Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

NSERC and Natural Resources Canada are pleased to announce a new partnership to fund research on small modular reastors through NSERC's Alliance grants program. NRCan has set aside $1M per year, over 4 years, to co-fund research projects through NSERC's Alliance grants program.

This partnership will support the goals of the 2022 Federal Budget to position Canada as a clean energy leader, and of Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan released by NRCan in December of 2020. Funding will support applicants in their efforts to address waste generated from SMRs and research related to minimizing SMR waste, as well as the development of supply chains for SMR manufacturing and SMR fuel supply.

Through these grants, NRCan will provide support up to $100,000 per year, for up to four years. NSERC’s contribution will be calculated using the Alliance program’s cost-sharing formula. 

The partnership between NSERC and NRCan is intended to support activities that will:

• generate new knowledge to support policy and decision-making related to SMRs in Canada’s nuclear industry, as well as to support the objectives of the Canada's SMR Action Plan;
• enhance the capabilities of Canadian universities to undertake research related to SMRs;
• increase training and help produce a new generation of nuclear scientists, engineers and policy-makers.

University researchers must first contact NRCan to discuss their proposed project and obtain approval before submitting an application to NSERC. To engage NRCan in supporting their research project, they must request an expression of interest (EOI) form via email to smr-prm@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca and submit the completed form to NRCan by 11:59 pm on April 11, 2023. A limited number of applicants will be invited by NRCan to submit an application for NSERC funding. Funding decisions will then be made based on based on NSERC's Alliance grant review process. Applications must be submitted to NSERC by August 1, 2023. 

Deadlines: 

NRCan Deadline: before April 11, 2023 submit an Expression of Interest. 

NSERC Application Deadline: August 1, 2023