NSERC Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grants – January 2026

Aboriginal Peoples

Arctic and Northern Regions

Community, Regional & Enterprise Development

Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources

Information and Communication Technology

Oceans, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery

Deadlines

Academic Unit: Inquire with unit

Memorial Deadline: Monday 22nd, December 2025

External Deadline: Wednesday 7th, January 2026

Description

Please contact the Research Innovation Office, Rio@mun.ca when developing your application for the sponsor’s requirement of engaging with the ILO. 

The objective of Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants is to accelerate the pre-competitive development of promising technology originating from the university and college sector, and to promote its transfer to a new or established Canadian company. I2I grants provide funding to college and university faculty members to support research and development projects with recognized technology transfer potential. This is achieved through defined phases by providing crucial assistance in the early stages of technology validation and market connection.

There are four distinct funding options, characterized by the maturity of the technology or the involvement of an early-stage investment entity or industrial partner (see Partner eligibility for definitions). In the market assessment, NSERC will share costs of an independent and professional market study with the institutions (including the industry liaison office [ILO] or its equivalent). In phase I, the direct costs of research will be entirely supported by NSERC; in phase II, they will be shared with a private-sector partner (company). The technology development may begin with a phase I project (reduction-to-practice stage), followed by a phase II project (technology enhancement); or, if the development is at a later stage, it can start directly with a phase II project. In any case, the combination of phase I and phase II will be limited to a maximum of three years of funding for any given project, and to one grant per phase for the same technology or intellectual property (IP).

Eligible research and development activities:

• – refining and implementing designs
• – verifying application
• – conducting field studies
• – preparing demonstrations
• – building prototypes
• – performing beta trials

See NSERC’s website for more information.

Funding Sources

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)