MINDS has partnered with the NATO Defense College (NDC), located in Rome, Italy, to offer members of the Canadian defence and security expert community an opportunity to conduct a five-month fellowship, from mid-February to mid-July each year, at the College as part of the NDC Research Division. The selected Fellow will receive a CAN$100,000 grant to cover all expenses related to this opportunity.

This program supports the collaboration between Academia and Industry to solve an industry-based problem and drive the commercialization of Intellectual Property [IP]. The institution will leverage the unique skills and specialized infrastructure that is instrumental to streamline internal innovations and commercialization needs. Resulting in targeted training of individuals and direct engagement with Industry to work on commercially viable solutions.

Brain Canada is thrilled to partner with Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) to once again bring neurological conditions to the forefront and make brain health the focus of the 2026-27 Solutions Program. 

Together with Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, Lung Saskatchewan, and Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada, the Innovation and Impact Grants will support research to develop and implement innovative solutions that address real-world needs and fuels efforts to mobilize research into tangible benefits and sustainable impact for people in Saskatchewan and beyond.

Applicants must select the grant opportunity according to alignment with the following objectives: 

Innovation Grant:

Catalyzing new ideas and approaches to support innovative solutions that respond to focus area needs. 

Impact Grant:

Advancing the translation of innovative solutions, supported by preliminary data, into real-world and practical applications that respond to focus area needs.

Overview of Focus Area - Brain Health

Brain Canada and SHRF have up to $1,400,000 CAD available for research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of brain health conditions across the lifespan. Brain Health includes neurodevelopment, neurological disorders, mental illness, addictions, and brain and spinal cord injuries.

Proposed solutions must have the potential to impact brain health as reflected in the overall research goals, outcome measures, and future development plans. 

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) community-based stream is a federal grant. It supports projects that are designed by seniors and for seniors in their communities. This program funds projects that empower seniors in their communities through increased social inclusion.

As organizations can only submit one application for this competition, researchers are asked to contact Nicole Westlund Stewart (sshrc.research@lakeheadu.ca) by June 16, to indicate their interest in applying.  An internal competition may need to be held.

The Ship Time program allows those holding an NSERC Discovery Grant (DG) to apply for additional funds to access vessels in support of their research programs.

BWF's Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) provide $560,000 over five years to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and the first three years of faculty service. These awards are open to U.S. and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund launched the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface in 1999 to foster the early career development of researchers who are transitioning from training environments in the physical, mathematical, computational sciences and/or engineering into postdoctoral work in the biological sciences, and who are dedicated to pursuing a career in academic research.

SSHRC has opened a new round of the following funding opportunity: Destination Horizon Grants.  These grants are intended to support SSHRC-eligible researchers whose primary affiliation is with an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution, to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with partners in the European Union and other “associated countries”, with the ultimate goal of applying to Horizon Europe (HE) —Pillar II calls with a collaborative proposal.  Applications for the Destination Horizon grants are submitted on the SSHRC Convergence portal. 

All HE Pillar II projects are implemented by an interdisciplinary consortium (partnership of organizations across different nations, which must include at least 3 partners (beyond Canada, this must include a partner from at least one EU Member State).  Most HE research consortia consist of 10-20 partners, and have one lead institution.

Consortium partners can be legal entities engaging in breakthrough research, including

• academics
• industrial researchers
• small- to medium-sized enterprises
• non-profit and charity sector entities
• other research and innovation actors in Canada

The purpose of this initiative is to assist Canadian researchers in making the connections and developing the networks needed to successfully join a research consortium in preparation to apply to Horizon Europe.

FUNDING:  SSHRC will provide up to $15,000 for one year; 100% matching cash funds is required, for a total maximum funding of $30,000.  Matching funds will be provided for up to one application submitted by Lakehead researchers through the internal VPRI International Research Partnership Award mechanism for any applications selected and funded by SSHRC. 

Funds may be used for connection-type activities, including but not limited to:

• Travel expenses for PI, co-investigators and collaborators (travel to Europe or to Canada)
• Workshops or conferences
• Networking
• Proposal development
• Team-building consultants

Funds may not be used to conduct actual research activities.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION:  There are no merit criteria for selection.  All applications deemed eligible will be entered into a randomized selection process to determine awards. An application that was previously submitted and not selected may be re-submitted for a future competition.

To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must demonstrate:

• their eligible affiliation and primary affiliation in the social sciences or humanities;
• their readiness to further develop networks and/or consortia with EU and other associated countries’ researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to a Horizon Europe—Pillar II call;
• eligible budget requests; and
• 100% matching cash contributions from the host institution.

Institutional selection and submission:  Lakehead University will support up to one Destination Horizon Grant application for the September 22nd deadline.  If more than 1 eligible application is received by the internal deadline of September 8th, the Office of the VPRI will apply the same two-stage random selection process to select the application that will be submitted.  Therefore, a strict internal deadline will be treated as an Expression of Interest - at a minimum, a draft of the Program Description must be received by that date.    Please submit a copy of the Program Description directly to either Jill Sherman, Nicole Westlund Stewart, or Rebecca Heffernan.  If required, the selection process will take place within 24 hours and you will be notified ASAP if you can proceed to complete the application.

Applications are submitted on the Convergence portal.  For the purpose of this application, please note that Lakehead is the "host" organization, and only one Letter of Support (from the VPRI) is required. 

This funding opportunity follows the agreement signed by the Government of Canada and the European Commission giving Canada status as an "Associated Country" status (Pillar II only) and enables Canadians to participate in Horizon Europe funding.

For examples of past and current HE calls for proposals involving a SSH component, please click HERE.   

For examples of HE funded projects with an SSH component, please click HERE.

For questions or assistance, please contact Jill Sherman at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca, Nicole Westlund Stewart, sshrc.research@lakeheadu.ca, or Rebecca Heffernan orillia.research@lakeheadu.ca.

Delivered in collaboration with Canada’s Department of National Defence, this competitive funding opportunity supports industrial innovation partnerships that advance Canadian sovereign capabilities in areas identified in Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

The Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security call advances Canada’s sovereign defence capabilities by pairing Canadian researchers and innovators with partner organizations on applied, mission-relevant R&D.

SSHRC, in partnership with NordForsk, is pleased to launch a Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSG) competition to mobilize, examine and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict. The resulting syntheses will help identify roles the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors could play in promoting more inclusive and equitable societies; and could inform development of effective tools and technologies, robust policies, and sustainable practices needed to support the path toward a diverse and inclusive future for all. SSHRC encourages Indigenous-led and Inuit Nunangat–based research approaches that reflect community priorities, land-based knowledge, and Northern sovereignty. Proposals co-developed with Indigenous Peoples and Northern communities are strongly welcomed.