2026 NSERC Alliance Advantage

Eligibility

• If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers.
• You must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) whose cash contributions will be recognized for cost-sharing (see Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations) but you may include other partner organizations who play an important role in your research project whether or not their cash contributions are recognized for cost sharing. In-kind contributions should be present for all partners.
• Please complete the Risk Assessment Form if you working with a private sector partner and reach out to research.security@ucalgary.ca to help you put together your mitigation plans and complete the partner vetting

Summary

Recent updates:

• Feb 13, 2025: NSERC is pausing the intake of requests for extensions with additional funds, as of February 27, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. (ET).  Until further notice, NSERC will not consider requests for additional one-year funding for existing Alliance Advantage grants beyond this deadline.   
• NSERC hosted "EDI in the Training Plan for Alliance" webinars in January and February of 2025, please see the Resources section below for a copy of the slides.
• NSERC hosted webinars to provide an update on their Merit evaluation and funding decisions process in October 2025. See a copy of the slides under Resources below. 

Summary

This competition has a rolling intake.

Alliance Advantage 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.

Research supported by Alliance grants will:

• 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 to the partner organizations;
• draw on diverse perspectives and skill sets to accelerate the translation and application of research results.

Application process:

This competition will be run through Research Management System (RMS).

1. If you are working with a private sector partner organization then you will need to complete a risk assessment form which can be found here.  Please reach out directly to researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca for additional information and help. 

2. Complete your application in the NSERC On-line system. Once the application is complete (including required attachments and your CCV), verify each section, and then press "Submit". Your application will be sent to the Research Services Office. Please ensure your application is final and complete; Research Services will not review drafts, and, once received, your application may be submitted to NSERC without further notice. 

3. Complete the Pre-Award record in RMS (login at https://research.ucalgary.ca/rms) and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.  

• Please note, your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in the NSERC Portal and the RMS Approvals have been received. As Alliance is a rolling intake, once we have received both the completed RMS record and the NSERC application in the NSERC portal, please indicate if you would like a basic (allowable turnaround time is 3 days) review or a detailed (allowable turnaround time is 2 weeks) review.
• The detailed review includes a detailed review of the application, checking for eligibility and UofC commitments and risk, compliance with program guidelines, completeness of application, and the opportunity for feedback to improve the application.
• The basic administrative review involves a minimal check of the application for eligibility and any UofC commitment or risk.

Overhead

No overhead applicable.

Resources:

RSO Guide for applying

NSERC Resources: 

Recent webinars

• Webinar on Alliance review process (Oct 2025)
• Webinar on EDI in the Training Plan for Alliance (Feb 2025)

Partners

• Role of partner organizations
• Partner organization self-assessment tool
• Partner organization form instructions

Apply

Application instructions and materials

• Completing an application — form 101 instructions (including page lengths)
• Proposal template (downloads template)
• National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ risk assessment form
• Personal data form with CCV attachment — form 100A instructions
• Canadian Common CV — How to complete NSERC’s version
• Alliance grant application checklist

Supplementary guides and overviews

• Equity, diversity and inclusion in your training plan
• Safeguarding Your Research portal

Review

• Merit indicators

Award

• Terms and conditions of award
• Policy on intellectual property

Additional links

• Eligibility
• Tri-agency guide on financial administration
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Professors frequently asked questions
• Appeals of NSERC funding decisions

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application