Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Insight Grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Funding is available to both emerging and established scholars for research initiatives of two to five years.

Honours outstanding achievement in the physical, biological, and social sciences.

The objective of the Exploration stream of the NFRF program is to support high risk, high reward and interdisciplinary research that is not easily supported through funding opportunities currently offered by the three agencies.

SSHRC Partnership Grants provide support for new and existing formal partnerships over 4 to 7 years to advance research, research training and/or knowledge mobilization. There are two stages: Stage 1 (Feb) and Stage 2 by invitation only (Oct).

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research has opened applications for the 2021 Azrieli Global Scholars program for early-career researchers. Applications are due by October 30, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Successful applicants will receive $100,000 CAD of unrestricted research support over two years. Please click the link above for further information.

Encourages continuing contributions to the cultural and intellectual heritage of Canada.

Connection Grants (amounts from $7,000 to $25,000) support workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, summer institutes or other events or outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives. Applications may be submitted by institutions (e.g., university led events) or individual applicants and teams. This is a 2:1 matching fund opportunity (SSHRC:entity match).

For new scientific projects jointly developed by French and Canadian teams that have never worked together before.

Traditional Fulbright awards are open to Canadian scholars in all fields and are designed to enable emerging and established scholars, post-doctoral researchers and experienced professionals to conduct research, teach, or undertake a combination of both activities for one semester or a full academic year at any university or research center of their choice in the United States.

Fulbright Canada Research Chairs Program is now accepting applications for awards to be taken up in the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Fulbright Canada Research Chairs are intended for Canadian citizens who are exceptional scholars and/or experienced professionals who wish to conduct research and/or lecture in the United States. Applications are accepted until November 15, 2020.

Partnership Development Grants (PDG) provide $75,000 to $200,000 over one to three years to formal partnerships, led by a project director. Partner organizations must provide evidence attesting to the commitment (e.g., cash and/or in-kind) that has been agreed upon.

Recognizes a scholar who has made an outstanding contribution to scholarship and to the development of Canadian Studies internationally.

Acknowledges those who offer a positive message to mankind through different expressions of art.

Recognizes current or recent innovations that have a positive impact on the quality of life in Canada.

Recognizes and encourages innovative and interdisciplinary research that cuts across traditional boundaries and paradigms.

Recognizes remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.

Recognizes the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership.

The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through the Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. There are 4 application deadlines throughout the year (Mar 15, Jun 15, Sept 15, and Dec 15).  The grants are valued at $7,000 to $25,000 over one year.

SSHRC Institutional Grants/SFU Grants support scholarly research in the contemporary arts, humanities and social sciences for expenses up to a maximum of $7,000. A lead applicant, together with one or more eligible co-applicants may apply in a single application for up to $10,000.

Public Transit is a key piece of Canada’s core public infrastructure, one that has immediate implications for the social, environmental, and economic well-being of urban and rural communities. It represents the largest funding area under Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Plan. Through this partnership, SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative seeks to strengthen connections between social sciences and humanities research and society, and to help inform decision-making that contributes to the well-being and prosperity of Canadians.

Recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the goal of equality for women and girls in Canada.

Recognizes individuals whose outstanding scholarship in the humanities and social sciences has shaped both public affairs and civil society.

Recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

Celebrates British Columbians who go above and beyond in their dedication and service to others and who devote time and energy to making their communities more caring, dynamic, beautiful, healthy, and unique.

Honours extraordinary women leaders.

Awards service to humanity in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace.

Recognizes remarkable achievements that are contributing to world civilization.

Connection Grants (amounts from $7,000 to $25,000) support workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, summer institutes or other events or outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives. Applications may be submitted by institutions (e.g., university led events) or individual applicants and teams. This is a 2:1 matching fund opportunity (SSHRC:entity match).

The IDG funding enables the development of new research questions, as well as experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches and/or ideas.  This is an excellent opportunity for new scholar(s) / researcher(s) to explore new research.  Also, this funding permits seasoned researcher(s) to develop/explore new avenues of research. Researchers may only apply for and hold, as applicant, only one IDG at a time.

Recognizes a very substantial and original contribution in comparative social science research.

Partnership Grants provide support for new and existing formal partnerships over 4 to 7 years to advance research, research training and/or knowledge mobilization.

The objective of the Transformation stream is to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge with the potential to realize real and lasting change. The challenge may be fundamental, leading to a scientific breakthrough, or applied, with a social, economic, environmental or health impact. Projects are expected to be world-leading, drawing on global research expertise, when relevant.

Recognizes excellence in Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship, while educating present and future generations of disruptors.

Honours and supports those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.

Rewards outstanding scholarship and research in various fields.

Rewards a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the humanities.

Recognizes important contributions in multiple domain.

Any British Columbian (or former long-term resident) who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction in any field. Community leadership, business, labour, industry, volunteer service, research, culture, the arts, sports… the possibilities are nearly endless.

Fosters culture, the sciences and the most meritorious initiatives in the cause of humanity, peace and fraternity among peoples throughout the world. 

The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through the Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. There are 4 application deadlines throughout the year (Mar 15, Jun 15, Sept 15, and Dec 15).  The grants are valued at $7,000 to $25,000 over one year.

Recognizes outstanding works in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

The Project Grant Program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes.

VP Research Travel Grants are provided for faculty in areas supported by SSHRC to attend conferences to present a paper (including the presentation of a poster in a poster session), to serve as a keynote speaker or in the case of faculty in the School for the Contemporary Arts, to present one’s own creative work to a peer group. Awards for North American travel to a Maximum of $900 and International travel to a Maximum of $2,000.

Recognizes sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought and have inspired students and colleagues alike. Institution submits nominations to SSHRC.

Recognizes outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and/or religious relations. 

Recognizes individuals or teams whose SSHRC-funded project has engaged the campus and/or wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic impacts. Nominations submitted by the institution.

Recognizes individuals or teams whose project has resulted in significant contribution to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. These are institutional and limited submission nominations.

Awards a formal partnership that, through mutual co-operation and shared intellectual leadership and resources, has demonstrated impact and influence within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community. These are institutional and limited submission nominations.

Recognizes individuals who maintains academic excellence, has a talent for research and knowledge mobilization and has demonstrated clear potential to be a future leader within and/or outside the academic sector. The nomination process for this award is managed through the Dean of Graduate Studies Office.

The objective of the Transformation stream is to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge with the potential to realize real and lasting change. The challenge may be fundamental, leading to a scientific breakthrough, or applied, with a social, economic, environmental or health impact. Projects are expected to be world-leading, drawing on global research expertise, when relevant.

The purpose of this competition is to stimulate social sciences and humanities research that will help inform best practices related to environmental and impact assessments

Release time awards for active Canadian scholars who have made a significant and remarkable contribution to their respective fields in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences or engineering.

Recognizes remarkable careers in the visual and media arts.

A new initiative for launching big, audacious ideas.

The Mitacs Globalink Research Internship is a competitive initiative for international undergraduates from the following countries and regions: Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Mexico, Tunisia, United Kingdom, USA, and Ukraine. From May to October of each year, top-ranked applicants participate in a 12-week research internship under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members in a variety of academic disciplines, from science, engineering and mathematics to the humanities and social sciences.

Recognizes outstanding scholarly work in the academic fields of the arts and humanities, social science, law and theology.

Through Partnership Engage Grants (PEG), the PEG COVID-19 Special Initiative provides short-term and timely support for small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships. It will allow researchers and their partners to address urgent and specific needs, challenges or opportunities through collaborations. It will also provide a unique opportunity to foster a knowledge exchange on COVID-19 crisis related issues, challenges and impacts between postsecondary researchers and different sectors of society, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and other highly qualified personnel. There are two calls for this special initiative: June 15, 2020 and Sep 15, 2020. The grants are valued at $7K to $25K over one year.

Awarded to active (not retired) Canadian scholars who have made a substantial and significant contribution over a significant period to scholarly research.

Recognizes and encourages world-class research and artistic creation, prizing contributions of lasting impact for their originality, theoretical significance and ability to push back the frontiers of the known world.

Recognizes Canada’s leaders in sustainability for their contributions over the prior two years.

Recognizes distinguished Chinese Canadians who have made outstanding professional achievements.

Open Research Area (ORA) 6 call is an international competition that supports collaborative research in the area of social sciences.

VP Research Travel Grants are provided for faculty in areas supported by SSHRC to attend conferences to present a paper (including the presentation of a poster in a poster session), to serve as a keynote speaker or in the case of faculty in the School for the Contemporary Arts, to present one’s own creative work to a peer group. Awards for North American travel to a Maximum of $900 and International travel to a Maximum of $2,000.

Empowers young researchers to lead International, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational dialogue with the goal to make global decision making evidence-based and inclusive.

Recognizes renowned scientists and artists for their achievements for humanity and for friendly relations between people.

Exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.

Honours those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of mankind.

Honours those who bring beauty and inspiration into the world.

Recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement in the areas supported by the Foundation.

For contribution to community beyond academy.

Rewards a distinguished and sustained contribution to the literature of the social sciences.

Awards outstanding work in the history of Canada.

Through this program, the Federation tangibly supports research dissemination and encourages excellence in humanities and social science scholarship.

The programme supports research and study visits up to three months within the framework of the bilateral exchange of scientists and scholars.

Build research partnerships while funding your grad students and postdocs. Apply any time for flexible funding.

Mitacs Elevate trains emerging research management leaders through an exclusive professional skills curriculum. Fellows gain theoretical and experiential training in areas such as project management and presentations.

This program supports graduate student research in a 16 to 24 week research project with an international industry partner located in any country except the United States.

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award funds research collaborations between senior undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members at a university overseas, including newly added destinations.

Small grants

This award would be suitable for spending a sabbatical year in Germany. An academic in Germany with whom you would collaborate during your sabbatical could nominate you for this award.

Grants to outstanding Canadian charitable organizations offering unique and inspiring programs or projects for the benefit, improvement and development of Canadian society.

To carry out long-term research (6-24 months) in Germany. Applicants choose their own topic of research and their academic host.

To sponsor a 6 to 18 month research stay at a research institution in Germany. The fellowship is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years.

Scientists and scholars from all non-European countries, who completed their doctorates less than 18 years ago, who are internationally recognized for their achievements in the field of applied research, and who in future are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements which will have a seminal influence on their discipline beyond their immediate field of work, are eligible to be nominated for a Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award.

Academics of all disciplines from abroad, who are internationally recognized as leaders in their field and who are expected to contribute to enhancing Germany's sustained international competitiveness as a research location in consequence of the award, are eligible to be nominated for an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship.

Granted in recognition of a researcher's entire achievements to date, to academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.

Excellent scientists and scholars of all nationalities who are expected to continue producing outstanding academic achievements in international collaboration are eligible to be nominated for the Max Planck Research Award.

The Konrad Adenauer Research Award honors researchers from Canada whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and beyond.

To explore key questions of global importance that can best be addressed through interdisciplinary, international teams.

The Project Grant Program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes.

Proposals are invited from social scientists to quickly deploy to a disaster-affected area in the aftermath of an extreme event to collect perishable data.

VPR Major Research Project Application Preparation grants assist SFU faculty members who are applying for major external research grants (e.g., CFI, NCE or SSHRC MCRI or INE). Assistance may take the form of support salaries for personnel needed to prepare application materials, costs of travel required to meet with research collaborators, long-distance telephone/fax charges, etc. These grants do not fund research per se.

The objective of the International stream is to support international research collaborations and position Canada and Canadian researchers as strategic partners at the international level. The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2020 Horizon Global Platform competition provides funding for Canadian researchers who are partners on successful projects funded through eligible calls under the EU Horizon 2020.

This program will build teams to address challenges requiring further research and development for solutions to meet COVID-19 related needs. The NRC will build these teams drawing on internal-to-government capacity and academic researchers who register to indicate their interest, and related areas of expertise and capabilities.

This grant serves to establish collaboration between German universities and international partners. Applications must be submitted by German researchers. Researchers who have already achieved their doctorates and who are based at a German research institution in Germany or abroad can apply.All disciplines are eligible for the grant.