Summary of changes

As of 2024, individuals cannot hold both a Discovery Grant and a Discovery Horizons grant (as applicant or co-applicant).

Greater resources on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring have been made available to applicants. This includes the addition of the following resources for applicants:

• Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring
• NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research
• A new video series to complement this NSERC guide: Strengthening research by integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the research process

Indigenous research - NSERC specifies Indigenous research as being research in any field or discipline related to the natural sciences or engineering that is conducted by, grounded in, or meaningfully engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous Peoples and Nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present. Applicants will need to indicate at the NOI and full application stage if their proposed research involves Indigenous communities, societies or individuals and meets specifications to qualify as Indigenous research according to NSERC.

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

As of 2024, individuals cannot hold both a Discovery Grant and a Discovery Horizons grant (as applicant or co-applicant).

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

The narrative CV is limited to five pages (six pages for French).

Greater resources on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and on the assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring have been made available to applicants. This includes the addition of the following resources for applicants:

• Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations for research teams

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

Beginning fall 2025, the following NSERC Prizes will increase the page limits for French-written nominations. See the Call for nominations webpage of each prize for further details.

• Brockhouse
• Gerhard Herzberg
• Arthur B. McDonald
• John C. Polanyi
• Donna Strickland

Starting competition year 2026, the threshold of when a quotation is required has increased from $25,000 to $40,000 net for any individual item(s). Additionally, to lower the reviewer burden on the research community, applications will be reviewed by a maximum of four selection committee members.

As of competition year 2023, RTI applicants and co-applicants who were successful in the previous year’s RTI competition will be ineligible to apply for one year. Eligibility will be reinstated the following competition year. This change is being implemented to increase access to the RTI program to the largest number of eligible researchers.

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

The personal data form (Form 100) was replaced with the Canadian Common CV (CCV). The CCV must be completed by applicants and co-applicants and attached to the application form as a single PDF attachment.

Applicants and co-applicants must complete the self-identification form found in the Maintain user profile section of the online system.

Greater resources on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring have been made available to applicants. This includes the addition of the following resources for applicants:

• Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring
• Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process
• Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for research teams

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application.

Greater resources on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and on the assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring have been made available to applicants. This includes the addition of the following resources for applicants:

• Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations for research teams
• A new video series to complement this NSERC guide: Strengthening research by integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the research process

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) - On January 16, 2024, the Government of Canada published its Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Accordingly, grant applications that involve conducting research that aims to advance a sensitive technology research area will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security. Please read the Tri-agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy to understand how this policy may impact your grant application. In addition, if your research involves large international consortia, you are encouraged to consult the related STRAC Policy FAQ regarding the publication and dissemination of research.

The proposal attachment page limit for SAP Project Discovery Grants has been updated to the following:

All SAP Project Discovery Grants are required to provide a table for the applicant and all co-applicants which includes the number of hours per month and fraction of full-time equivalent (FTE) that each individual plans to devote to the project being applied for, all other ongoing projects they are involved with, and all other projects currently requesting funding from NSERC.

Updates were made to the program description and full application instructions to align with other major resource and institute support funding opportunities at NSERC. The selection criteria were reduced to six criteria.

The Research Portal has been updated to remove the following sections from the SAP MRS application for both applicants and co-applicants:

• Past Contributions to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP)
• Most Significant Contributions to research
• Additional information on contributions

Updates were made to the program description and full application instructions to align with other research tools and instrument funding opportunities at NSERC, including significant updates to the Budget Justification section. The selection criteria were reduced to three criteria.

Updates to the Research Portal were made to add Quotation attachments to all SAP RTI applications.

Updates to the Research Portal were made to remove the following sections from all SAP RTI applications for both applicants and co-applicants:

• Past Contributions to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP)
• Most Significant Contributions to research
• Additional information on contributions