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Application information
Am I eligible? Is my research eligible? Can I hold grants from more than one federal granting agency at a time? What if my appointment changes? How do I apply? What are the application deadlines? Are original signatures required? What do the electronic or original signatures on the application mean? How is confidential or sensitive information handled? Do I need any certificates, licences or special forms?
Ownership rights
Who owns the rights to intellectual property from research? Who owns the equipment or material? Am I in a conflict of interest?
Application-related policies
How are contributions to research and training assessed? How are applications in interdisciplinary research areas reviewed? How are applications related to health sciences evaluated? What is NSERC’s approach to equity, diversity and inclusion? What is NSERC’s policy on parental leave?
Funding decisions
When will I know if my application has been successful? What if I have a question about the decision?
See the
Two other federal granting agencies offer support to university researchers. The
You may hold grants from more than one of the three federal granting agencies simultaneously, but you may not submit identical applications to more than one of these agencies at the same time, nor submit an application to one agency for a project that has already been funded by another agency. See
Grant recipients are responsible for ensuring that they continue to meet NSERC’s
The administering institutions are responsible for notifying NSERC as soon as possible of a change in a grant recipient’s eligibility by completing the tri-agency
Before starting your application, read the application instructions for your chosen program carefully. Follow the specific application procedures set out in the description of that program.
Application deadlines are indicated in each of the program descriptions, as well as on the
Your application must be received at NSERC by 8:00 pm (ET) on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, your application must reach NSERC by the next business day.
NSERC does not require original signatures on applications or other documents submitted electronically through the Research Portal or the online system. User ID/password-based electronic “signatures” allow applicants, supporting organizations and authorized institutional representatives (such as research grants officers, scholarships liaison officers and business officers) to “sign” and submit applications and other documents to NSERC online.
- Co-applicants and collaborators: If you accept an applicant’s electronic invitation to participate in an application and you link your Canadian Common CV (CCV) or form 100 (personal data form) to that application, you have thereby provided your electronic approval to be included as a co-applicant or collaborator; the actions of accepting and linking replace your handwritten signature.
- Co-applicants participating in applications from other institutions: NSERC expects that the authorized representatives from the principal applicant’s institution have obtained written approval from other institutions involved in the application process before submitting the application. To confirm this approval, NSERC will seek the institutional authorities’ signature through its secure site once the application is received.
For details on the meaning of signatures, see the Signatures section in the instructions for the program for which you are applying and the
Before applicants or institutional representatives submit applications or other documents to NSERC, and before co-applicants accept invitations to participate in applications or link their CCVs or personal data forms to applications, these individuals must read and agree to the terms and conditions of the specific funding opportunity, including the requirements of the
NSERC safeguards the information that it receives from applicants. It requires reviewers to keep all application information confidential and to use it only for review purposes. If applicants have particular concerns about confidentiality, they should consult NSERC staff. For further information, consult the
Before beginning any research activities in a program or project funded by NSERC, you must obtain any required certifications.
For further details, consult
NSERC does not retain or claim any ownership of, or exploitation rights to, intellectual property resulting from your NSERC grant. Any right to this intellectual property is governed by your institution’s policy. However, as NSERC’s role includes promoting the use of knowledge to build a strong national economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians, every effort should be made to have the results of NSERC-funded research exploited in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. Within this framework, NSERC also expects access rights and allows ownership rights to be granted to an industrial partner in recognition of, and in proportion to, the company's contribution to an industrial collaboration (consult your institution’s research grants office or industry liaison office for guidance on this subject).
See the
For responsibilities with respect to ownership and use of equipment, consult the
As an applicant or co-applicant, you must have no financial or personal interest in any transaction chargeable against an NSERC grant, and you must follow your institution’s policies on conflicts of interest. For information on these policies, contact your institution’s research grants office. Also see section 2.1.2: Promoting research integrity in the
Conflicts of interest may arise when you or the post-secondary institution has an ownership position in a company that is sponsoring your research. It may be difficult to distinguish between institution and company activities, and between your contributions as an institution researcher and as a principal in the company. NSERC may, therefore, request evidence that the company has objectively assessed the commercial potential of the research being undertaken and that the academic interests of the students and postdoctoral fellows are protected. This request may come either at the beginning or during the course of the project or program. NSERC deals with each case individually. Refer to the
As part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that a wide range of contributions are considered and valued in the merit review, the new
See the
See the
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
Consult the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration’s sections on
NSERC will notify you shortly after a final decision has been made. See the
For a number of programs, NSERC sends the selection committee’s comments with the results or shortly thereafter. You should note that comments may not be available for all applications. If you do not receive comments on your application within four weeks of receiving the decision, you may submit a written request to NSERC for information on file about the review, such as the selection committee’s comments or the external reviewer reports, if any.
You should not contact selection committee chairs or members directly. They are prohibited from discussing or disclosing any information gained during the peer review process. All inquiries must be directed to NSERC.