What is NSERC Alliance Advantage Grants?
NSERC Alliance Advantage Grants is delivered by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as a grant. Funding reaches $20,000–$1,000,000/yr (NSERC share). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | $20,000–$1,000,000/yr (NSERC share) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | NSERC covers up to ~67% of eligible costs (Alliance Advantage); partner organization funds the remainder in cash/in-kind |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - Rolling |
| Last verified | 2026-05-28 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Technology, engineering, natural sciences — academic-industry collaborative R&D, all sectors
- Eligible activities: Collaborative natural-sciences/engineering R&D project led by a university researcher with one or more partner organizations; 1–5 year projects; partner co-funds and benefits from the research output
Watch out for
No academic partner identified; non-R&D project; research outside natural sciences and engineering; sole proprietors with no partner org
Deadlines & how to apply
Replaces the discontinued NSERC Engage grant. The university researcher submits the application in partnership with the company; ongoing/rolling intake. Alliance Society stream available for projects at the intersection of natural sciences/engineering and society.
How NorthGrants helps with NSERC Alliance Advantage Grants
Most business owners read about NSERC Alliance Advantage Grants, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.