Alliance Missions grants

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Research topics

You can apply to support any R&D project that will:

• advance Canadian knowledge, models, processes, tools and technologies to optimize efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and/or support data-driven decisions along domestic critical mineral value chains, from exploration to recycling (e.g., geological and economic modelling of critical mineral deposits, flowsheets, life-cycle analyses, etc.); and/or
• develop efficient options to advance a domestic circular economy with less reliance on primary mineral resources through mine reclamation and/or critical mineral recycling or reprocessing (e.g., mining and industrial waste, end-of-life products, etc.); and/or
• support the development of best practices in technology, innovation and collaborative ventures (e.g., best practices to advance vertical integration across the sector, etc.).

Your project must focus on at least one of the fifteen prioritized critical minerals identified in the Overview.

Please note that you cannot use an Alliance Missions grant to support secret or contract research.

Collaborating with community groups

Researchers proposing research in collaboration with community groups (such as Indigenous or Northern community groups) are encouraged to consult the resources available in the College and Community Innovation program’s guide, CCI guide for research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities. Accordingly, applications could include budget items associated with activities that support such collaborations (see Funding page).

Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering

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 Alliance Missions grants 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.

Collaborating internationally

To increase the impact of Canadian NSE research in the global research community, you may incorporate international collaborations into your project proposal. You may interact with foreign colleagues in a variety of ways to enhance collaboration and increase your project’s impact. Refer to the Tri-agency guide on financial administration regarding the eligibility of expenses you may incur in support of such collaborations.

What’s next?
Funding your research project