Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants

The Subatomic Physics (SAP) Discovery Grants program supports ongoing research with long-term goals.

Visit the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) website for more information on the Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants program.

Deadlines

• Faculty deadline: consult your Faculty Research Facilitator
• Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) (OVPRII) Approval Form deadline:
  October 25, 2026 (anticipated)
• OVPRII submission to sponsor:
  • Applications requesting $500,000 or more per year: October 1, 2026 by 11 a.m. (anticipated)
  • Application deadline: November 3, 2026 by 11 a.m. (anticipated)

Please note that dates are currently anticipated and are subject to change.

Value and Duration

• Individual Grants: Up to five years
• Project Grants: Up to three years

Overview

The SAP Discovery Grants program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals, rather than a single short-term project or a collection of unrelated projects that do not contribute to a cohesive program of research. These grants recognize the creativity and innovation at the heart of all research advances, whether made individually or as a collaboration. Researchers are free to work in the mode most appropriate for the research area.

Eligibility

Individual Grants

• Researchers can apply for only one Individual Discovery Grant (in subatomic physics or not) at a time.
• Recipients of SAP Individual Discovery Grants are not restricted to the specific activities described in the application but may pursue new research interests, provided they are within NSERC’s mandate and adhere to the principles and directives governing the appropriate use of grant funds as outlined in the Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration.
• Researchers who hold an Individual Discovery Grant cannot reapply for another until the last year of their current award.
• SAP Individual Discovery Grants are awarded for one to five years, the normal duration being five years. Applicants requesting a shorter duration for other reasons must provide a strong justification. NSERC may award a grant of the normal duration, even if a shorter period is requested.

Project Grants

• Researchers can hold or apply for a SAP Project Discovery Grant as an applicant or co-applicant at the same time as they hold or apply for an Individual Discovery Grant.
• Researchers can concurrently hold or apply for more than one SAP Project Discovery Grant as an applicant or co-applicant.
• SAP collaborations that hold a Project Discovery Grant cannot reapply for another Project Discovery Grant that relates to the same research program until the last year of their current award.
• Members of a SAP collaboration, which is applying for a SAP Project Grant, cannot normally apply for another SAP Discovery Grant to support research activities that are part of the collaboration’s program of research. If you wish to submit a concurrent application, please consult NSERC.
• When joining a SAP collaboration that is supported by an ongoing SAP Project Grant, researchers can apply for bridging funds through a SAP Project Grant for a duration that would allow their participation in the collaboration’s subsequent application.
• It is mandatory to have at least one co-applicant on a SAP Project Grant application.
• SAP Project Grants are awarded for one to three years, the normal duration being three years. Applicants requesting a shorter duration must provide a strong justification.

Submitting Your Application

1. Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch.
2. Submit an external application to NSERC by following their submission guidelines.

Contact Us

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss this funding opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.