, additional knowledge is needed to assess the influence of geotechnical conditions associated with problematic soil types on the structural integrity of SMRs in Canada. Problematic soils typical for Canada include sandy soils prone to liquefaction, sensitive clays susceptible to drastic loss of strength upon remoulding and silty soils subject to frost heave and subsidence.

SMR developers are seeking ways to reduce the size of traditional emergency planning zones (EPZ), taking into account technology improvements such as passive and inherent safety functions to prevent offsite releases that would require protective actions. Research in the following areas would be beneficial to support government decision-making and oversight for EPZ determination for SMRs emergency planning:

• Through accident modelling, investigate whether there are credible accidents from any postulated initiating events or conditions that could result in core damage with significant offsite releases, and if so, their associated source terms characterization. This study should include an assessment of no electrical power for a safe reactor shut down during an accident.
• Gain a better understanding of the impacts of accidents that may take place in unconventional and/or remote locations (including Floating Nuclear Power Plants) that may be susceptible to unconventional threats (e.g., possible greater threat of forest fire, flooding, loss of connection to electrical grid and proximity to seismic activities).
• Determine the impacts of remote operation on human performance and organizational factors in emergency operations centres and offsite response, and if they are negative, learn how they can be mitigated.
• As SMRs are to be produced and deployed in large numbers to many different jurisdictions, a “harmonized” approach to determining the EPZs size would be of regulatory and public interest.

Modernization of existing reactor designs and control rooms, as well as new reactor designs such as SMRs, have introduced the potential use case of having mixed types of displays in an integrated control room environment. Research is needed to enhance the understanding of best practices regarding display types, interface design, information presentation and modern displays, with a particular emphasis on human performance and safety-related issues regarding control and monitoring tasks.

New reactor designs, such as SMRs, are envisioning a transition to advanced digital control room operations, introducing a potentially novel environment for nuclear operators. Research is needed to examine the implications of advanced digital control room operations, including decision-aiding systems, on situational awareness (SA). Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Methods to assess SA in complex, high-reliability environments (e.g., metrics, tools, instrumentation, methodologies)
• Implications of adopting modern instrumentation and controls (I&Cs) on operator performance, including mode awareness, for normal and unexpected events
• Implications and considerations for single versus multi-unit monitoring and control
• Impact of increased levels of automation on human performance and situation awareness

One of the biggest promises of SMRs is the inherent safety of design and the subsequent potential reduction in control staffing. Inherent safety and reduced control staffing introduce questions regarding human performance (e.g., vigilance tasks, attention, motivation) and operator workload. Research is needed to examine the safety implications and operator impacts of inherent safety, increased levels of automation, modern controls and displays, and reduced control room staffing, with a particular focus on operator workload.

With recent advancements in technology, there has been an increased interest in leveraging AI/ML/Automation to optimize/improve aspects such as safety and performance in nuclear power plants. The human factors implications for the use of AI/ML/Automation in nuclear power, however, still need to be examined. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• AI-enabled remote and autonomous operations
• Adaptive Automation on the allocation of functions between humans and systems
• Controllability of an AI system
  • Controllability is the property of an AI system that an external agent can intervene in its functioning. Controllability can be achieved by providing reliable mechanisms by which an agent can take over control of the AI system.
• Cyber security

Cyber security is an increasing area of interest as the industry moves to new reactor designs and more modern interfaces are used. Areas of interest include:

• How the operator would be alerted to an attempted or successful intrusion, and what they would do in response
• What an operator might have to do in the event of a loss of signal during remote operations (if the reactor does not automatically shut down)
• Computerized/AI means for assisting a lone operator in doing security rounds both inside and outside the facility (i.e., auto-tracking cameras, noise-tracking and alert) as this may become part of an operator’s job

Obstacles relating to access to safeguards verification inspections in remote deployment locations are expected. Staff from the CNSC and inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) typically require facility access, sometimes with little to no advance notice to the operator, in order to verify nuclear material accountancy and the absence of proliferation concerns. What are the possible effects on safeguards implementation resulting from unconventional location deployment, and can they be mitigated through alternative or novel verification and inspection approaches?

SMR vendors and proponents will be afforded opportunities to propose novel solutions for all aspects of their physical protection system, including deterrence, detection, delay, denial and response/defence. Specific areas of research need to be pursued to support the CNSC’s ability to support its evaluation and performance testing of said solutions. These specific areas of research include:

• Barrier engineering robustness modelling and assessment against explosive and ballistic loads
• Modelling methodologies for simulating and assessing tactical response plans (i.e., Monte Carlo simulation for red vs. blue tactical deployments)
• Insider threat mitigation by design (process design, facility design and compartmentalization)
• Transport security approaches (air, sea and land) for Category I, II and III nuclear material and contained core transports (e.g., transport of SMR cores)
• Demonstrating adherence to performance-based criteria during security-based events
• Methodologies, frameworks or simulation tools for identifying vital areas
• Assessing the effectiveness of security by design features

New nuclear fuel compositions (e.g., plutonium and enriched uranium), new physical fuel forms and reprocessed spent fuels proposed for use in SMRs present challenges related to safeguards, nuclear material accountancy and non-proliferation. For example, the progression from fuel assemblies to fuel bundles to fuel pebbles to molten fuel makes nuclear material accountancy and verification progressively more challenging. What are the challenges associated with the introduction of fuel reprocessing and new fuel compositions in Canada with respect to safeguards, nuclear material accountancy and non-proliferation? How have other countries addressed these challenges? This would also include research to assess claims of inherent nuclear proliferation resistance related to fuel reprocessing.

Some SMR designs use natural circulation and passive safety systems to achieve safety functions. The main advantage of a natural circulation system is its simplicity; removing active power-driven prime movers like pumps facilitates the system's construction, operation and maintenance. Excluding pumps and connecting piping excludes accident scenarios connected with pump flow loss and seal rupture. Some drawbacks of natural circulation systems are the low driving power and the need to design for low-pressure losses. The other drawback is the potential for flow instability. While instability is expected in natural and forced circulation systems, the natural circulation system is less stable than forced circulation systems.

Research is needed to examine:

• A review of existing neutronic and thermal-hydraulic stability maps, as well as the identification of the regions where potential instabilities in natural circulation-driven reactors may exist
• Establishing the link between the available driving force in natural circulation-driven systems and the potential for boiling regime transition to fuel cladding/sheath dryout (therefore demonstrating that an adequate safety margin will be achieved)
• Associating the effects of conducive thermal-hydraulic phenomena favouring natural circulation and aging mechanisms leading to component degradation and failure in a passive safety system
• Exploring the impact of internal and external hazards that may affect the operating states of a nuclear power plant solely reliant on natural circulation systems
• Assessing the dynamic behaviour of passive safety system performance for different initiating events and the adequacy of supporting experimental data for validation

The containment building is the final barrier to the release of radioactive materials in accidental conditions. Therefore, systems like the passive containment cooling system are designed to help manage temperature and pressure within the containment following a major pipe break within the containment. The system removes thermal energy from the containment atmosphere to minimize the release of radioactivity after an accident by reducing the pressure difference between the containment and the external environment, which decreases the likelihood of fission product leakage. It provides long-term cooling capability without external power supply and human intervention. The heat from accidents is transferred to the passive containment cooling vessels located outside of containment via heat exchanger placed inside of containment.

Research is required to:

• review currently existing passive containment cooling system designs and their limitations
• establish the rate of heat transfer from the containment atmosphere to the heat exchanger pipes located within the containment
• review potential conditions that could disrupt the ability to transfer heat to the heat exchanger within the containment
• assess the effect of film condensation on the heat exchanger piping and its effect on the deterioration of the efficacy to transfer an adequate amount of heat to the containment cooling vessels outside of the containment
• determine the aging mechanisms that can adversely affect the rate of heat transfer to the heat exchanger pipes

To ensure that the Canadian research ecosystem is as open as possible and as safeguarded as necessary, the Government of Canada has introduced the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy).

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to 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.

At the Step 2 - Full application stage, applicants must identify whether the grant application aims to advance a sensitive technology research area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles (applicants, co-applicants and collaborators) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a Named Research Organization (NRO). Refer to the relevant FAQ for instructions on how to submit the relevant Attestations for Research Aiming to Advance Sensitive Technology Research Areas.

The Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements, including new responsibilities of researchers and the responsibilities of institutions. For more information about research security at the granting agencies, refer to the Tri-agency guidance on research security.

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. However, please note that a maximum of three LOIs per researcher will be accepted under the call (as either applicant or co-applicant). College faculty can participate as co-applicants.

Collaborators from federal, provincial or municipal government organizations or laboratories may take part in the research, but they must bring their own resources to the collaboration. They will not have access to grant funds. In order to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest, or preference for a particular SMR technology, private sector partners (i.e., utilities and reactor vendors) are excluded from the current call.

If required, you may involve partnering organizations in your project. Your partner organizations can be from the public or not-for-profit sectors.

You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results to achieve the desired impact and benefits for Canada. Cash contributions are not required. However, each partner organization must actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions. Such involvement must be achieved by doing at least one of the following:

• Playing an active role in the project’s research activities
• Using the project’s research results to help achieve its desired outcomes
• Playing an active role in translating or mobilizing knowledge to ensure that the research results have an impact and benefit for Canada

In reviewing your application, NSERC and CNSC will assess the relevance of each partner organization, their capacity to translate, mobilize and/or apply the research results to achieve the intended outcomes, and the value of their proposed in-kind contributions. CNSC will prioritize funding to projects that most clearly fulfill the objectives of the funding call.

All partner organizations are responsible for complying with NSERC policies and procedures, and with other Canadian laws, regulations, standards or policies that apply to the collaborative research activities outlined in the proposal.

At the Step 2 – Full application stage, the applicant will ask partners to participate in the application by completing a partner organization form (see the instructions). In addition, at NSERC’s request, a partner organization may be asked to provide supplemental information that describes the organization and enables NSERC to determine whether the partner organization is eligible.

Refer to How to apply and the instructions for completing a grant for further information.

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

We encourage you to consider the relevant concepts, principles and protocols for any research involving Indigenous People and communities, which are outlined in the following documents:

• The Tri-agency’s strategic plan, Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada, identifies strategic directions guided by the following key principles of self-determination, decolonization of research, accountability and equitable access
• Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2) - Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada
• SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research
• Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act

Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants for this call if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the total project costs and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification. 

An example of a research area of interest includes risk perception related to radiation. Research demonstrates that public perception related to radiation and nuclear technology is strongly correlated with the community’s familiarity with, and current presence of, nuclear within their everyday life (e.g., host communities, nuclear workers). This poses a significant challenge to SMRs proposed for deployment in provinces and territories with little to no experience with nuclear — not to mention the additional confounding factor of transporting fuelled reactor vessels through communities. The CNSC is interested in Canadians’ perception of risk related to radiation and radiation exposure. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, trust/confidence in sources of information on radiation and radiation health effects and psychosocial effects of radiation risk perception.

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

• salary support for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral fellows) to perform research and related training
• salary support for technicians and research professional personnel
• materials and supplies
• activities that support collaborations and knowledge mobilization related to the project
• activities to develop and grow the research collaborations with the partner organizations

Refer to the guidelines on the use of grant funds in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

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

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

If your total expected equipment cost (including operation and maintenance) exceeds $200,000 over your project’s duration, then you should apply for an alternate source of funding, such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

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

Please note that funding recipients could be asked to participate in the CNSC workshop in Ottawa, Ontario, which is planned for spring 2028, and should build travel costs into their proposal.

Applicants must begin by submitting a letter of intent (LOI) before the deadline. All invited applicants will then complete a full application to be submitted before the full application deadline.

The principal applicant must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to NSERC via NSERC’s online system using the LOI template by July 17, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET). All documents must follow the NSERC Online Presentation and Attachment Standards.

The NSERC eligibility criteria for faculty apply. The eligibility of the applicant and co-applicants will be reviewed internally by NSERC.

The LOI template must not exceed five pages, excluding references, and must describe the following:

• The main research objectives and expected outcomes
• How the research fits within the program and research objectives
• The novelty of the project and the main concepts and approaches
• Members of the team, their expertise and expected contributions
• An approximate budget request, by project year
• Key elements of a proposed knowledge mobilization plan
• Relevance to advancing research areas of CNSC’s mandate
• Relevance of the project to Canada and any project partners

Your LOI is evaluated using the following criteria. The LOI must address all criteria and sub-criteria to be considered for invitation to submit a full proposal.

Note: Attach the completed LOI template under the section Form 101 – Proposal.

In addition to a completed LOI template, applicants and co-applicants must provide the following documents and information to NSERC via the online system:

The applicant and each co-applicant must link their personal data form with CCV attachment (NSERC – Form 100A).

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system  and select Form 101 - Grant from the drop-down menu
• Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants
• For the Proposal type field, select Letter of Intent
• For the Type of call field, select [CNSC - SMR] from the drop-down menu
• Once you have filled all the required sections, click “Verify” on your Form 101 to get the “Completed” status
• Click “Submit” to send the application to your institution for approval

Based on the review of the LOI, applicants may be invited to proceed with a full application. NSERC will send a letter of invitation to applicants, and only applications from those who have been invited to submit will be accepted.

The letter of invitation will provide instructions on how to apply to this call which will fall under the Alliance grants program. Full applications must be submitted via NSERC’s online system.

Applications from invited applicants will be accepted at any time until November 6, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET).

A complete application must include:

• An application for a grant (Form 101)
• A personal data form linked with common CV attachment (Form 100A) for each applicant and co-applicant
• A proposal template
• A biographical sketch for each collaborator (maximum of two pages)
• Partner organization(s) and other related forms (as required)
• STRAC attestation form (as required)

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system
• Select the appropriate Form 101 from your portfolio (Form 101 – CNSC – SMR created at the LOI stage)
• Following the instructions for completing a grant application , fill out the proposal template (maximum 10 pages, excluding references) and complete the other sections of your application
• In the case where your application aims to advance a listed sensitive technology research area, submit a completed STRAC attestation form for each researcher with a named role (i.e., the applicant, the co-applicants and the collaborators)

Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the personal data form linked with CCV attachment (NSERC Form 100A) for the applicant and all co-applicants, through NSERC’s online system. If applicable, your partner organization’s contact person will be invited through the online system to provide information about the organization following the partner organization instructions.

By submitting your application, you and your co-applicants (when applicable) agree to the Terms and conditions of applying for applicants.

By participating in your application, your partner organizations agree to the terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations.

For submissions under this call, you agree that any information contained in your letter of intent (LOI) or full proposal will be shared with the CNSC for purposes consistent with the program objectives.

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

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

NSERC will review the eligibility of the applicant and co-applicants and will undertake an administrative assessment to ensure that the letter of intent complies with all the requirements.

LOIs will be reviewed by a selection panel comprising representatives selected by the CNSC, and possibly other federal departments, against the evaluation criteria and sub-criteria (below) on a four-point scale: excellent, good, fair or poor. The results of the evaluation cannot be appealed. NSERC and the CNSC will invite full applications for the most highly rated LOIs.

The LOI must clearly target the increase of scientific information available to support regulatory decision making and oversight of activities involving SMRs.

1) Rationale for the Project and Stakeholder Interest

Key elements of an excellent proposal:

• Comprehensively and clearly describes how the project will increase knowledge to support regulatory decision-making and oversight of projects involving SMRs
• Includes a clear description of a specific SMR-related research need, and of how the project responds to this gap, is linked to the CNSC’s mandate, and incorporates existing expertise/experience/knowledge in all activities

2) Alignment with Objectives

Key elements of an excellent proposal:

• Demonstrates alignment between the project and the ultimate objective of the program
• Clearly, realistically, and logically explains alignment with how specific research challenges and knowledge gaps will be addressed
• Clearly and realistically states the potential impacts of the project and any benefits

3) Delivery Plan

Key elements of an excellent proposal:

• Provides clear, realistic, logical, and detailed information on project design, delivery, and outreach
• Includes specific information on how organization members and other stakeholders will participate and/or drive the project
• Outlines practical, realistic, and comprehensive strategies and efforts that suggest R&D efforts will be strengthened and results will be sustained beyond the duration of the funding (e.g., expected uptake of project results)

NSERC will screen all full applications to ensure they are complete and adhere to program requirements and objectives. NSERC will consider equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan as a screening criterion, and only those applications that meet this criterion will be retained for assessment by the selection committee. NSERC will also internally review the eligibility of Canadian researchers, collaborators, and partners. If your full application does not meet all program requirements, it will be rejected. An evaluation committee composed of expert members from academia and non-academic organizations (such as government or not-for-profit organizations) will review full applications. The selection committee will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators (below). NSERC reserves the right to select the most appropriate review process. The results of the review cannot be appealed.

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

Research team:

• The research team must have the expertise required to address the defined objectives and complete the project. The contributions of individuals to the research effort must be clear.

Merit of the proposed activities:

• The quality, originality and feasibility of the proposed activities will be assessed, as well as how the new knowledge generated will contribute to advancing the scientific information available to support government decision-making and regulatory oversight of SMRs.
• The budget items must be clearly described and justified. The appropriateness of the overall budget will be evaluated.

Relevance:

• The research activities should generate results that will further knowledge, contribute exploitable research results, provide benefits to Canada and support the program objectives. Demonstrated relevance to policy and/or regulatory development will be highly regarded.

Knowledge mobilization plan: 

• Projects must incorporate a knowledge mobilization plan that includes mechanisms to share new knowledge with knowledge users (e.g., CNSC). The proposal must demonstrate how knowledge will be shared, communicated and disseminated by the research team. The proposal must address how the research can support policy- and decision-making related to the implementation of SMRs in Canada.

Training plan:

• Projects must provide opportunities for enriched training experiences for research trainees (undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows) to develop relevant research skills as well as professional skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
• Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion in the training plan must be described (assessed by NSERC staff). For guidance, consult the Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan web page.

NSERC uses established merit indicators to rate each evaluation sub-criterion/criterion. The CNSC will select which projects it wishes to fund from the list of recommended projects.

The total anticipated budget for Phase II of this initiative is $5.65 million over two years. Individual proposals should not exceed $120,000 per year over two years. NSERC will administer the funding call in conjunction with the CNSC. Funds will be administered according to NSERC’s use of grant funds guidelines, outlined in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.

If your application is approved for funding, you will receive an award letter, and you must adhere to the terms and conditions of award set out in it.

Please note that funding recipients could be asked to participate in the CNSC workshop in Ottawa, Ontario, which is planned for spring 2028 and should build travel costs into their proposal.

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

You must acknowledge NSERC and CNSC support in any communications or presentations about the research supported by this grant.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Award for more information. You must notify NSERC:

• If any of your co-applicants, collaborators or partner organizations leave the project
  • in this case, you should discuss with NSERC the impact on your ability to achieve the original goals of the project and whether the project may need to be amended

• If new co-applicants or collaborators join the project
  • in this case, NSERC will advise on how to submit the necessary forms, including STRAC attestations (as required).
• If the nature of your research evolves such that activities supported by the grant would aim to advance a listed Sensitive Technology Research Area (see relevant FAQ)
  • in this case, NSERC will advise on how to submit STRAC attestation forms for researchers in named roles.

Please note that if you are awarded a grant, a representative from the CNSC will be assigned to your project. This person will serve as your main contact and liaison with the CNSC. Grantees will also be required to provide periodic progress reports along with a final report once the project is completed. You will be informed of reporting requirements and the corresponding schedule when you are notified of your award. NSERC and the CNSC will strive to streamline their reporting requirements to lessen the burden on researchers.

Following the initial period of your grant or a funded extension, NSERC will automatically extend your grant for one year to allow you to complete your planned activities. No additional funding is provided for this automatic one-year extension.