Research and development programs for individuals and families

Ranked programs

5 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Mitacs Globalink Research Award

   Mitacs

   Funds senior undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for 12 to 48 weeks of research with a host supervisor, inbound to Canada or abroad from Canada...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   28

   Worth a look

2. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral program (CGRS D)

   CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

   A tri-agency doctoral scholarship supporting a high-quality research training experience for students pursuing a doctoral degree in health, natural sciences and...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $40K
   27

   Worth a look

3. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's program (CGRS M)

   CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

   A tri-agency scholarship that supports high-calibre master's students across health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities so they can...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $27K
   26

   Worth a look

4. Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

   CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

   A federal research talent investment for outstanding postdoctoral researchers, in Canada or abroad, at a pivotal point in their careers across health, natural sciences...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $70K
   22

   Long shot

5. NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

   NSERC (jointly administered with CIHR and SSHRC)

   Awards that give undergraduates paid research experience in an academic setting to nurture an interest in research careers and encourage graduate studies. The program...

   Intake-basedFederalGrants
   19

   Long shot

Questions

How many research and development programs for individuals and families are open right now?

Of the 7 research and development programs for individuals and families in our database, 4 are open or ongoing and 1 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 11, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $70K". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which research and development programs for individuals and families rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Mitacs Globalink Research Award (28, Worth a look), Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral program (27, Worth a look), Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's program (26, Worth a look). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 4 open or ongoing programs here, 4 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 0 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

4 of the 4 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 0 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.