Published: 06 Nov 2026 9 views
Eligible Canadian university researchers may apply to NSERC for funds to collaborate with international university researchers on innovative natural sciences and engineering research projects in areas of global importance. Funding is awarded to projects of high scientific merit that bring together complementary expertise and demonstrate clear benefits to Canada.
The Canadian and international teams must jointly prepare an application that clearly describes both teams and their respective roles in the project. The international collaborator must submit the application to their national funding agency for peer review and funding consideration. If successful, the Canadian team may apply to NSERC for funding to support Canadian research activities no later than 120 days after the international collaborator receives the official international award letter.
The Canadian and international projects must start at roughly the same time; the duration of the international grant must be at least equivalent to the Canadian portion of the project. NSERC expects a balanced level of participation from both the Canadian and international teams. Each team must play a substantive and integral role in the project, and neither team may limit its involvement to a marginal or peripheral contribution.
The application to NSERC must clearly describe the added value of the collaboration for Canada. Applications where the Canadian team and its role are insufficiently described in the international proposal will not be considered.
Alliance International Collaboration grants cannot support secret or contract research, nor can they cover the work or expenses of the international collaborator(s). International collaborators must participate with their own financial support.
Between $20,000 and $100,000 per year for up to three years.
Eligible Canadian university researchers may apply individually or with other eligible Canadian academic co?applicants. Applicants and co-applicants must hold an active NSERC peer?reviewed grant as the primary applicant at the time of application.
Alliance International Collaboration grants support collaborative projects only between Canadian university researchers and international researchers at accredited universities holding a faculty position —equivalent to assistant, associate, or full professor— as their primary place of employment at a recognized university. The participation of non?academic collaborators or partner organizations from any sector (private, public, or not?for?profit) is not permitted. This applies to the application submitted to NSERC and the international application.
Alliance International applications are assessed to verify their completeness and compliance with all eligibility requirements. Incomplete applications or applications that do not comply with eligibility requirements will be rejected.
If the application is complete and compliant with all administrative requirements, NSERC will evaluate the Canadian application against the merit assessment criteria applicable to the Canadian component of the application. The application must meet these criteria to be considered for funding.
1. Impact and benefit to Canada (60%)
Extent to which the proposed international collaboration benefits Canada, including the significance of the expected results, the strength of the pathway for knowledge use in Canada, and the value of complementary expertise brought by international collaborators to achieve these results.
Optional: Applicants may include a letter of support from industry, government, or not-for-profit organizations to demonstrate that the expected results are well positioned to generate impact in Canada by addressing a recognized need or gap. Organizations providing letters of support may express interest in the outcomes; however, they cannot act as partners in the project, unlike in programs such as Alliance Advantage.
2. Training (40%)
Extent to which the project provides enriched and meaningful training opportunities for Canadian students and postdoctoral trainees and integrates concrete actions supporting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the training environment offered through the proposed project, in a manner that supports the development of research and professional skills (e.g., leadership, collaboration, communication, entrepreneurship) relevant to Canada’s needs.
NSERC’s funding decision will take into consideration the merit assessment based on the merit indicator ratings assigned to each application, as well as the assessment of potential risks to Canada’s national security, when applicable.
Alliance International Collaboration is reopening with a competitive model with three application deadlines per year. You are limited to one application within a 12-month period (starting on the date the first application is submitted) as either applicant or co-applicant.
Follow the Alliance International application instructions, fill out the proposal template and complete all required sections of your application in NSERC’s online system . To confirm your international collaborator’s funding and your role in the project, you must append their research proposal* and their official award letter** to your application; these documents are for NSERC’s internal use only.
The international proposal must clearly identify the Canadian team and their roles.
*If the international proposal is not written in French or English, you are requested to upload the original international application, and to provide translations in French or English of the sections where the Canadian team and its role are described.
**Where award letters are not issued by the international funding organization, an alternative form of proof such as an email from the funding organization or a dated screenshot from their website clearly confirming the details of the award may be accepted.
Following the Tri-agency guidance on the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy), if your application aims to advance a listed sensitive technology research area , the applicant, co-applicant(s) and collaborator(s) including all collaborators named in the international proposal must each complete the STRAC Attestation form .
Before submitting your application, use the Alliance International grant application checklist to ensure it is complete.
Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the Personal data form with CCV attachment for the applicant and all co-applicants and a biographical sketch for each international collaborator named in the international proposal, through NSERC’s online system .
See also Terms and conditions of applying for applicants .
We encourage you to view a new video to help NSERC supported research communities integrate equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations into the research process: Strengthening research by integrating EDI considerations in the research process . This resource supports research excellence by promoting ethical, rigorous, reproducible, and socially relevant research.
The video complements Section 1 of the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research and includes three parts:
November 25, 2026, before 8:00 pm (ET).
For more information, visit NSERC scholarship webpage.
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