Summary of Changes

2019-20 Program Guide for Professors

NSERC has revised the Program Guide for Professors.

This summary is meant only to help you focus on the main changes. Read the program descriptions that are relevant to you, and the appropriate instructions to review all the changes.

Programs (in alphabetical order)
Alliance Grants Created: April 24, 2019 As of May 21, 2019, NSERC is introducing the new Alliance grants that improve and modernize several of its existing grants. Alliance grants will fund collaborative research projects between universities and partner organizations that have an active role in the project’s research activities, apply project research results or play an active role in translating or mobilizing knowledge to achieve outcomes. As a consequence, several existing grants will be replaced by the new grant or will be discontinued: Collaborative Research and Development grants Industrial Research Chairs Strategic Partnership Grants for Networks and Projects Engage grants and Engage Plus grants for universities Connect grants for universities Experience Awards Chairs in Design Engineering The College and Community Innovation (CCI) program and Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants will continue in their current form. For the latest information, consult Alliance grants. For details on existing programs, visit the web page for the specific grant.
DDG – Discovery Development Grants Revised: June 25, 2019 Following the success of the Discovery Development Grants (DDG) pilot program from 2014 to 2019, this initiative is transitioning to an ongoing program with minor changes: Award amount has been increased from $10K to $15K per year for 2 years for a total of $30K following the 2018 federal budget. Researchers will be allowed to hold 2 DDG awards over the duration of their career (instead of only 1 award).
Call for joint Canada-UK projects on quantum technologies Creation : March 16, 2020 Innovate UK and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) are partnering to launch a call for research proposals on quantum technologies. The call builds on complementary interests and research expertise in this area in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada. This call will allow for the collaboration between leading-edge scientists and potential innovative users, from industry and/or government sectors, to accelerate the development of quantum technologies.
CWSE - Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering Revised: June 4, 2019 Call for proposals for Ontario and the Prairies regions due October 8, 2019. A number of changes have been made to the program description. Most notably, updates have been made regarding the requirements for the matching funds and supporting organizations.
DF – Discovery Frontiers call for proposals: Antimicrobial resistance in the environment Created: January 4, 2019 This fifth call for proposals will bring together groups of researchers in new ways to address a major research challenge in Antimicrobial Resistance in the environment. Discovery Frontiers will support a program that will be paradigm-shifting, trans-disciplinary in nature, open new fields or integrate existing fields in new ways, involve international collaboration, and accelerate the establishment of expertise and capacity.
DG – Discovery Grants program Revised: July 30, 2019 Additional requirement for HQP Plan - As part of the ‘Training philosophy’ element, applicants are expected to describe the specific actions they commit to implementing in order to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the research and training environment. Applicants should refer to the full application instructions and the peer review manual for details on how to integrate EDI considerations into their application. Support for early career researchers (ECR) The ECR eligibility window is now 5 years  (previously 3 years) to harmonize with the other agencies. Applicants who select ECR as their applicant category must include a list of all positions, found in their CCV, that meet NSERC’s requirements for an independent academic position. NSERC continues to devote additional funds to support ECRs through increases to Discovery Grants and the new Discovery Launch Supplement. ECRs have the option of extending their DG by one year with funds before re-applying as ERs for the first time.
NRS – Northern Research Supplements program Revised: July 30, 2019 The application process is now part of the Discovery Grants application within Research Portal – no longer separate through On-line System. The selection criteria have been updated, and weighting will now be applied to each criterion. The weighted scoring method is expected to provide applicants with more detailed feedback on their proposals. See the program description for more details. NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering community and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. In this regard, equity, diversity and inclusion considerations have been strengthened throughout the program’s literature this year. Applicants should refer to the program description and application instructions on how to integrate EDI considerations into their application.
RTI – Research Tools and Instruments Grants program Revised: June 25, 2019 NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering community and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. In this regard, equity, diversity and inclusion considerations have been strengthened throughout the program’s literature this year. Applicants should refer to the program description and application instructions on how to integrate EDI considerations into their application.
SAP – Subatomic Physics: Individual and Project / Major Resources Support / Research Tools and Instruments (Category 1) / Research Tools and Instruments (Categories 2 or 3) Revised: July 30, 2019  NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering community and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. In this regard, equity, diversity and inclusion considerations have been strengthened throughout the program’s literature this year. Applicants should refer to the program description and application instructions on how to integrate EDI considerations into their application.
ST - Ship Time program Revised: July 11, 2019  The selection criteria have been updated, and weighting will now be applied to each criterion. The weighted scoring method is expected to provide applicants with more detailed feedback on their proposals. See the program description and instructions for more details. NSERC is acting on the evidence that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering community and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. In this regard, equity, diversity and inclusion considerations have been strengthened throughout the program’s literature this year. Applicants should refer to the program description and application instructions on how to integrate EDI considerations into their application.
TAC – Technology Access Centres grants Revised: April 4, 2019  The ‘Value added’ selection criteria has been modified. Revisions to this criteria, applicable only for colleges with a previously funded NSERC TAC, have been made to assess whether the proposed TAC will create significant incremental value to the region’s innovation capacity. Colleges with a previously funded NSERC TAC will have an additional page to justify the distinctness of the proposed TAC.
Policies and guidelines
NSERC’s Guidelines on Impact Assessment Revised: May 13, 2020 NSERC’s guidelines on impact assessment (formally NSERC’s Guidelines on Environmental Review and Assessment) have been updated to reflect the new  Impact Assessment Act (IAA) that repealed the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and came into force August 28, 2019. The Impact Assessment Form (Appendix A) (formally, Environmental Information Form) has also been updated.