NSERC Discovery Grants - Fall 2026

Descriptions

Opportunity link:

NSERC Discovery Grants - Fall 2026

Opportunity type:

Grant

Sponsor:

NSERC

Award amount and duration:

Any amount up to 5 years

Currency:

CAD

Eligibility

Type:
Faculty

NSERC webinars:

Please note the following:

  • Advance registration is required to attend the sessions (via MS Teams)
  • Sessions will open 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time
  • Due to anticipated high attendance, NSERC staff may not be able to address all questions during the sessions. Any additional inquiries may be directed to the NSERC Discovery support team by email at resgrant@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

English

Session 1: Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)

Register Submit a question

Session 2: Wednesday, June 24, 2026  from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)

Register Submit a question

Session 3: Tuesday, July 7, 2026  from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)

Register Submit a question

 

French

Session 1: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)

Register Submit a question

Session 2: Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)

Register Submit a question

 

RSO Update:

General eligibility principles

DGs are awarded to individual researchers for five years. Researchers can apply for and hold only one DG at a time. Researchers who hold a DG cannot reapply for another DG until the last year of their current award.

Individuals cannot hold both a Discovery Grant and a Discovery Horizons grant. This rule has been effective from the 2024 competition year onwards.

Applicants to the DG program must meet NSERC’s Eligibility Requirements for faculty to apply for or hold grant funds.

Subject matter eligibility and funding from other sources

Applicants to the DG program must present a program of research that is eligible under NSERC’s mandate, which is to promote and assist research in the natural sciences and engineering, other than health. The objectives of the research program must be to advance knowledge in the natural sciences or engineering. The application will be rejected if NSERC determines, at any time during the review cycle, that the subject matter is outside of its mandate. Refer to Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency, the Addendum to the guidelines for the eligibility of applications related to health, the Peer Review Manual, and the NSERC Discovery Grants Process for Decisions on Mandate Eligibility for further information on the eligibility of subject matter.

Applicant categories

Applicants to the DG program are categorized as either early career researchers or established researchers. Refer to the Discovery Grants – applicant categories for more information. Applicant categorization is the responsibility of NSERC staff and is based on the information provided by the applicant in the Canadian Common CV (CCV) and application.

Summary

The Discovery Grants (DG) program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals rather than a single short-term project or collection of projects. These grants recognize the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances. Discovery Grants are typically five years in duration and are considered “grants in aid” of research, as they provide long-term operating funds and can facilitate access to funding from other programs but are not meant to support the full costs of a research program.

DG recipients are not restricted to the specific activities described in their applications and may pursue new research interests, provided they are within NSERC’s mandate and adhere to the principles and directives governing the appropriate use of funds as outlined in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration. This provides researchers with the flexibility to pursue promising research avenues as they emerge and the opportunity to address higher-risk (higher-reward) topics. Researchers can use their grants to participate in collaborative efforts.

Overhead

No overhead applicable. 

 

HOW TO APPLY: 

A] Notice of Intent - Submitted directly to NSERC, no RMS record required

The NOI is mandatory when applying for a Discovery Grant. Applicants who do not submit a NOI cannot submit a full application later in the fall. The information contained in the NOI allows NSERC to start some aspects of the review process, including preliminary assignment to an Evaluation Group, selection of external reviewers and verification of the eligibility of the subject matter.

  1. Complete the Notice of Intent form on the NSERC Research Portal
  2. Attach your NSERC Canadian Common CV (CCV)
  3. Submit the NOI through the NSERC Research Portal by the deadline of August 4, 2026 8:00 pm ET (6:00 pm MT)

NOTE: when you submit the NOI, it goes directly to NSERC (it does not come to Research Services). The NOI does not require institutional approval and there is no internal deadline. Please ensure that your NOI is final before submitting. Late applications will not be accepted. NSERC will not accept revisions to a NOI submitted before or after the deadline date.

The RSO is not involved in the NOI submissions process. Applicants submit directly to NSERC. 

 

B] Full Application - RMS record required as the RSO will need to submit on the applicant's behalf

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

  1. Complete your application in the NSERC Research Portal using the "NSERC Discovery Grants - Fall 2026" as the funding opportunity. 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. The final deadline for submission of your application is noon on October 28, 2026.
  2. 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. Ensure you receive all required approvals in advance of noon on October 28, 2026.
  • Your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in the Research Portal (a paper copy is not required) and the RMS Approvals have been received.
  • The final deadline of 12:00 p.m. on October 28, is a hard deadline. The three-day deadline ensures that Research Services is able to complete a basic review of the application and secure institutional signature in a timely fashion.

3. As an optional service, if you would like a detailed review, Research Services must receive your complete RMS approvals record and NSERC Research Portal application by 4 pm on October 15, 2026.

  • 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.

Resources:

Deadlines

Pre-application deadlines

Pre-application program deadline

Type:
NOI
Date:
August 4, 2026 - 6:00 PM

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

Date:
October 15, 2026 - 4:00 PM

RSO final internal review deadline

Date:
October 28, 2026 - 12:00 PM

Program application deadline

Date:
November 2, 2026 - 6:00 PM

Approvals

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.

Additional Information

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 LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Contact Details

Email:

Keywords

Discovery grants
NSERC