2025-07-23

NSERC: new Indigenous Engagement & Collaboration Agreement (IECA) template

NSERC has shared, for your awareness, the new Indigenous Engagement & Collaboration Agreement template for the 2026 Discovery Grants cycle. The template will be required at the full application stage for any proposal that includes Indigenous research and will be downloadable from the full application instructions in August.  NSERC is circulating the template now for your awareness and so it can be shared with applicants, should they request a copy in advance.

NSERC is introducing the IECA as a tool to support meaningful engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities. The emphasis is on the credibility and substance of the collaboration, not on obtaining formal signatures or completing a specific format.

Please note that a signature from the Indigenous community partner is not required this year due the short timelines. However, applicants should still indicate that they have confirmation of collaboration from the community partner. If a signature cannot be obtained, a brief explanation (e.g., one sentence) should be included to explain the context.