Competition

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

Canadian researchers who were preparing a collaboration with their international counterparts but were unable to submit an application to NSERC by the May 20, 2025 deadline may still apply, provided the corresponding international award was granted between that date and the program’s reopening and the international project remains viable. For these applications, the 120-day submission rule does not apply. If you are in this situation, contact NSERC to determine whether you may submit an application for the November 25, 2026 deadline.

Eligible Canadian university researchers may apply to NSERC for funds to collaborate with international university researchers on innovative natural sciences and engineering research projects in areas of global importance. Funding is awarded to projects of high scientific merit that bring together complementary expertise and demonstrate clear benefits to Canada.

The Canadian and international teams must jointly prepare an application that clearly describes both teams and their respective roles in the project. The international collaborator must submit the application to their national funding agency for peer review and funding consideration. If successful, the Canadian team may apply to NSERC for funding to support Canadian research activities no later than 120 days after the international collaborator receives the official international award letter.

The Canadian and international projects must start at roughly the same time; the duration of the international grant must be at least equivalent to the Canadian portion of the project. NSERC expects a balanced level of participation from both the Canadian and international teams. Each team must play a substantive and integral role in the project, and neither team may limit its involvement to a marginal or peripheral contribution.

The application to NSERC must clearly describe the added value of the collaboration for Canada. Applications where the Canadian team and its role are insufficiently described in the international proposal will not be considered.

Research Initiatives and Serives (RIS) offers additional support with application development for this opportunity (this is optional). Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) or Amanda Crompton (ajcrompt@mun.ca), copying the Grants Facilitators listed above, early during the development process to discuss the services available to them. See https://www.mun.ca/research/ for more information.  

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. Allow at least 10 business days for these reviews to be completed.

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 in order for HSS to begin its administrative review and provide approvals. HSS cannot guarantee timely completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete. 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.