External Funding Options for College Researchers
Colleges often rely on external funding to support the applied research process.
If you’d like to explore the possibility of seeking funding for your research, here are the funders we often engage with. It is helpful to visit funder websites to understand their missions, research priorities, and funding calls.
Canadian Funding Agencies
Click on the agency name to pop open a description of each one. Please note that you may need to apply as a college affiliate to access funding. Connect with CRI to discuss eligibility criteria and compensation.
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Commonly accessed by colleges, institutes and CEGEPs for infrastructure and equipment funding.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Is focused on healthcare research. This funding agency rarely funds college-applied research.
Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDA)
Works closely with businesses and innovators in specific regions to fuel economic growth. Fed Dev Ontario is an example of an RDA which occasionally funds large-scale applied research initiatives.
Mitacs
Provides funding to businesses and builds partnerships between industry and academia. Creates opportunities through student research internships.
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU)
Will fund research and innovation projects through grants like the Ontario Research Fund if they align with MTCU priorities and improve knowledge in areas of post-secondary education, training, labour markets, and employment.
National Research Council (NRC)
Runs national research and collaboration centres and sponsors the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), which provides funding to support business undertaking research and innovation activities.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Oversees the College and Community Innovation Program which includes: Applied Research and Development (ARDs), Mobilize, and Technology Access Centres (TACs) grants, and the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF). A key national funder of applied research.
Provincial Funding Agencies
Provide funding to supporting innovation and fostering entrepreneurship through organizations like the Ontario Centre for Innovation (OCI).
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Mostly funds scholarly research but will occasionally fund collaborative applied research through programs such as the Partnership Engage Grant (PEG).
Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI)
Sponsors a network of colleges (including Fanshawe) and one university, who, through their respective research centres are collaborating with SMEs to turn innovations into commercialized projects. Funded by FedDev Ontario.
Resource: CRI Tri-Agencies Research Funding Guide
CRI has developed this Guide to Tri-Agencies Research Funding. Each agency funds research in its own way, through a unique set of funding programs.
