Grants and Contributions

The Discovery Grants Program assists in promoting and maintaining a diversified base of high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering in Canadian universities; fostering research excellence; and providing a stimulating environment for research training.

NSERC’s Experience Awards (previously Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards [IUSRA]) offer organizations access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address organization-specific R&D challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience.

The Industrial Research Chairs (IRC) are intended to assist universities in building on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major research endeavour in natural sciences and engineering of interest to industry; and/or assist in the development of research efforts in fields that have not yet been developed in Canadian universities but for which there is an important industrial need; and provide an enhanced training environment for graduate students and, where appropriate, postdoctoral fellows by exposing them to research challenges unique to industry and the opportunity for significant ongoing interactions with the industrial partner(s).

The Industrial Research Chairs (IRC) are intended to assist universities in building on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major research endeavour in natural sciences and engineering of interest to industry; and/or assist in the development of research efforts in fields that have not yet been developed in Canadian universities but for which there is an important industrial need; and provide an enhanced training environment for graduate students and, where appropriate, postdoctoral fellows by exposing them to research challenges unique to industry and the opportunity for significant ongoing interactions with the industrial partner(s).

The Connect Grants provide financial support for the Canadian research community to undertake activities that will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. These activities must advance NSERC’s Research Partnerships and/or one or more of the goals outlined in NSERC’s 2020 Strategic Plan.

The Connect Grants provide financial support for the Canadian research community to undertake activities that will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. These activities must advance NSERC’s Research Partnerships and/or one or more of the goals outlined in NSERC’s 2020 Strategic Plan.

The Connect Grants provide financial support for the Canadian research community to undertake activities that will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. These activities must advance NSERC’s Research Partnerships and/or one or more of the goals outlined in NSERC’s 2020 Strategic Plan.

The Connect Grants provide financial support for the Canadian research community to undertake activities that will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. These activities must advance NSERC’s Research Partnerships and/or one or more of the goals outlined in NSERC’s 2020 Strategic Plan.

The Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering celebrates Canada's most outstanding scientists and engineers, raising public awareness about the major contributions that Canada's top researchers make to international science and technology, and to improving the lives of Canadians.

The Technology Access Centre (TAC) Grants are intended to enhance the ability of companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to become more productive and innovative by enabling them to readily access college expertise, technology and equipment. This access to college capabilities is intended to enhance the productivity, competitiveness and innovation of the participating SMEs.