NSERC: 2027 Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program

Eligibility

*This posting will be updated following the NSERC CREATE Informational Webinar for Prospective Applicants February 9, 2026 and program website/instructions release by NSERC expected March 2026. The webinar information will be included in the “Resources” section below. 

For a full record of NSERC’s Eligibility Criteria, please refer to its website: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Eligibility-Admissibilite/faculty-corpsprof_eng.asp 

Summary

**Note: NSERC introduced significant changes to the program in November 2024 and February 2025. A summary of changes that are expectedto continue for the next call follow:

1. NSERC set an “allocation” number of three regular stream LOIs for UCalgary.
   • UCalgary will not be limited in the number of regular stream LOIs it can submit, but if UCalgary submits more than its allocated number (3) of regular stream LOIs, all LOIs will be adjudicated and only three will be invited by NSERC to progress to full application. If UCalgary submits only its allocated number of LOIs, NSERC will not adjudicate the LOIs and all will progress to full application. UCalgary may hold an internal selection process for the LOI stage.
2. Mandatory mobility experiences for all M.Sc. and Ph.D. trainees, with a minimum duration of 1 month for M.Sc. and 2 months for Ph.D.
3. Elimination of the Industrial stream. Industrial participation in CREATE initiatives is encouraged, but the extent and nature of industrial participation is determined by the applicants and their industrial partners.

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The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs.

There are several streams of opportunity within the CREATE program:

1. Regular Stream
2. International Collaboration – An agreement between the German Research Foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and NSERC is in place to support bilateral training programs that involve the exchange of students between Germany and Canada.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Faculty members who would like to participate in the 2026 intake for the 2027 CREATE program must submit an internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) to Research Services by January 26, 2026. Prospective applicants should consult their faculty ADR for internal faculty requirements. 

Timeline

Activity: optional Test Your Concept session OPPORTUNITY CLOSED

• Participate in optional Test Your Concept – COMPLETED NOVEMBER 2025

Phase: mandatory internal Notice of Intent (iNOI)

• PI/team submits iNOI to Research Services (must use template attached below)
  • Speak with Faculty Associate Dean (Research) office re: any additional internal Faculty requirements/deadlines.

         Deadline:  By 9am January 26, 2026 

Phase: Letter of Intent (LOI)

• PI/team submits final LOI to Research Services; approvals within RMS
  • Email to ipd@ucalgary.ca

         Deadline:  By 9am April 23, 2026 

Specific application process information for the LOI stage of the 2027 NSERC CREATE competition will be distributed to prospective regular stream applicants who submit an iNOI, and for the full application stage to teams selected to move forward in the competition.

LOIs, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) will be required by RSO by 9am, April 23, 2026. Complete the Pre-Award/LOI record in RMS (login at https://research.ucalgary.ca/rms). Please use the “NSERC – Collaborative Research and Training Experience” funding opportunity and be sure to select "Submitted for approvals" (Under Save & Progress) in RMS 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. A step sheet for creating an application record in RMS is available in the Resources section below.

Note: If you plan to participate in the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) stream, please let Research Services know as soon as possible via email to ipd@ucalgary.ca. 

Overhead

Not applicable 

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

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.

RESOURCES

Please use the internal Notice of Intent template form attached. 

NSERC will hold CREATE Informational Webinars for Prospective Applicants February 9, 2026. More information will be posted to this section as it becomes available on the NSERC CREATE website.

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

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

For training programs 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.

The attached IRST Grant Review checklist can also be used, in consultation with IRST, to determine if a project involves Indigenous research.

For assistance in identifying international partners:

Contact the International Research and Innovation team at UCIresearch@ucalgary.ca.

Industry Engagement (Research) is dedicated to assisting faculty members in establishing research partnerships with industry. For those developing an NSERC CREATE with potential relevance to industry partners, the Industry Engagement team offers the following support:

• Meet with you to understand your project and identify opportunities where industry involvement could enhance and mutually benefit the research.
• Identify and target relevant companies, leading initial outreach efforts.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings with companies expressing interest in the partnership.
• Provide ongoing support for partnership development as both companies and researchers explore collaborative opportunities.

To access these services or request additional support, please reach out to the team manager, Carmen Rieder, at carmen.rieder@ucalgary.ca.

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.

CREATE iNOI template

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

IRST Grant Review checklist

Projects being led elsewhere: faculty members participating in CREATE initiatives being led elsewhere are asked to contact Research Services (ipd@ucalgary.ca) by March 31, 2026.

RMS Training

As the full application will run through RMS, we encourage applicants to view the step sheets available at the RMS Training page. 

For training or technical support, you can contact RMS at: rms@ucalgary.ca and 403.210.9309.