The College and Community Innovation (CCI) program’s College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) 2026 grants competition, managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, is now open.

CCSIF proposals should facilitate collaborative and innovative research that brings together researchers, students and partners to address challenges in community innovation in the social sciences, humanities, health sciences, natural sciences and engineering research fields. CCSIF grants enable colleges to increase their capacity to work with communities, with the goal of developing partnerships that foster community innovation in areas such as the integration of vulnerable populations, community development, education and training, climate change, environmental degradation, as well as health and well-being.

Applications must be submitted via the Convergence Portal by February 25, 2026 before 8:00 pm (Eastern Time). A maximum of five applications per institution can be submitted. CCSIF applicants may request up to $120,000 per year for one to three years.

Additional funding opportunities

To contribute to large-scale projects or support a greater number of students, colleges may apply for additional funding from Mitacs. To do so, colleges must include a request for Mitacs Accelerate internships, as a component of the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP).

Please consult the CCSIF grants description for more information.

Information webinars

Visit the Upcoming events Web page for details on the upcoming CCSIF information webinars and Q&A sessions.

If you have any questions, please email colleges@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.