External Funding Opportunities for Companies

To develop new research partnerships  between innovative companies and Canadian universities and colleges by supporting short-term research and development projects aimed at addressing a company-specific problem. Projects are expected to result in economic benefits to the company and to Canada and build impactful longer term collaborations between the applicant and the company.

Value: $25,000

Industry Contribution: In-kind contribution required; minimal cash contribution expected

Learn more about NSERC Engage

Enhances research partnerships between college researchers and their private-sector partners by supporting well-defined applied research and development projects consistent with the college's applied research, training and technology transfer mandate.

Value: $75,000 - $150,000

Industry Contribution:  Up to $75,000, industry partners contribute 25% cash ($18,750); Up to $150,000, industry partners contribute 40% cash ($60,00)

Learn more about NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD)

Supports long-term research initiatives by both emerging and established scholars to address complex issues pertaining to individuals and societies and to further our collective understanding.

Value:  Stream A: $7,000 - $100,000; Stream B: $100,001 - $400,000

Learn more about SSHRC Insight Grants

Supports short-term partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector on an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity. Priority is given to projects involving Indigenous research or research-creation activities.

Value:  $7,000 - $25,000 (events); $50,000 (outreach activities)

Learn more about SSHRC Connection Grants

Supports short-term partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector on an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity. Priority is given to projects involving Indigenous research or research-creation activities.

Value:  $7,000 - $25,000 

Learn more about SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants

Supports collaboration between postsecondary institutions and/or organizations of various types to:

1) Develop research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities, including knowledge mobilization and the meaningful involvement of students and new scholars, OR

2) Design and test new partnership approaches for research and/or related activities that may result in best practices or models or have the potential to be scaled up to a regional, national or international level.

Value:  $75,000 - $200,000

Learn more about SSHRC Partnership Development Grants

Supports large teams working in formal collaboration between postsecondary institutions and/or organizations of various types for either:

1) New research and/or research-related partnership activities that are distinct from an existing partnership’s previous/ongoing partnership activities, OR

2) New research and/or research-related partnership activities that are undertaken by partnerships in their initial stages.

Value:  $75,000 - $200,000

Learn more about SSHRC Partnership Grants

Supports collaborations between industry and postsecondary institutions that lead to knowledge mobilization, commercialization and increased productivity with significant economic impact for Ontario.

Value:  $20,000 - $150,000

Industry Contribution: $20,000 (at least $5,000 in cash) - $150,000 ($75,000 in cash)

Learn more about OCE Voucher for Innovation and Productivity

Mitacs powers research & development by connecting industry with the best post-secondary institutions to solve business challenges — in Canada and internationally. For 20 years, Mitacs has funded cutting-edge research, created job opportunities for graduate students and helped companies reach their business goals, achieving results that have bolstered the Canadian economy.

Learn more about Mitacs support for industry

SONAMI is a network of colleges and one university, who, through their respective Research and Innovation Centres, are collaborating with small- and medium-sized companies to turn innovations into commercialized products. SONAMI leverages faculty, students and state-of-the-market equipment, together with funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, to support manufacturing in southern Ontario.

Learn more about SONAMI and its funding support