External Grants and Contracts

If you intend to apply for an external grant, please notify the Research Office in advance of agency deadlines. Grants require the signature of the institution’s official signatory. A minimum of two weeks lead-time is needed to review the grant application properly, and the Associate Vice-President, Research vets the grant applications. If you require assistance constructing budgets, the Associate Vice-President, Research should be consulted as soon as an application is considered. The Research Office cannot guarantee last-minute reviews of grants. For more information on major sources of Canadian federal funding, click Tri-Council Agencies.


Tri-Council and CFI Grants Deadlines:

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Funding Streams:

Unaffiliated – Every February 15, June 15, and October 15

Partnership (CRC, CERC, SSHRC and NSERC) – Infrastructure proposal should be submitted to the CFI at the same time the corresponding partnership proposal is submitted (see partner websites for deadlines).

NOTE: Should a deadline fall on a weekend or a statutory holiday (including Family Day), the deadline is pushed to the following regular business day.


Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR)

A comprehensive list of CIHR funding opportunities and deadlines is located in ResearchNet

CIHR Project Grant – Registration (February 8 and August 18), Application (March 8 and September 15)

Other : Planning and Dissemination Grants – ICS  – February 21, 2023
(Planning and Dissemination Grants – Institute/Initiative Community Support (Winter 2023 Competition))


Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Current NSERC Funding Programs such as Discover, Innovate, Research Tools and Instruments and Infrastructure Programs are located here.

NSERC Discovery Grant – Notification of Intent – August 1

NSERC Research Tools and Instruments – October 25

NSERC Discovery Grant – Application – November 1


Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

2023 SSHRC deadlines:

Connection Grants – February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1, 2023

Insight Development Grants – February 2, 2023

Insight Grants – October 1, 2023

Partnership Development Grants – November 15, 2023

Partnership Grants- Stage 1 – February 10, 2023

Partnership Engage Grants – March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15, 2023

Reconciliation Network in Response to Call to Action 65 – May 15, 2023