Canada-G7-Nordic call for proposals on quantum technologies

Eligibility

Eligibility
If you are a Canadian university researcher eligible to receive NSERC funds, you can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers.

Each Canadian research team can submit only one application to this call. You may participate as an applicant on only one application, but you may be a co-applicant or collaborator on multiple applications. Adjunct professors whose primary place of employment is in Canada while outside the university sector (e.g., government, industry or not-for-profit) may apply as co-applicants. College faculty can participate as co-applicants.

Your project must include at least one international collaborator who is eligible for funding from Germany (DFG), Japan (JST), the United Kingdom (UKRI EPSRC) or Nordic countries (NordForsk). Multilateral collaborations (i.e., involving Canada and two or more other countries) are encouraged, but bilateral collaborations (i.e., Canada and one other country) are also allowed.

U.S. collaborators may also be part of the proposed international teams, supported by existing resources or NSF¿s existing mechanism for international supplements.

All international collaborators must meet their respective national funder¿s eligibility requirements (see the Funding section for details by country). NSERC will internally review the eligibility of Canadian researchers, and the corresponding national funders will assess the eligibility of their respective researchers.

Eligibility for partnership
Collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia (industry, public, not-for-profit) are permitted but not required. You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results for the desired impact and benefits for Canada and other participating countries. Cash contributions from partner organizations are not required, but active support through in-kind contributions is expected if partner organizations are included in the application.

See NSERC policy guidance below on Research agreements and intellectual property and National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships.

If a private sector partner organization is included in the proposal, the relevant national funders may have specific requirements:

For NSERC, the Risk Assessment Form  is required.
For DFG, researchers must follow the Guidelines on the Participation of Commercial Enterprises in Research Projects  and a cooperation agreement must be in place before DFG¿s funding decision is made.
For UKRI EPSRC, expectations are set out in standard grant terms and conditions: UKRI terms and conditions of FEC grants .

Summary

The Canada G7 Nordic Call for Proposals on Quantum Technologies is a joint international funding opportunity led by NSERC in partnership with funding agencies from Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden). The call supports bilateral and multilateral research collaborations that advance quantum science and technology, with projects focusing on one or more priority areas: quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum materials, and quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography. Projects may also integrate these quantum technology themes with other areas of natural sciences and engineering.

Canadian applicants must be eligible university researchers and must collaborate with at least one eligible international partner from a participating country. Industry, public sector and not-for-profit organizations may participate as partners, although cash contributions are not required. For Canadian teams, NSERC will provide up to $750,000 CAD per project (maximum $250,000 per year) for projects of up to three years' duration. Funding is limited to eligible direct research costs such as trainee and research personnel support, materials and supplies, collaboration activities and essential research equipment; no separate institutional overhead funding is provided.

The program is designed to strengthen international research cooperation in quantum technologies, support the objectives of the G7 Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies, and accelerate advances that contribute to economic growth, security, innovation and societal benefits. Applications are submitted through NSERC, which will serve as the lead agency for merit review, with the application deadline set for September 24, 2026.

Please Note: As this funding opportunity falls into the international stream, the internal review deadline is ten business days ahead of the agency deadline (September 10, 2026 at 12PM MT)

Overhead

0 - NSERC does not provide overhead costs

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Additional application deadlines

As this funding opportunity falls into the international stream, the internal review deadline is ten business days ahead of the agency 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.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

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.

RESOURCES

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 Application