What is NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants?
NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants is delivered by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as a grant. Funding is typically up to $150,000/yr for up to 3 years ($450K total NSERC share). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $150,000/yr for up to 3 years ($450K total NSERC share) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | NSERC funds the research side; industry partner provides cash and/or in-kind contributions (typical 1:1 partner-to-NSERC ratio, varies by project) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - rolling |
| Last verified | 2026-08-24 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors with applied R&D needs; manufacturing, agri-food, cleantech, health tech, software, advanced materials, any industry that benefits from college/polytechnic research capacity
- Eligible activities: Applied R&D project led by a college or polytechnic researcher in partnership with one or more companies; 1 to 3 year projects; partner co-funds and benefits from the research output and any associated IP
Watch out for
No college or polytechnic research partner identified; project led by a university researcher (use Alliance Advantage instead); pure basic research with no commercialization or industrial application path; no cash or in-kind partner contribution committed
Deadlines & how to apply
Continuous intake year round, no fixed deadlines, submitted through NSERC's Convergence Portal. Up to $150,000 per year for projects of one to three years. Requires cost sharing from partner organizations whose cash contributions are recognized by the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program. The COLLEGE submits the application; the company is the partner, which is the structural point SMBs miss. NEW for 2026: the CCI program team is piloting a committee-based review approach for ARD applications, started spring 2026, which may lengthen decision times relative to prior rolling assessment.
How NorthGrants helps with NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants
Most business owners read about NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grants, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
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.