Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

Objectives

The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:

• encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities

• facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce

These innovative programs must foster the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills, and improve their job readiness for careers in industry, government, non-governmental organizations and/or academia.

In addition, these programs should encourage the following as appropriate:

• student mobility, nationally or internationally, between individual universities and between universities and other sectors

• interdisciplinary research within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), or at the interface between the NSE and health or between the NSE and the social sciences and humanities—however, the main focus of the training must still lie within the NSE

• increased collaboration between industry and academia

Changes for the 2027 Competition Year and Internal Deadlines

Generally, for the LOI process:

• There are no longer any LOI quotas for eligible institutions.

• While an unlimited number of LOIs can be submitted by an institution, each institution has a maximum number of LOIs that can advance to the application stage.

• NSERC has confirmed that Memorial University will have an allotment of one (1) application that may proceed to the application stage of the NSERC CREATE Program opportunity.

• If an institution submits more than their institutional allotment, then LOIs will be evaluated via NSERC peer review to determine which will advance to the application stage. Comments from the committee will not be provided at this stage.

For the LOI process at Memorial:

While there will be no internal selection process for LOI submission, NSERC requires every LOI to include (in its required VPR letter) the total number of LOIs the university will be submitting this competition year. As such, there will be a registration process through Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) PRIOR TO THE NSERC DEADLINE to facilitate the processing of these VPR letters.

 Other important information – Quantum Initiatives:

For the 2027 competition, NSERC will fund one additional CREATE initiative through quantum funding as part of the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). The initiative will help advance the strategy’s workforce development priorities by supporting training opportunities that result in skilled and technologically proficient research trainees in areas including, but not limited to, quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum materials, quantum computing, and quantum software. Applications will be evaluated through the normal CREATE peer review process, but applications should include “Quantum” in the title. LOIs submitted to the Quantum call are not included in Memorial’s allotment of LOIs advancing to the application stage. Each university can submit up to one LOI for the Quantum call.

Other important information – General:

1. Security provisions: Applicants must identify whether the application aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA). Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) attestation forms for applicants and co-applicants will be required at full application stage if working in a STRA.

2. COVID-19: Applicants do not need to discuss COVID-19 impacts and mitigation strategies.

1. Industrial Stream: Has been eliminated. Industrial participation in CREATE initiatives is encouraged.

2. Mobility Experiences: Mandatory for all master and doctoral trainees, with a minimum duration of one month for M.Sc. and two months for Ph.D.

3. Indigenous Research: Proposals that include Indigenous research activities must describe the measures that will be taken to respond to community and/or partner needs and priorities.

MEMORIAL’S INTERNAL DEADLINES FOR NSERC CREATE

 If you are intending to submit an LOI, please initiate a discussion with your Associate Dean (Research) and Grants Facilitator(s) as soon as possible. As this program is intended to support training programs which are self-sustaining beyond the period of the grant it is critical that Faculties are in support of the program being proposed.

 RIS will be offering additional support to applicants preparing CREATE LOIs. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) and/or Dr. Amanda Crompton (ajcrompt@mun.ca) in advance of the internal deadline for preliminary discussions regarding their LOI.

 REGISTRATION AND LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) INTERNAL PROCESS

Phase 1 – Registration (required) Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026. In addition, send your documents to HSS GFOs.

For the purpose of determining the number of LOIs being led by Memorial applicants, interested applicants are required to notify RIS of their intent to submit a LOI. This is due to NSERC’s requirement that the VPR letter for every LOI must include the total number of LOIs being submitted by Memorial. Upon registration, RIS staff will assist applicants with the preparation of their draft VPR letter.

Please forward the title and a draft version of your LOI (“outline of training program” and “excellence of proposed team” sections only) to Research Initiatives and Services by email via ris@mun.ca, copying Dr. Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) and Dr. Amanda Crompton (ajcrompt@mun.ca) – Subject Line: NSERC CREATE – Registration

Applicants shall be permitted to make edits to their LOI during the period between this registration and their Researcher Portal submission.

Failure to notify RIS of your intent to submit a LOI may result in an inability to secure a VPR letter that meets NSERC’s requirements.

 As per previous competitions, individuals may be involved as an Applicant or Co-applicant on a maximum of 2 CREATE projects (e.g. one awarded project plus the current application, or two proposed applications), and an individual can only be the Applicant on one application at any given time. Where an individual is involved in two (2) CREATE projects, the projects must be distinct from each other. 

 Phase 2 – LOI for Institutional (RIS) Review (required) Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026. See also here for more details: https://research-tools.mun.ca/funding/opportunities/nserc-create-2027-phase-2-loi/

As the VPR letter for every LOI must include the total number of LOIs being submitted by Memorial, LOIs must be submitted to RIS with sufficient time to coordinate the required VPR letters. Documents required for LOI review:

• 1) Complete LOI documents as noted in the NSERC CREATE LOI Instructions (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/CREATE-FONCER_eng.asp) (with the exception of the VPR letter which will be provided following institutional review). **Please note: NSERC CREATE website is currently in the process of being updated to reflect this current competition.  Please check back to the site for updates. 2) A draft VPR Letter of Support 3) Documentation of any Memorial commitments (cash and/or in-kind) listed in the draft VPR Letter of Support

LOIs must be submitted to RIS through the Researcher Portal. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for Faculty Approval to be given via the Researcher Portal in order to meet the internal deadline.

Once approved by RIS, the applicant will receive the signed VPR letter and will submit their finalized LOI via the NSERC portal to meet the NSERC deadline of May 1, 2026.

NSERC CREATE Program Information

Program information for 2027 competition year is currently being updated on the NSERC website. **Please check back to the site for updates (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/CREATE-FONCER_eng.asp). We encourage potential applicants to read this as well as the following instructions:

LOI – Form 187 Instructions

CREATE Frequently Asked Questions

For Phase 3, see RFT entry: https://www.hss.mun.ca/funding/competitions/3812

RIS will be offering additional support to applicants preparing CREATE LOIs. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) and/or Dr. Amanda Crompton (ajcrompt@mun.ca) in advance of the internal deadline for preliminary discussions regarding their LOI.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this opportunity must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.