Government grants, loans and funding for researchers and research institutions

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 49 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Ontario Business-Research Institute Tax Credit (OBRITC)

   Ontario Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

   Refundable credit for corporations that contract eligible Ontario research institutes (e.g. universities, colleges) to perform SR&ED.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesLimit $4M
   55

   Top pick

2. Mitacs Accelerate

   Mitacs

   Matches partner contributions to fund research internships connecting businesses and organizations with university researchers and trainees.

   OngoingFederalGrants
   41

   Strong

3. Mitacs AI Advantage (ADOPT and AI+X)

   Mitacs

   Non-competitive Mitacs offerings supporting organizations to adopt and innovate with AI through trainee-led projects: ADOPT (AI readiness to implementation) and AI+X...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $25K
   39

   Strong

4. SSHRC Connection Grants

   Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

   Supports events and outreach activities for short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization, often a first step toward larger and longer-term projects.

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
   36

   Worth a look

5. NSERC Discovery Launch Supplements

   Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

   A one-time supplement that gives early career researchers extra resources when they receive their first Discovery Grant, to help them establish a research program.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $13K
   34

   Worth a look

6. Mitacs Elevate

   Mitacs

   A one- to two-year program that places postdoctoral fellows with partner organizations to solve R&D challenges, with an academic supervisor and professional development...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $60K
   32

   Worth a look

7. AgriScience Program - Projects

   Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

   Funds pre-commercial science, research and development in agriculture and agri-food, with a focus on climate change and environment, economic growth and sector...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $5M
   31

   Worth a look

8. NSERC Alliance grants and Ontario Centre of Innovation Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C)

   NSERC and Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

   A joint streamlined funding stream that matches an Ontario company with an Ontario university researcher for a short research collaboration, combining NSERC Alliance...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $50K
   31

   Worth a look

9. SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants

   Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

   Supports short-term partnered research involving a postsecondary institution and a single organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector, so the partner...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
   31

   Worth a look

10. NSERC Discovery Development Grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    A complement to the Discovery Grants program that supports a diversified base of high-quality research and research training at small universities. Awards go to...

    OpenFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

11. Canada Foundation for Innovation - Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF)

    Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

    Helps institutions cover a portion of the operating and maintenance costs of CFI-funded research infrastructure so it is used optimally. Each institution is allocated an...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    29

    Worth a look

12. NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) grants

    NSERC (College and Community Innovation program)

    Supports college-led applied research and development projects with industry partners that contribute cash, helping Ontario colleges solve business problems.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $150K
    29

    Worth a look

13. 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

14. NSERC Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    One-year grants that let colleges buy applied research equipment so they can better respond to the innovation needs of local partners and give students hands-on training.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $200K
    28

    Worth a look

15. 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

16. Energy Innovation Program (EIP) - Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call (testing facilities) and other calls

    Natural Resources Canada (Office of Energy Research and Development)

    NRCan's Energy Innovation Program funds clean-energy RD&D through targeted calls for proposals. The currently open call, Innovation Ecosystem Enablers (focus area...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $10M
    27

    Worth a look

17. Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)

    Department of National Defence

    DND's IDEaS program funds innovators, from individuals to large firms, to solve defence and security challenges through five elements: Competitive Projects, Innovation...

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $6.8M
    27

    Worth a look

18. 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

19. Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur

    Mitacs

    Funds internships for college, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral entrepreneurs to grow their startup, with Mitacs and the startup each contributing equally.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    26

    Worth a look

20. NSERC Discovery Institutes Support grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    Helps Canadian theoretical research institutes cover operating and maintenance costs and foster training and collaboration within and among institutes.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $1.5M
    25

    Worth a look

21. NOHFC Industrial Research Chair Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds industrial research chairs to expand research capacity at Northern Ontario post-secondary institutions.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $1M
    24

    Long shot

22. NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    Funds the purchase of research equipment so university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering can strengthen their discovery, innovation and training...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $150K
    23

    Long shot

23. Canada Foundation for Innovation - Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF)

    Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

    Provides research infrastructure funding for newly recruited Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders, part of the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent...

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $6M
    22

    Long shot

24. 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

25. Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

    Canada Water Agency

    Supports local action to restore Great Lakes Areas of Concern, prevent toxic and nuisance algae, protect coastal wetlands, reduce harmful chemicals and increase...

    OpenFederalGrants
    21

    Long shot

26. Canadian Space Agency - CubeSat Initiative in Canada for STEM (CUBICS) 2026

    Canadian Space Agency

    Grants to Canadian post-secondary institutions to design, build and operate CubeSats aligned with Space Strategy for Canada priorities.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $650K
    20

    Long shot

27. NSERC Alliance Advantage grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

    Funds university-led collaborative research projects with private, public or not-for-profit partners, with a training component.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $1M
    20

    Long shot

28. NSERC Alliance Society grants

    NSERC

    Funds university-led collaborative research with partner organizations focused on societal outcomes.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $500K
    20

    Long shot

29. NSERC Discovery Grants program (individual)

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    NSERC's flagship program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals in the natural sciences and engineering at Canadian universities. Grants are 'grants...

    OpenFederalGrants
    20

    Long shot

30. CanExport Innovation

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Covers costs of pursuing and signing collaborative R&D agreements with international partners.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $38K
    19

    Long shot

31. Innovation Partnership Program (Trade Commissioner Service)

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Support and funding for Canadian innovators to join international innovation missions and build co-innovation partnerships.

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    19

    Long shot

32. Canada Foundation for Innovation - John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF)

    Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

    Helps eligible institutions attract and retain leading researchers by funding the research infrastructure they need.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $800K
    18

    Long shot

33. SSHRC Partnership Development Grants

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

    Supports the development of partnered research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $250K
    18

    Long shot

34. NSERC Discovery Horizons

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    Supports interdisciplinary research that advances at least two intertwined disciplines, at least one of them outside the natural sciences and engineering. Funds...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $100K
    17

    Long shot

35. SSHRC Insight Development Grants

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

    Supports social sciences and humanities research in its initial stages, enabling new research questions and experimentation with new methods, theories or ideas through...

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $100K
    16

    Long shot

36. Canada Foundation for Innovation - College Fund

    Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

    Supports projects that enhance the capacity of Canadian colleges to carry out applied research, including Ontario colleges.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $2M
    15

    Long shot

There are 13 more. Create a free account to filter the full list by your own profile.

Questions

How many programs for researchers and research institutions are open right now?

Of the 76 programs for researchers and research institutions in our database, 35 are open or ongoing and 14 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 28, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Energy Innovation Program (EIP) - Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call (testing facilities) and other calls publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $10M". 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 programs for researchers and research institutions rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Ontario Business-Research Institute Tax Credit (55, Top pick), Mitacs Accelerate (41, Strong), Mitacs AI Advantage (39, Strong). 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 35 open or ongoing programs here, 34 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 1 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

33 of the 35 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 2 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.