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NSERC Alliance Society Grants 

Sponsor/agency: NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)

Program: Alliance Society

Please note that the program information provided below is applicable as of December 1, 2025.

Description 

Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. These grants support research projects led by strong, complementary, collaborative teams that will generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research results to create benefits for Canada.

Alliance Society grants (formerly Alliance cost-sharing option 2) fund projects with societal impact as the main driver.

Research supported by Alliance Society grants will:

  • Address a societal challenge that will result in new natural sciences and engineering knowledge and societal impact
  • Bring together academic, partner organization and societal perspectives and skill sets throughout the collaboration
  • Demonstrate how all interested individuals will learn about and use the products, services or policies that stem from this research
  • Generate new knowledge and/or technology to address complex challenges
  • Create economic, social and/or environmental benefits
  • Contribute to Canada’s long-term competitiveness
  • Support public policy
  • Train new researchers in areas that are important to Canada and the partner organizations
  • Draw on diverse perspectives and skill sets to accelerate the translation and application of research results

Program Summary 

Deadlines:

[6 weeks prior to desired submission date]: Please notify your Grants Officer of your intent to apply a minimum of six weeks before the desired submission date* 

[10 business days before the desired submission date]: Mandatory internal administrative review deadline. Submit the signed Research Grant Authorization form and the full application (including all attachments) for the internal administrative review*

[Rolling]: There is no Agency deadline. This program has an ongoing intake. 

*Important: Please note that at certain high-volume times (September to November), we will require more time to review and submit applications with no external deadline.

Value: $20,000 - $500,000 per year from NSERC. While partner cash matching is not required, partner in-kind contributions are required. 

Indirect Costs: 35% of the partner cash contribution for direct costs.

Duration: 1-5 years

How to Apply:

  1. Notify your grants officer of your intent to apply. Please let us know at least 6 weeks prior to your desired submission date.
  2. Please create your NSERC Alliance grant application form (Form 101) in the NSERC Online System. A complete application package includes the following components:
    1. Form 101 – Grant Application Form (NSERC Online System). See Form 101 instructions. Attachments required:
      1. Proposal (template)  - page limits depend on the size of the project. Please see the Proposal Sections and Length section to determine the appropriate page limit. Note: the  Public Value Impact Proposition (PIVP) Selection Committee will assess applications for their fit to the objectives of Alliance Society and also provide funding recommendations to NSERC following the merit assessment of each proposal. 
      2. Budget Justification - no page limit
      3. Justification for in-kind contributions from partner organization(s) – no page limit
      4. Collaborator biographical sketches (if applicable) - a maximum of two pages for each person (see the Collaborators and Collaborator Biographical Sketches section)
      5. National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form (required if partner organization is from the private sector).
      6. Attestation for Research Aiming to Advance Sensitive Technology Research Areas form (required if your proposed research activities aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area)
      7. Data management plan
    2. Form 100A - Personal Information Form (NSERC Online System). Form 100A instructions. A form is required for the applicant and all co-applicants. Attachments required: 
      1. Contributions to research and training explanation
      2. Canadian Common CV (NSERC version)
    3. Partner Organization Form (instructions)
  3. Submit complete application package and Research Grants Authorization (RGA) Form signed by your Dean to your Grants Officer at minimum 10 business days prior to desired submission date for an administrative review. For a comprehensive review, please submit your complete application at minimum 3 weeks prior to the desired submission date. 

Contact: ORS Grants Officers: 

Agency Program Contact:  alliance@nserc-crsng.gc.ca 

Program information:

Eligibility 

Subject Matter

You can apply to support any R&D project that seeks to respond to a research challenge in the natural sciences or engineering (see Selecting the appropriate federal granting agency). However, you cannot use an Alliance grant to support secret or contract research.

Alliance Society are projects with societal impact as the main driver. To be eligible for an Alliance Society grant:

  • Projects must involve research at the intersection of science/engineering and society, with societal impact as the main driver
  • Teams must involve the people affected by these issues—who will benefit from the research results—in identifying the challenge and designing a strategy to solve the challenge 
  • Teams must share the results in ways that the affected groups will use a collaborative approach is expected 

Your project may solve a challenge or take a first step toward achieving your ultimate societal goals. Because this approach is more challenging and requires more effort, NSERC covers 100% of the project costs. NSERC’s contribution will allow you to make crucial advances toward these longer-term benefits.

Projects must meet the following three criteria. A selection committee will examine whether applications meet the criteria. Only applications that do so will continue to peer review, and applications that fail to meet these criteria will be rejected.

1. Societal Impact

  • Identify a need affecting Canadian end users and society 
  • Develop an approach involving science and engineering research to meet the need
  • Aim for benefits that reach societal end users and go beyond the direct interests of participating partner organizations

Your project must result in new technical knowledge that can be adopted by end users to make a positive impact on society in Canada.

Your objectives and research strategy must be well aligned with the needs of the affected societal groups. You can realize benefits in collaboration with any sector—private, public or not-for-profit.

2. Making Connections

  • Identify partner organizations and societal groups affected by - or interested in - the problem, including those outside natural sciences and engineering, when appropriate
  • Engage these partner organizations and societal groups to bring their knowledge to the research design and implementation
  • Involve these partner organizations and groups in integrating the solutions within and across sectors

The approach should bring together academic and societal groups, and partner organizations throughout the collaboration - from design through execution to implementation. Impacts are stronger when the project makes connections within and outside the natural sciences and engineering. Non-academic partners and groups have a unique understanding of the challenge. Although they cannot resolve it on their own, they can define the need and participate in knowledge exchange to implement the results. Your partner organizations can advance the project through a high-level of participation and sharing results beyond their own organizations. Your application must explain how the partner organizations’ involvement will lead to adoption.

3. Broad Outputs

  • Have a clear plan to communicate progress and the resulting products, services or policies beyond the academic world
  • Use non-technical and innovative formats that partner organizations and societal groups can understand and that help exchange knowledge with these organizations and groups
  • Demonstrate how the management of the project-generated intellectual property (IP) allows organizations and groups affected by the societal challenge to use the results without any obstacles

Your project must aim for outcomes that are more than improvements to a product or a service for increased profit. Your project may advance a sector and its practices, or it may provide evidence that leads to new policies or regulations. The results should be shared in various ways, including technical formats, such as publications, and non-technical formats that end users can find, understand and use. Your proposal must explain how all interested individuals and groups, beyond partner organizations, will learn about and use the results of your research. You must describe how your IP plan will allow the individuals and groups affected by the societal challenge to access the outcomes.

Applicant 

University researchers collaborating with private-sector, public-sector or not-for-profit organizations. The applicant must be a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds.

Co-Applicant

College faculty can participate as co-applicants. Co-applicants must be eligible academic researchers who can receive NSERC funds. 

Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering: Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants for Alliance grants if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty. Research costs for these collaborations and/or activities outside the NSE can represent up to 30% of the project costs (see Funding your research project) and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification.

Partner Organization (required)

Your partnership must include:

  • At least one partner organization that would be recognized for cost sharing under Alliance grants and that will make in-kind contributions to the project
  • Societal groups affected by the challenge that can benefit from and use the results of the project

In an R&D project considered for an Alliance Society grant, at least one partner organization must be recognized for cost sharing, but a cash contribution is not required. To be recognized for cost sharing, a partner organization must:

  • Be listed as a type of organization whose cash contributions can be recognized for cost sharing with NSERC (see NSERC criteria)
  • Meet the detailed requirements that apply to the partner organization’s sector (private, Canadian public or Canadian not-for-profit), (see NSERC criteria)

Although you must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) that could be recognized for cost sharing (see Alliance Society: Partner organizations), you may also include other partner organizations that play an important role in your research project, whether or not they could be recognized for cost sharing.

Additional Information 

Number of participating organizations

If you are applying for an Alliance Society grant, you can include just one partner organization or several—whichever you need to support the planned activities (given their size and scope) and produce the desired research results and widest possible benefits. Your application must demonstrate that the contributions and involvement of the partner organization or organizations will create the necessary conditions for the project’s success.

In-kind Contributions from partner organizations

In-kind contributions are important for the success of the project. All partner organizations participating in the project must play an active role in it and make in-kind contributions through such involvement. In-kind contributions are considered in the merit assessment of your proposal (see Evaluation criteria).

Collaborating internationally

To increase the impact of Canadian NSE research in the global research community, you may incorporate international collaborations into your project proposal. You may interact with foreign colleagues in a variety of ways to enhance collaboration and increase your project’s impact. Refer to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration regarding the eligibility of expenses you may incur in support of such collaborations.

Funding Notes

The funds from NSERC must be paid to eligible universities and cannot be used to buy equipment, products or services from any partner organization, or to cover any part of the travel and travel-related subsistence expenditures for partner organization personnel. For Alliance Society, expenses that are direct costs of research and essential for the success of the project incurred by partners that are Indigenous organizations in the public or not-for-profit sectors may be included in the application budget. Please consult with NSERC before submitting your application.

NSERC funds can only be applied to expenses incurred after an award is approved.

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to Sensitive Technology Research Areas performed with research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security. The STRAC Policy applies to this funding opportunity.

Applicants must identify whether the grant application aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles (for this funding opportunity, these are the applicants, co-applicants, and collaborators) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a Named Research Organization (NRO).

The Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on applicable procedures and requirements, including the responsibilities of researchers and the responsibilities of institutions.

National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships

In the case where your NSERC Alliance application involves one or more partner organization from the private sector, including when they participate alongside other partner organizations from the public and/or not-for-profit sectors, you must complete the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment form and submit it as an integral part of the application.

The requirement to submit the completed Risk Assessment form applies to industrial associations since their member organizations are principally from the private sector. When filling out the form, you must consider the association’s private-sector member organizations participating in the project (when applicable) and/or those that will exploit the research results.

If your Risk Assessment form identifies risks related to data that will be mitigated — in part or in whole — by your data management plan (DMP), the risk mitigation plan section of your Risk Assessment form must also describe how your DMP will address those data-related risks.

Data Management Plan

Alliance Society is now part of a pilot initiative where applicants are being asked to submit a data management plan (DMP) with their application. The results of this pilot will be used to inform NSERC’s implementation of the Tri-agency Research Data Management Policy’s DMP requirement. The DMP is not part of the scoring or the formal evaluation of the application; however, during this pilot, PIVP committee members are asked to provide feedback on submitted DMPs to help support applicants.

DMPs contribute to research efficiency by encouraging researchers to proactively establish how they will manage their data through all stages of the research activities. DMPs should describe what data are expected to be collected, created, linked to, acquired or recorded; how data will be documented, formatted, protected, and stored; who will be responsible for managing the data; whether and how data and research results will be shared within and outside of the funded team/project; and any ethical, legal and commercial constraints the data are subject to (if applicable).

Resources 

For Applicants

For Partners