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

This section presents details on how NSERC performed to achieve results and meet targets for funding natural sciences and engineering research and training. Details are presented by departmental result.

Table 1 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under funding natural sciences and engineering research and training.

Canada’s natural sciences and engineering research is internationally competitive.

The following section describes the results for Funding Natural Sciences and Engineering Research and Training in 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in NSERC’s departmental plan for the year.

Departmental Result: Canada’s natural sciences and engineering research is internationally competitive.

In the fiscal year 2023–24, NSERC maintained its commitment to supporting research, addressing ongoing post-pandemic challenges stemming from COVID-19. Continuing measures initiated in 2020–21, NSERC supported more than 1800 recipients of Discovery Research grants through a one-time, one-year extension with funds. This initiative, valued at $71.4 million, aimed to alleviate the lingering effects of the pandemic on research endeavours and the highly qualified personnel driving them forward.

As the landscape of discovery research evolves, NSERC remains committed to evolving its support and to ensuring the continued efficacy of its research funding mechanisms. In 2023–24, NSERC concluded the multi-year project aimed at modernizing the Discovery Research Program. This year’s work focused on enhancing the program's ability to provide impactful feedback to 27% more researchers, with 3/4 of applicants receiving feedback on their applications, and reducing the administrative burden for the thousands of external reviewers who contribute expertise, enabling them to devote approximately 10,000 more hours to their investigative pursuits. Competition results continued to be posted to institutions early to ensure results were communicated before April 1^st. In 2023–24, the Discovery Horizons pilot continued, and support for interdisciplinary research was further integrated as part of the modernization efforts. Eighty-one letters of intent were received in 2023–24 and 15 applications were identified for funding starting in 2024–25.

Recognizing the invaluable role of international collaboration in driving research excellence, NSERC facilitated partnerships on a global scale. In the fiscal year 2023–24, nearly half (48%) of NSERC-funded research projects involved international collaboration. The Alliance International funding opportunity continued to receive strong interest and has supported collaborations with researchers from over 50 countries since its launch in 2021.

In 2023–24, NSERC strengthened its commitment to supporting the equitable and inclusive research practices needed to foster innovation and research excellence. NSERC continues to integrate DORA principles into its programs and policies, to engage and consult with the research community, and is currently evaluating the impact and use of the Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring in Discovery Grants and Discovery Horizons peer review meetings. As part of the 2024 Discovery Horizons competition, NSERC piloted the use of a new CV format that provides applicants with the opportunity to include a broader range of contributions and to describe the quality and impact of their contributions. NSERC also continues to build upon the foundation laid by the new NSERC Guide on integrating EDI considerations into research by implementing EDI considerations in alignment with the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan (2018–25).

Recognizing the importance of Indigenous perspectives and participation in research, NSERC has taken on a leadership role in supporting the Tri-agency Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research. In collaboration with members of this group, NSERC has developed policy guidance, through the introduction of a clear definition of Indigenous research, to reduce barriers to participation in research and inform assessment, as well as guidelines to facilitate engagement with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. These activities aligned with broader initiatives such as the Strengthening Indigenous Research Capacity strategy and Bill C-15, aimed to foster meaningful partnerships and support the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In its ongoing commitment to supporting Indigenous researchers and fostering diversity within the research community, NSERC identified and addressed administrative barriers hindering Indigenous organizations' access to funding. By proposing policy adjustments and engaging with Indigenous advisory bodies, NSERC sought to broaden funding eligibility and enhance support to Indigenous scholars. NSERC appointed Dr. Mark Green as Scholar in Residence to provide advice directly to the NSERC President on Indigenous research perspectives on NSERC’s programs, policies, and processes.

Departmental Result: Canada has a pool of diverse and highly skilled people in the natural sciences and engineering.

NSERC’s scholarships and fellowships support valuable research training for students and postdoctoral fellows, supporting their preparation for diverse research career paths in natural sciences and engineering. With a commitment to flexibility, NSERC accommodates trainees pursuing employment-focused programs aligned with their career goals, fostering the development of transferable skills beneficial to society. A thriving research landscape depends on a dynamic and inclusive community of trainees. To foster greater diversity among researchers, it is imperative to cultivate inclusivity at all levels.

In the 2023–24 period, NSERC supported over 6,800 students and postdoctoral fellows through scholarships and fellowships and investing $528 million in both domestic and international student training through grants. Collaborating closely with CIHR and SSHRC, NSERC advanced the Tri-agency Training Strategy, aiming to nurture the next generation of leaders across various domains, bolstering Canada’s research ecosystem.

In 2023–24, NSERC used the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative to increase the number of awards offered to Indigenous applicants. This pilot leveraged the Canada Graduate Scholarships—Master’s (CGS M) program by awarding all meritorious Indigenous applicants with a scholarship and a supplement. Overall, 18 Indigenous students received awards through the CGS M program.

Black scholars are largely underrepresented as recipients of NSERC’s scholarship and fellowship funding. Budget 2022 provided funds to increase the number of Black research trainees directly supported by the three federal granting agencies’ scholarships and fellowships programs. In 2023–24, NSERC provided 126 additional awards to meritorious Black students and fellows valued at over $1.5 million.

In response to the recommendations of the 2021 Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) evaluation, NSERC piloted the Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) initiative, extending support to a broader spectrum of underrepresented groups while continuing to champion gender diversity in science and engineering.

Meeting the requirements of the Accessible Canada Act, NSERC developed its accessibility plan and implementation strategy, aligning efforts to ensure a barrier-free Canada by 2040 while enriching the talent pool within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE) sectors.

Through initiatives like the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE), in 2023–24 NSERC provided over $25 million in funding to enhance research trainees' skills and experiences, fostering diverse research environments and promoting international collaboration.

Through its continued national leadership, NSERC is promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among young Canadians to encourage them to study the NSE at the post-secondary education level. NSERC supported 120 PromoScience grants valued at over $10 million, with a sustained focus on science teachers and underrepresented groups such as girls and Indigenous youth. Sixty-two organizations completed their NSERC PromoScience-funded science outreach activities in 2023–24 and reached over 1.5 million youth across Canada.

Departmental Result: Canada’s natural sciences and engineering research knowledge is used.

NSERC enables partnerships within the research ecosystem, collaborating with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Mitacs, various government bodies, educational institutions, industry players, non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, and provincial funders. These collaborations accelerated the application of research findings into societal, environmental, and economic advancements.

In Budget 2021, Canada committed to launching a National Quantum Strategy (NQS) aimed at leveraging the country's considerable quantum research strengths, fostering the growth of quantum technologies, businesses, and talent, and reinforcing Canada's global leadership in this field. NSERC played a pivotal role in the NQS implementation during 2023–24 through funding initiatives such as 29 Alliance Quantum grants, 13 Alliance International Quantum grants, and 4 Alliance Consortia Quantum grants for a total of over $58 million in investment from NSERC and including 53 unique partners in 87 partnerships.

In support of Budget 2022’s call for action towards sustainable agriculture to fight climate change, NSERC and SSHRC, in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), launched the NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable agriculture research initiative to support fundamental and applied research, knowledge transfer, and related activities to support transformative science that will transition the agriculture sector to a net-zero emissions economy for 2050 in support of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. To facilitate partnerships and build multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaborations required to establish strong teams and relevant research proposals, NSERC provided $1.5 million in preparatory funding grants to support 53 researchers applying for the Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative. 89 full proposals received in November 2023 were reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee in April 2024. Grants will be announced in 2024–25.

Budget 2022 also announced funding for academic research on cutting-edge technologies involving Canada's Communications Security Establishment (CSE). NSERC partnered with the CSE to launch a joint call for proposals to fund ambitious projects involving large teams of university researchers to conduct research focused on robust, secure, and safe artificial intelligence.

In 2023–24, NSERC enhanced its leadership role in the development, implementation, and refinement of research security measures to safeguard Canada’s world-leading research ecosystem. NSERC played a key role in the development and delivery of the Government of Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, announced in January 2024, and in the development of new harmonized Tri-agency procedures, in collaboration with the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and in consultation with government partners and the Canadian university sector. In parallel, NSERC continued to deliver on Budget 2022 commitments to implement the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP). The first annual Progress Report on the implementation of Canada’s NSGRP and Supporting Research Security Efforts, published in January 2024, describes key results and lessons learned from the pilot implementation of the NSGRP in NSERC’s Alliance grants. Finally, NSERC led the publication of new Tri-agency Guidance on Research Security, which clarifies research security principles and processes, aligning agencies with international best practices and with Government of Canada directions on research security.

Facilitating multi-organizational partnerships to address social, environmental, and economic challenges remains a cornerstone of NSERC's approach. In 2023–24, NSERC facilitated partnerships through new initiatives within Alliance funding opportunities, bridging federal support with regional and provincial backing, engaging additional partners to enhance the impact of natural sciences and engineering (NSE) research results on Canadian society.

Budget 2023 announced the expansion of the Tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program with an investment of $108.6 million over three years. NSERC, which administers the CCI program on behalf of the three federal granting agencies, began implementing this expansion through funding more projects in Applied Research and Development and College and Community Social Innovation Fund grants, providing supplemental funding to active Mobilize and Technology Access Centre grants, and launching an Applied Research Tools and Instruments grants competition.

In January 2024, NSERC launched, in collaboration with CIHR and SSHRC, the first Lab to Market grants competition. Lab to Market grants stems from the Government of Canada’s commitment of $47.8M over five years announced in Budget 2022 for a new national program to help students and researchers take their research to market. Lab to Market grants support post-secondary institutions and their affiliates in creating and sustaining networks dedicated to developing and delivering entrepreneurial skills training. These grants support collaboration between post-secondary institutions and various organizations from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

Effective research data management practices are crucial for broadening access to research outcomes and products. In 2023–24, NSERC began implementing the Tri-agency Research Data Management Policy, aligning with the Chief Science Advisor’s Roadmap for Open Science, which advocates for publicly accessible federally funded scientific research output. NSERC piloted data management guidelines within the Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants and gathered feedback from committee members to support applicants and inform the implementation of the Tri-agency Research Data Management Policy.

Furthermore, NSERC initiated the development of the NSERC Open Science Framework and Action Plan, promoting principles that facilitate knowledge sharing and data access while upholding Indigenous data sovereignty. In particular, NSERC has led efforts towards the future revision of the Tri-agency Open Access Policy on Publications, collaborating with Canadian and international research funders, and ensuring its open access policy remains aligned with global standards and the Canadian research landscape.

This section presents an overview of the department's actual and planned expenditures from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

This section provides an overview of NSERC’s voted and statutory funding for its core responsibilities and for internal services. For further information on funding authorities, consult the Government of Canada budgets and expenditures.

Graph 1 summarizes the department's approved voted and statutory funding from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

Fiscal year	Total	Voted	Statutory
2021-22	$1,414,998,196	$1,408,877,639	$6,120,557
2022-23	$1,383,929,641	$1,377,447,326	$6,482,315
2023-24	$1,385,703,811	$1,378,542,087	$7,161,724
2024-25	$1,383,834,006	$1,376,768,921	$7,065,085
2025-26	$1,394,059,781	$1,387,011,770	$7,048,011
2026-27	$1,360,840,679	$1,353,919,469	$6,921,210

Increasing funding for new initiatives such as Lab to Market and the Sustainable agriculture research initiative starting in 2023–24 are offset by the realignment of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund between CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. In 2026–27, the College and Community funding from Budget 2023 will expire.

For further information on NSERC’s departmental voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada.

NSERC’s complete financial statements (unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2024, are available online.

This section presents an overview of the NSERC’s actual and planned human resources from 2021–22 to 2026–27.