Eligibility

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Eligibility requirements for individuals to apply for or hold grant funds
Roles and eligibility requirements to apply for or hold College and Community Innovation program grant funds
Eligibility for Universities and Colleges
Eligibility for partner organizations

Eligibility requirements for individuals to apply for or hold grant funds

The College and Community Innovation (CCI) program and its roles and eligibility requirements were recently redesigned to simplify, streamline and address the changing dynamics of applied research in colleges and communities across Canada.

Please consult the Roles and eligibility requirements to apply for or hold College and Community Innovation program grant funds page for all relevant information.

Effective date: August 1, 2025

NSERC envisions a diverse and inclusive research ecosystem that welcomes researchers with a range of expertise, and individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

The following information outlines the eligibility requirements for individuals affiliated with eligible Canadian institutions to apply for or hold NSERC grant funds. Specific funding opportunities may have additional requirements. This is not intended for institutional grants.

Note: For individuals applying for or holding funds from tri-agency programs, please refer to the Roles and eligibility requirements for the specific program (e.g., to apply to or hold funds from the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, please consult the CCI eligibility page).

All eligibility requirements for individuals must be met to apply for or hold NSERC funds. Applications from ineligible applicants will be rejected.

To apply for NSERC funding, the primary objective of the proposed research must be to advance knowledge in Natural Sciences and Engineering. This determination remains with NSERC, in consultation with the other agencies as required. Refer to Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency or communicate with NSERC program staff for more information.

Applicants must consult with their institution’s research grants office to confirm their eligibility before an application is submitted to NSERC. If in doubt, questions regarding individual eligibility can be submitted to NSERC. Refer to NSERC Contacts.

Definitions of roles

As an individual affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution you may be eligible to apply for and hold NSERC grant funds as either an applicant or a co-applicant, however:

You must not be currently deemed ineligible to hold and/or apply for funds by CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC, or by any research funding organization worldwide to apply for or hold funding, in any role, for reasons of breach of policies on responsible conduct of research, such as ethics, integrity or financial management policies (e.g. Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research).
You must have accounts in good standing with NSERC, including having paid or returned all money owing to NSERC. The determination of whether an account is in good standing shall be at the sole and absolute discretion of NSERC.

Your role in a grant application determines eligibility to use funds.

Applicant

Leads the direction of the proposed research/activities, as well as coordinates the financial and administrative aspects of the application and grant as a recipient. The recipient has unrestricted access to funds subject to TAGFA. As per the Policy on Transfer Payments, a recipient is an individual or entity that either has been authorized to receive a transfer payment or that has received that transfer payment.

Co-applicant

May lead some of the proposed research/activities and may have access to grant funds as a recipient.

Only eligible co-applicants included on the original grant application are eligible for a Change of Grant Recipient award amendment. If a program or funding opportunity doesn’t allow for co-applicants, a grant recipient’s status cannot be transferred to another individual.

Collaborator

A member of the research team, who is expected to contribute to the intellectual direction of the research project, program of research or training as part of the research project. Collaborators will not have access to grant funds as recipients. With the exception of travel and travel-related subsistence expenses, NSERC does not cover expenses that collaborators incur in the conduct of research or research-related activity.

As a member of the research team on a grant application, collaborators would be subject to applicable policy requirements at the application stage and for the duration of the grant.

Eligibility requirements for applicants and co-applicants

Appointment at an eligible Canadian institution

You must hold or have a firm offer of an appointment at an eligible Canadian institution to hold grant funds. If the offer of a position is still pending approval at the time of application, it must be confirmed in writing to NSERC within six weeks following the application deadline. Your appointment must be ratified by the person(s) or body responsible for approving appointments or their authorized delegate(s).

The appointment can be:

Permanent (no fixed end date)
A term or contract that can be renewed during the grant term if the eligible appointment is not established for the full grant term.

When your primary affiliation is outside of Canada, you are only eligible if you are affiliated full-time with an eligible Canadian institution for the duration of the grant.

Individuals are considered affiliated to any institution at which they are employed, appointed, or conduct research.

Adjunct is considered a part-time position. Adjuncts whose primary affiliation is outside of Canada are not eligible for NSERC funding.

A change in position from paid to unpaid will not necessarily affect compliance with eligibility requirements, especially those related to supervision of students or postdoctoral fellows.

Institutions only need to contact NSERC if the eligibility status changes (i.e. the applicant is no longer eligible). If there is a break in employment the agency must be contacted as soon as possible.

During the tenure of a grant, the institution’s leave policy will be applied if a grant recipient spends time at another institution and/or outside Canada. Refer also to the section on leave in the NSERC - Inter-Agency, Tri-Agency Financial Administration, Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration

Research and student supervision

Your responsibilities at the eligible Canadian institution must include engagement in research that is not under the direction of another individual, and

For university applicants or co-applicants, permission to supervise and/or co-supervise the research of students or postdoctoral fellows.

The supervision of postdoctoral fellows or thesis supervision of students registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program would meet this requirement. The supervision of regular course or laboratory assignments is not considered as supervision or co-supervision of students.

Sources of salary/support

Your appointment at an eligible Canadian institution must not be conditional on obtaining NSERC grants or other non-NSERC sources of support, including salary support.
Your salary must not be paid by NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR grant funds. Exceptions include: institutional grants, and those under the agencies’ salary support programs.

Additional Requirements

If you are enrolled in a graduate program, you must complete all degree requirements and take up your research appointment at an eligible Canadian institution before any funds can be released for an NSERC grant.
You must not simultaneously hold a grant and, hold a postdoctoral fellow position or any similar research position under the direction of another individual in any discipline.

Access to funds by adjunct professors

The primary place of affiliation of an Adjunct Professor will determine access to funds, as recipients:

Eligible Canadian Institution

Unrestriced access, subject to TAGFA

Private, public (e.g. Federal Gov Employees*) or not-for-profit sector in Canada

Restricted access - direct support of students and postdoctoral fellows (salaries or stipends and travel costs)

Institution outside Canada

Not eligible and no access to funds

*Refer to Tri-agency policy on the use of funds for federal government employees applying for granting agency programs.

Individual eligibility self-assessment

Appointment at an eligible Canadian institution – Must answer YES to be eligible.
Note: Applicants must hold or have a firm offer of an appointment at an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution for the duration of the award.
Is this a permanent (no fixed end date) appointment?
Yes/No
Is this a term or contract that can be renewed during the grant term if the eligible appointment is not established for the full grant term?
Yes/No
Is the applicant’s primary affiliation in Canada or are they affiliated full-time with an eligible Canadian institution for the duration of the grant?

Note: Adjunct is considered a part-time position. Adjuncts whose primary affiliation is outside of Canada are not eligible for NSERC funding.
Yes/No
Research and student supervision – Must answer YES to be eligible.
For university applicants
Is the applicant authorized to engage in research that is not under the direction of another individual
Yes/No
For university applicants
Is the applicant permitted to supervise or co-supervise the research of students registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or postdoctoral fellows (e.g., thesis supervision and not supervision of regular course or laboratory assignments)?
Yes/No
For college applicants
Is the applicant permitted to engage in research-related activities that are not under the direction of another individual?
Yes/No
Sources of salary support – Must answer NO to be eligible.
Is the applicant’s faculty appointment conditional on obtaining NSERC grants or other non-NSERC sources of support, including salary support?
Yes/No
Is the applicant’s salary paid out of NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR grant funds?
Yes/No
Additional requirements – Must answer NO to be eligible.
At the time of award, will the applicant be enrolled in a research-intensive graduate program, or will the researcher hold a postdoctoral fellow position (or any similar research position) under the direction of another individual in any discipline?
Yes/No

For guidance or questions, please contact: sectr@nserc-crsng.gc.ca

Roles and eligibility requirements to apply for or hold College and Community Innovation program grant funds

The roles in an application and eligibility requirements for members of a research team, college faculty and administrators to apply for or hold College and Community Innovation (CCI) program grant funds are detailed below.

For questions regarding institutional eligibility, please visit the Institutional Eligibility Requirements web page.

For questions regarding individual eligibility, please visit the Eligibility requirements for individuals to apply for or hold grant funds web page. You may also contact your institution’s research office or, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

For information on the grant administration roles and responsibilities for the appropriate use of grant funds, please see the relevant section in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration website.

Your role in a grant application determines your eligibility to apply for or hold CCI grant funds and your level of access in the Convergence Portal. The composition of the research team may vary based on the proposed research and related activities and must respect the requirements of the specific CCI funding opportunity.

Please also consult the relevant CCI funding opportunity’s program grant literature and instructions for completing a grant application.

Once awarded, any changes to the research team, including the eligibility status of a role, must be promptly communicated by submitting a Grant Amendment Form to grantsadministration@nserc-crsng.gc.ca (with CC to the CCI program team at colleges@nserc-crsng.gc.ca).

CCI program grants are institutional grants, i.e., the host college is considered the grant recipient.

Applicant

The applicant is the individual mandated by the college responsible for preparing and submitting the CCI grant application through their research office. The applicant is also accountable to the host college for coordinating the financial and administrative aspects of the application and grant.

The principal investigator of a project or research activity may be the applicant.

Before applying for a CCI grant, applicants are expected to consult with the relevant research administrators at their college (e.g., research office) and discuss relevant responsibilities and accountabilities. The applicant’s level of responsibility in administering a grant may vary based on the host college’s internal policies.

To be considered an applicant:

You must hold or have a firm offer1 of a remunerated position at an eligible Canadian college2 at the time of your application. This may include a faculty appointment, a position as a research administrator or technical/professional staff. Applicants holding a position at a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the college are not eligible;
You must not be currently declared ineligible4 to apply for and hold funding in any role for reasons of breach of responsible conduct of research policies, such as ethics, integrity, or financial management policies; and
You must accept and comply with the Terms and conditions of applying for applicants and Terms and conditions of award of any resulting grant.

The applicant cannot be the same individual as the college’s research grants officer on the same CCI application and grant.

In the event of the applicant’s departure from their college or a change in their eligibility status (pre- or post-award), the host college may name an eligible replacement, subject to NSERC approval.

The applicant is referred to as ‘primary applicant’ in the Convergence Portal.

Co-applicant

A co-applicant is an individual participating in a CCI application and grant who plays a significant role in the overall intellectual leadership or in the conduct of research and related activities. A co-applicant may be responsible for some financial aspects of the research and related activities.

The applicant is expected to discuss with the co-applicant how the grant’s financial responsibilities will be shared (i.e., through access to grant funds). For multi-institutional applications, a Transfer of funds agreement should be in place before the start of any collaboration.

The principal investigator of a project or research activity may be the co-applicant.

To be considered a co-applicant:

You must hold a remunerated position at, or be affiliated with, an eligible Canadian college2 or university3, at the time of the application. For college co-applicants, this may include a full- or part-time position, such as a faculty appointment, a position as a research administrator or technical/professional staff. Co-applicants holding a position at a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the college are eligible;
You must not be currently declared ineligible 4 to apply for and hold funding, in any role, for reasons of breach of responsible conduct of research policies, such as ethics, integrity, or financial management policies;
College co-applicants with part-time positions are expected to conduct the proposed research and related activities in addition to their regular responsibilities;
University co-applicants must meet the Eligibility requirements for individuals to apply for or hold grant funds; and
You must accept and comply with the Terms and conditions of applying for co-applicants and Terms and conditions of award of any resulting grant.

Collaborator

A collaborator is usually an individual from a partner organization participating in a CCI application and grant. They may also be from another post-secondary institution. A collaborator’s expertise complements the core research team; they contribute to the overall intellectual direction of the research and participate in research-related activities.

A collaborator’s participation is self-funded, as collaborators do not have access to grant funds, nor play a role in the financial aspects of the grant. Furthermore, grant funds may not flow back to the partner organization and cannot be used to cover collaborator expenses. With the exception of travel and travel-related subsistence expenses, expenses that collaborators incur in the conduct of research or research-related activity will not be covered.

Collaborators do not create an account or have a dedicated role in the Convergence Portal; their individual information is included as part of the CCI grant application itself.

Please consult the relevant funding opportunity instructions for completing a grant application for further information.

Contributor

A contributor is an individual designated by the applicant to help complete and edit the CCI grant application.

A contributor does not participate in the research and related activities, so their information is not needed or captured in the CCI grant application.

Participant

A participant is an individual participating in a CCI application and grant, who contributes to the overall intellectual direction by conducting research and related activities. The participant does not have responsibility for the financial aspects of the application and grant.

To be considered a participant:

You must hold a remunerated position at, or be affiliated with, an eligible Canadian college2 or university3 at the time of the application. For a college participant, this may include a full- or part-time position, such as a faculty appointment, a position as a research administrator or technical/professional staff; and
You must accept and comply with the Terms and conditions of applying for participants.

Partner (organization)

A partner is a private, public or not-for-profit organization that actively participates in the research and related activities of a CCI application and grant and makes cash and/or in-kind contributions. The authorized contact from the organization represents the partner organization and completes the partner module in the Convergence Portal.

The CCI program’s partnership guidelines provide more information on the roles and responsibilities of partner organizations.

Research grants officer

The research grants officer is the authorized institutional contact who confirms the host college will take responsibility for the administration of the grant funds, should the application be awarded funding. The research grants officer is expected to guide the applicant on using grant funds, as per the terms and conditions of the respective CCI funding opportunity and the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. Other terms may be used to refer to the research grants officer, including RGO, authorized representative, research administrator and institutional representative.

The research grants officer confirms and certifies that:

the applicant and other members of the research team meet the eligibility requirements;
any co-applicants from other institutions meet the eligibility requirements, and that authorized representatives from those institutions have confirmed that the co-applicants have approval to participate in the proposed activities;
the proposed research projects or activities meet the funding opportunities’ requirements; and
the college will meet its obligations and responsibilities, including its compliance with the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions, the Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration and the relevant CCI program grant literature.

As part of their pre-award responsibilities, the research grants officer is authorized to access, browse, approve and forward the college’s CCI grant application to NSERC. This includes returning an application to the applicant should it be deemed incomplete or unsatisfactory, along with the required changes, if applicable.

Further roles and responsibilities of the research grants officer are detailed in the Administering institutions section of the Tri-agency financial administration page.

The research grants officer cannot be the applicant on the same CCI application and grant.

To register as a research grants officer, please contact your institution’s Principal Research Administrator as they are granted the ability to oversee and manage administrative roles within an institution on the Convergence Portal.

Once registered, the research grants officer will be able to access the Convergence Portal and will have to read, accept and comply with the Terms and conditions for applying for research administrators in the Convergence Portal before being able to submit an application to the granting agency.

The research grants officer is referred to as ‘research administrator’ in the Convergence Portal.

Student

In a CCI application and grant, college students are considered students while enrolled in a pedagogical program offered by the college and 12 months after program completion.

The participation of college students and a college student training component are required per the relevant CCI funding opportunity (unless otherwise specified). It is the intention of the CCI program that the funds allocated to student salaries be used primarily for college students.

University students and post-doctoral fellows are:

to be remunerated as technical or professional university staff or as consultants in the budget table;
considered research trainees for reporting purposes.

Students do not create an account or have a dedicated role in the Convergence Portal; therefore, their individual information is not needed or captured in the CCI grant application.

Roles in an application for each CCI funding opportunity

The table below indicates if a role in an application is mandatory, optional or unavailable for the following CCI grants:

Applied Research and Development (ARD) grants
Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants
College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grants
Mobilize grants
Technology Access Centres (TAC) grants

Roles in a CCI application
Program stage	Applicant	Co-applicant	Collaborator	Contributor	Participant	Partner	RGO
Roles for ARD	Mandatory	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Mandatory	Mandatory
Roles for ARTI	Mandatory	Unavailable	Unavailable	Optional	Optional	Unavailable	Mandatory
Roles for CCSIF	Mandatory	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional	Mandatory	Mandatory
Roles for Mobilize	Mandatory	Unavailable	Optional	Optional	Mandatory*	Optional at time of application	Mandatory
Roles for TAC Letter of Intent	Mandatory	Unavailable	Unavailable	Optional	Unavailable	Unavailable	Mandatory
Roles for TAC Full application	Mandatory	Unavailable	Optional	Optional	Mandatory*	Unavailable	Mandatory

*This individual must be from the host college

Roles for ARD: applicant, partner and RGO roles are mandatory. Co-applicant, collaborator, contributor and participant roles are optional.

Roles for ARTI: applicant and RGO roles are mandatory. Contributor and participant roles are optional. Co-applicant, collaborator and partner roles are unavailable.

Roles for CCSIF: applicant, partner and RGO roles are mandatory. Co-applicant, collaborator, contributor and participant roles are optional.

Roles for Mobilize: applicant, participant and RGO roles are mandatory. The participant must be from the host college. Collaborator and contributor roles are optional. Partner role is optional at the time of application. Co-applicant role is unavailable.

Roles for TAC Letter of Intent: applicant and RGO roles are mandatory. Contributor role is optional. Co-applicant, collaborator, participant and partner roles are unavailable.

Roles for TAC Full application: applicant, participant and RGO roles are mandatory. The participant must be from the host college. Collaborator and contributor roles are optional. Co-applicant and partner roles are unavailable.

Convergence Portal permissions for each role in a CCI application

Permission to submit, edit or view specific parts of an application in the Convergence Portal will vary depending on an individual’s role in the application.

Roles in a CCI application
Convergence Portal function	Applicant	Co-applicant	Collaborator	Contributor	Participant	Partner	RGO
Creates Convergence Portal account	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fills in ‘My Information’ section	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes (some CV exceptions)	Yes	No
Provides CV or biosketch only	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes *	No
Creates application	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Invites other participants to application	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Views some 'Shared Content'	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Edits some 'Shared Content'	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Finalizes all participants’ info	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Submits application to RGO	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Submits application to NSERC	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Views application status in Application tab after submission	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Views awards information, Notices of Decisions, Messages from Review Committee	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Views reports	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)	No	No	No	Yes (Partner report only, via Voxco)	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)
Edits reports	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)	No	No	No	Yes (Partner report only, via Voxco)	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)
Submits reports	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)	No	No	No	No	Yes (Partner report only, via Voxco)	Yes (Progress and Final reports only)

* If a not-for-profit organization asks for a research salary allowance

Roles that can create a Convergence Portal account: applicant, co-applicant, contributor, participant, partner and RGO.

Roles that fill in ‘My Information’ section: applicant, co-applicant, participant (some exceptions regarding CVs) and partner.

Roles that provide CV or biosketch only: collaborator and partner (if a not-for-profit organization asks for a research salary allowance).

Role that can create an application: applicant.

Roles that can invite other participants to application: applicant, co-applicant and contributor.

Roles that can view some Shared Content: applicant, co-applicant, contributor, participant, partner and RGO.

Roles that can edit some Shared Content: applicant, co-applicant and contributor.

Role that can finalize all participants’ info: applicant.

Role that can submit an application to RGO: applicant.

Role that can submit an application to NSERC: RGO.

Roles that can view an application status in Application tab after submission: applicant, co-applicant, participant, partner and RGO.

Roles that can view the awards information, Notices of Decisions, Messages from Review Committee: applicant, co-applicant and RGO.

Roles that can view reports: applicant, co-applicant and RGO can view Progress and Final reports only. The partner can view Partner reports only, via Voxco.

Roles that can edit reports: applicant, co-applicant and RGO can edit Progress and Final reports only. The partner can edit Partner reports only, via Voxco.

Roles that can submit reports: applicant and RGO can submit Progress and Final reports only. The partner can submit Partner reports only, via Voxco.

Eligibility for Universities and Colleges

Institutions that are eligible to apply for and receive NSERC funding include both universities and colleges. Eligibility criteria and access to programs differ for the two types of institutions. For more information on the general eligibility of institutions, the criteria that apply to funding programs aimed at institutions, or the policies and practices related to managing federal funding or conducting research, select the appropriate heading below.

Institutional Eligibility Requirements
List of Eligible Institutions

Frequently asked questions on institutional eligibility

General process, requirements or submission

An institution applying for NSERC's eligibility must be a Canadian university or college that grants degrees and/or diplomas in the natural sciences and engineering fields. For universities, the degrees granted must generally be accepted by other Canadian universities for direct admission into their own postgraduate degree programs, without the necessity of a period of qualifying study.

An institution that is federated with, or affiliated to, or a constituent portion of another institution that is already eligible to authorize grant applications will not normally be accorded its own independent authority.

A Canadian post-secondary institution is an entity that

is incorporated in Canada
has a physical presence in Canada (i.e., space that will be used to perform agency-funded research and research-related activities)
is not under the control of a foreign entity with respect to its financial and other operations (i.e., must be in a position to receive and administer funds in Canada and not through a foreign institution with which it is affiliated)
must be eligible to issue tax slips in Canada (for all grants or scholarships payments on behalf of the agencies)
can prove it is officially recognized as a post-secondary institution by the relevant Canadian provincial or territorial government authorities to grant Canadian degrees/diplomas (i.e., its students do not receive diplomas from a foreign-based institution)

Note: If a foreign post-secondary institution has multiple Canadian campuses, each campus must independently meet the requirements of Canadian postsecondary institutions as per the above. Eligibility of one Canadian campus does not automatically extend to other Canadian campuses of the same foreign post-secondary institution.

No. There is no specific request form. The institution must send a letter signed by its president/principal or delegate, with the supporting documentation. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards before submitting an eligibility request to NSERC.

To be recognized as eligible, an institution must meet all the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards, sign the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions (the Agreement) and return it to NSERC. Funding to an institution will not be released until NSERC receives the signed Agreement.

No. An institution can submit an eligibility request at any time. However, the institution must be eligible before submitting an application to a specific funding opportunity. Consult the following web pages for a list of NSERC's programs and their application deadlines:

Undergraduate programs
Postgraduate programs
Postdoctoral programs
Discovery programs
Chairs and faculty support programs
Innovation programs

Consult the Contacts section of the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards and note each person's area of responsibility. The telephone numbers and email addresses are provided.

No. NSERC will not accept applications to any funding opportunity from an institution that has not been formally declared eligible.

No. Faculty members must meet additional criteria regarding their academic position at the time of application and during tenure of the award. Consult the Eligibility criteria for faculty page.

The review can take as little as one month if the institution has submitted all the required documentation at the outset. The review process is lengthened when submissions are incomplete. For information on eligibility requirements and contact information, consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards.

No. Colleges that are already eligible at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, but not at NSERC, may participate in the CCI program as long as the research area proposed falls within the social sciences and humanities and/or health sciences.

Yes. Colleges that are eligible at NSERC only and propose research area(s) within the social sciences and humanities and/or health sciences may submit letters of intent or proposals in those areas. However, eligibility from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) will be required for payment of the grant. In order to prevent a delay in the release of the grant, the eligibility requirements of SSHRC or CIHR, if applicable, need to be fully met by the time the funding decisions are made. In those instances, colleges would be informed of the additional eligibility requirements.

No. An institution must request eligibility to the three granting agencies separately to be eligible to more than one agency. However, joint reviews may be conducted. Contact one of the agencies to discuss the course of action and documents required. Consult the Contacts section of the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards. The telephone numbers and email addresses are provided.

The documentation must be numbered and assembled in the order indicated in the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards and be submitted by email.

Policies

Yes. An institution that does not conduct research involving humans needs a policy on that matter. However, it has up to one year from the date of signing the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions to put in place a policy or a formal written agreement with another eligible institution that adheres to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the Administration of Grants and Awards.

No. NSERC only requires statements attesting that the institution has approved policies that follow its requirements.

Management of grants and awards

Eligibility for partner organizations

NSERC offers a number of programs to support research activities that depend upon partnerships among the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Although private or public companies are the most obvious means of exploiting research results commercially, other kinds of organizations may also be appropriate partners to successfully mobilize the research results to achieve the desired impact.

This page does not apply to Alliance grants and College and Community Innovation (CCI) grants. For guidelines for partner organizations participating in Alliance grants, refer to Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations, and for guidelines for partner organizations participating in CCI grants, refer to CCI program partnership guidelines. This page applies only to the Idea to Innovation (I2I) grant.

For further guidance on partner participation for I2I grants, consult the Guidelines for organizations participating in research partnerships programs and the I2I grant description NSERC - Idea to Innovation grants (nserc-crsng.gc.ca).

For previously awarded grants involving research partnerships (Collaborative Research and Development grants, Industrial Research Chairs, Strategic Projects and Networks, Chairs in Design Engineering, as well as Engage and Engage Plus, Connect and Experience for universities), the eligibility of the partner organizations will continue to be guided by the Guidelines for organizations participating in research partnerships programs and specific program descriptions.

1
Your appointment must be ratified by the person(s) or body responsible for approving appointments or their delegate(s) and must be in accordance with institution statutes. If the offer of a position is still pending approval at the time of application, it must be finalized and confirmed in writing to NSERC within six weeks following the application deadline.
2a 2b 2c
This individual must be from an eligible Canadian college. See the list of eligible colleges for CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC.
4a 4b
By NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, or any other research funding organization worldwide.
3a 3b
This individual must be from an eligible Canadian university. See the list of eligible universities for CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC.