Funding, News and Announcements

A message from Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, NSERC

The Federal Government’s Budget for 2018 is making significant investments in science and research.

As stated in the Budget, the Government of Canada continues to believe that Partnership programs, like those of NSERC, that bring together researchers and businesses have impact and “deliver tangible benefits to Canadians”. Budget 2018 recognized that it is “an established role [for] government to help bring together researchers and specialized equipment that resides at post-secondary institutions with businesses”.

The Budget has also directed “a reduction in the total number of business innovation programs [across government] by up to two-thirds.” As part of this effort, NSERC will modernize, simplify and improve its partnership programs. The Federal Budget proposed that Engage Grants, Industrial Research Chairs, Connect Grants, Strategic Partnership Grants for Networks and Projects, Experience Awards Grants, and the existing Collaborative Research and Development Grants be consolidated into a single grant program.

Over the last few months, work had already been undertaken to simplify some of our Partnerships programs. We now have an opportunity to accelerate this work. We can build on the foundations of our current programs and our years of experience in developing and delivering research partnerships support to create the next generation of modern, agile and simplified programs.

We are currently working to define the way forward for the coming months, including how we can best consult with partners and stakeholders in the research and innovation world. We will keep you informed of changes and timelines as we make progress.

In the meantime, NSERC Research Partnerships will continue to administer and fulfill current awards, and to offer its partnerships programs (i.e. Engage Grants, Industrial Research Chairs, Connect Grants, Strategic Partnership Grants for Networks and Projects, Experience Awards Grants, and the existing Collaborative Research and Development Grants).

We remain available to answer your questions and welcome your feedback as we move forward.

Marc Fortin
Vice-President, Research Partnerships. NSERC