The objective of the Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) grants is to give companies that operate from a Canadian base access to the unique knowledge, expertise and educational resources available at Canadian universities and colleges and to train students in essential technical skills required by industry. The mutually beneficial collaborations are expected to result in industrial or economic benefits to Canada.
CRD projects can be at any point in the R&D spectrum. Eligible collaborations include focused projects with short- to medium-term objectives, as well as discrete phases in a program of longer-range research.
The following table provides a brief summary.
| Who manages funds? | University and lead professor |
|---|---|
| Use of funds | Direct costs of research, such as the salaries of students, postdocs, and research assistants, and the costs of equipment, materials, services and travel |
| Duration of award | One to five years |
| Are multiple professors involved? | If appropriate, but not required |
| Approximate application success rates | 90% |
| Typical grant range | $10,000 to $500,000 per year |
| Type of partners required | Canadian-based companies, industry associations, public utilities |
| Minimum company contribution | Must contribute an amount equal to the amount requested from NSERC, must collaborate on the project, and at least one partner must have the ability to exploit the results. |
| Minimum cash contribution from company | At least one-half of the amount requested from NSERC |
| Is industrial in-kind contribution recognized? | Yes (up to level of cash contribution) |
| Is the contribution eligible for the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive? | Yes. Consult your local  Canada Revenue Agency office for specific eligibility rules and amounts. |
| Application deadline | Applications can be submitted at any time. |
| Evaluation method | All proposals are peer-reviewed by external reviewers. In addition, proposals requesting $150,000 or more per year from NSERC will be reviewed by the Advisory Committee on University-Industry Grants (ACUIG); and those requesting $200,000 or more per year from NSERC will be reviewed by the ACUIG and a site visit committee. |
| When does the ACUIG meet? | March, June, September, and December |
| Evaluation time | Three to five months from receipt of the complete application |
| Is NSERC willing to review drafts? | Yes |
| Progress report | Annually |
For more detailed information, please refer to the Collaborative Research and Development Grants description.
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