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Discovery Grants (DG)
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Duration |
Application Deadline |
How to Apply |
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Up to five years | August 1 (Notification of Intent) |
Form 180 |
November 1 (Application) |
Forms 101 and 100 |
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October 1 (SAP Project Applications requesting $500,000 or more per year) |
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Program Contacts | ||
Discovery Grants assist in:
Discovery Grants support ongoing programs of research (with long-term goals) rather than a single short-term project or collection of projects. These grants recognize the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances, whether made individually or in groups. Researchers are free to work in the mode most appropriate for the research area.
Recipients of Discovery Grants (except SAP Project Grants) are not restricted to the specific activities described in the application, but may pursue new research interests, provided they are within NSERC’s mandate.
Researchers can apply for only one Discovery Grant at a time, either individually or as part of a group but not both. Researchers can hold only one Discovery Grant at any given time. This restriction does not apply to SAP Project Grants, which may be held concurrently with an individual or group grant. If you are currently the sole holder of a Discovery Grant, you may participate in an application for a Discovery Grant with other researchers on the understanding that the Discovery Grant you currently hold will be cancelled if the new application is successful and a grant is awarded. If you currently hold a group grant and wish to apply individually, consult NSERC. Researchers who hold an individual Discovery Grant cannot reapply for another individual Discovery Grant until the last year of their current award.
Researchers who apply individually can use their grants to participate in collaborative efforts and should describe these in their proposal. Researchers who see advantages in working together in a long-range collaborative program are encouraged to combine their efforts and apply as a group. The added benefits and costs associated with the collaboration are taken into account in the assessment.
NSERC does not consider requests for supplements to existing Discovery Grants, except from Steacie Fellows and Northern Research Supplement holders. Recipients may, however, apply for all other types of NSERC grants.
Discovery Grants are awarded for one to five years, the normal duration being five years. A shorter duration can be requested, at the time of application, by researchers phasing out their research program. Applicants requesting a shorter duration for other reasons must provide a strong justification for this request. NSERC may award a grant of the normal duration, even if a shorter period is requested in the budget provided.
To apply for a Discovery Grant, first submit a Notification of Intent to Apply for a Discovery Grant (Form 180) and a list of your research contributions for the last six years. In May, most potential applicants receive an e-mail message providing instructions for the preparation of these documents. If you are not contacted directly by NSERC in May, consult NSERC's Web site for instructions or contact your university research grants office. NSERC must receive the required material by August 1.
You must then submit the following by November 1 (October 1 for SAP Project Grants requesting $500,000 or more per year):
Applications are reviewed by Grant Selection Committees (GSCs). There may also be input from external referees.
NSERC assigns applications to GSCs on the basis of the research field, the objectives of the proposed research program, and input from applicants and committees. You may suggest which committee you believe to be the most appropriate to review your application on Form 180, but NSERC will make the final decision.
If your research is interdisciplinary, a process will be used to ensure an appropriate review of all aspects of your application. For instance, if the application is reviewed by a discipline GSC, input from other disciplines will be gathered, as needed, through an appropriate selection of external referees or through consultation with other discipline GSCs. Alternatively, your application will be reviewed by the interdisciplinary GSC. Please see the Guidelines for the Preparation and Review of Applications in Interdisciplinary Research.
Applicants cannot submit the same proposal concurrently to both NSERC and SSHRC or CIHR (see Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency and Addressing Other Sources of Funding).
Applications are judged according to the following criteria. The onus is on applicants to address these explicitly in their proposal.
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Important Notices |