The NSERC Discovery Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance natural sciences and engineering.
Discovery Grants are offered as grants-in-aid to support long-term research objectives.
As of May 1st 2024, researchers applying to this competition must comply with Government of Canada and Tri-Agency research security requirements. Please see UBC’s Research Security website for more details or to book a consultation with the Research Security team.
Application Process
The Discovery Grant program typically follows a single application cycle each year from August to November. Applicants should consult the NSERC website and relevant ORS guidelines for their campus to confirm internal review and submission guidelines.
Applying to the Discovery Grants program is a two-stage process including a mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI) and a full application. The value of the award is based on the assigned Quality Bin and Evaluation Group. Proposals are sorted into incremental funding bins based on the program selection criteria. Decisions are typically communicated around 26 weeks after the application deadline.
Timeline
July
August 1
August to October
November 1
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