Research Development at UBCO for the Natural Sciences and Engineering is principally offered for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) programs, but as capacity permits, support is available for any competition within the natural sciences and engineering domain. Please contact the Research Development team if you would like support for an opportunity that is not listed below.
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT TEAM
RESEARCH SECURITY: Researchers applying to most Tri-Agency competitions must comply with new and updated Government of Canada research security requirements. More information on research security requirements can be found here.
Alliance Grants
Risk Assessment Form
- NSERC Alliance Grant applications with a private sector partner must include a risk assessment questionnaire completed by the researcher and validated by UBC (mandatory prior to submission). Learn more about UBC’s process for Risk Assessment Forms.
Support
- The Research Development team is available to support applications from an initial conversation about what is required for a successful Alliance application through to a full editorial review, as capacity permits. This includes rolling deadlines such as Alliance Advantage, Alliance Society, Alliance-Mitacs, and Alliance International, and as capacity permits, may include special calls and Alliance Missions.
- For all Alliance streams, we strongly recommended you connect with the Research Development team in advance of writing an application to confirm accurate cost-sharing calculations, partnership structure, and page limits.
- If you would like a criteria or editorial review, please provide at least two weeks’ notice. Note that reviews are subject to availability, and during peak season (September to October), turnaround times may be longer.
- For Alliance-Accelerate applications, please reach out to a Mitacs representative before beginning your application, in addition to UBCO’s Research Development team.
RESOURCES
- Alliance Program Summary (to request this resource, contact the relevant Research Development team member )
- Alliance Annotated Template (to request this resource, contact the relevant Research Development team member)
- Sample Grant Library (CWL required)
- SPARC Resources (CWL required)
- Web guide to writing your application (Advantage and Society)
- Partner Organization Form Guide
Discovery Grants
Support
- DG Summer School
This suite of materials walks you through each stage of the DG application:
- Part 1: What Makes a DG Successful, ‘Thinking like a Reviewer” and NOI prep
- Part 2: Proposal – a step-by-step guide
- Part 3: Most Significant Contributions, HQP+EDI, & Everything Else
Materials are available at any time. Please contact the relevant Research Development team member for access.
- NOI reviews are available in late July. NOIs are due August 1, (or the next business day if August 1 falls on a weekend or holiday), and no RPIF is required.
- Reviews are typically offered in the fall. Further information will be shared with researchers who submit an NOI.
resources
- Discovery Grant Summer School Resources (contact the relevant Research Development team member for access)
- Sample Discovery Grant Library(CWL required – click on the SharePoint link at the top of the page)
- UBC resources from previous competitions, including a web-based Discovery Grant development guide hosted by SPARC (CWL required)
- NSERC pre-recorded resources and Q&A sessions
Research Tools and Instruments
Support
- Reviews are available for RTI applications during September and early October on a first come, first served basis, as capacity permits. Support for resubmissions is available in the spring or summer.
- If you are interested in a review or receiving information on deadlines and resources ahead of the competition, please contact relevant Research Development team member.
RESOURCES
Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program
Support
- Institutions may submit an unlimited number of Letters of Intent (LOIs). As such, there will only be an internal selection process at UBC for the special calls (e.g., 2026 Quantum call). Details on this process can be found on the SPARC website.
- The UBCO Research Development team is available to support applications at any stage. CREATE applications require institutional letters of support. Please reach out to the Research Development Team no later than 1 April to coordinate review of the LOI, as well as letter of support finalization and VPRI signatures.
Co-developed and additional resources are available via the Support Programs to Advance Research Capacity (SPARC) office at the UBC-Vancouver Campus.
Note: UBC resources are intended for UBC researchers only. Please do not circulate.
Natural Sciences and Engineering support spans NSERC and industry opportunities, and often involves significant coordination with Innovation UBC, UBC Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) team, and Mitacs representatives.