Sponsor

Funding for the Canadian team is provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

For More Information

Funding Opportunity Website [1]

Alliance Grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in training plans [2]

U of G Guide for Completing the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form [3]

NSERC information session: 

• August 19, 2026, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Click here to Register [4])

Description

This joint initiative between Canada, other G7 countries (Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States) and Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) will support multilateral or bilateral collaborative research projects on quantum science and technologies. The Canadian principal applicant will submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the Canadian and international research teams. NSERC, as the lead agency, will conduct the merit review of the proposal.

Proposals may address any challenge in quantum science, but their thrust must aim to advance research in any of the following areas of quantum technologies or a combination thereof:

• Quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• Quantum communications
• Quantum computing
• Quantum materials
• Quantum sensing

Proposals may also couple any of these quantum technology thrusts to other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering.

Proposals that do not address one or more of the quantum technology areas listed will not be considered. To identify challenges, gaps and opportunities related to quantum technologies from a Canadian perspective, Canadian lead applicants are encouraged to consult the quantum missions  [5]and roadmaps  [6]developed in close consultation with Canada’s quantum community.

Across the research and training areas in scope for this call, there are opportunities to explore how quantum technologies can enhance the privacy and security of the participating countries. Grants will support non-confidential, unclassified university-based research on quantum technologies, which may include research on technologies with dual-use applications. Grants cannot support secret or classified research.

Eligibility

If you are a Canadian university researcher eligible [7] to receive NSERC funds, you can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible [7] academic researchers.

Each Canadian research team can submit only one application to this call. You may participate as an applicant on only one application, but you may be a co-applicant or collaborator on multiple applications. Adjunct professors whose primary place of employment is in Canada while outside the university sector (e.g., government, industry or not-for-profit) may apply as co-applicants. College faculty can participate as co-applicants.

Your project must include at least one international collaborator who is eligible for funding from Germany (DFG), Japan (JST), the United Kingdom (UKRI EPSRC) or Nordic countries (NordForsk). Multilateral collaborations (i.e., involving Canada and two or more other countries) are encouraged, but bilateral collaborations (i.e., Canada and one other country) are also allowed.

U.S. collaborators may also be part of the proposed international teams, supported by existing resources or NSF’s existing mechanism for international supplements.

All international collaborators must meet their respective national funder’s eligibility requirements. NSERC will internally review the eligibility of Canadian researchers and the corresponding national funders will assess the eligibility of their respective researchers.

Eligibility for partnership

Collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia (industry, public, not-for-profit) are permitted but not required. You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results for the desired impact and benefits for Canada and other participating countries. Cash contributions from partner organizations are not required, but active support through in-kind contributions is expected if partner organizations are included in the application.

If a private sector partner organization is included in the proposal, the relevant national funders may have specific requirements:

• For NSERC, the Risk Assessment Form [8]is required.
• For DFG, researchers must follow the Guidelines on the Participation of Commercial Enterprises in Research Projects [9] and a cooperation agreement must be in place before DFG’s funding decision is made.
• For UKRI EPSRC, expectations are set out in standard grant terms and conditions: UKRI terms and conditions of FEC grants [10].

Funding Availability

Canada (NSERC): Approx. $19.5M CAD (26 projects)

For information on other participating countries, please visit the Funding Opportunity Website [1].

Maximum Project Value

Canada (NSERC): Up to $750,000 ($250,000 per year)

For information on other participating countries, please visit the Funding Opportunity Website [1].

Indirect Costs

0% on NSERC funding

Project Duration

Up to three years

Special Notes

International expenses

At the end of the Budget justification section of your application (Form 101), you must also include information on the budget requested by your international collaborator(s) from their national funder(s). Provide a breakdown of annual funding requested from each international funder (in their national currency and in Canadian dollars) and a justification for spending in each category, with sufficient detail to allow reviewers to assess whether the resources requested by the Canadian and international research teams are appropriate. The collaboration must demonstrate a meaningful and balanced contribution from all participating research teams.

Each funding agency will provide funding to its national researchers. Expenses incurred by international collaborators must comply with their respective national funder’s eligible expense requirements [11]. 

International Funding Organization Annexes

• NordForsk country annex [12]
• DFG country annex [13]
• JST country annex [14]
• UKRI EPSRC country annex [15]
• NSF country annex [16]

Review

NSERC first conducts an administrative assessment to ensure the application is complete and complies with all requirements. This step includes all participating funders’ eligibility assessments.

Once the administrative assessment is complete, NSERC proceeds with the merit assessment of the application. With input from participating funders, NSERC will convene a peer review committee of scientific experts to assist in assessing applications. The committee will assess the applications according to the merit evaluation criteria and merit indicators.

Note: NSERC will assess equity, diversity and inclusion considerations [17] in the Canadian training plan through a separate administrative process. NSERC staff will contact the Canadian principal applicant for additional information if required.

Once the merit assessment process is complete, NSERC and the participating international funders DFG, JST, UKRI EPSRC and NordForsk will jointly determine funding recommendation outcomes and fund selected projects to support the activities of eligible researchers in their respective countries.

How to Apply

Canadian principal applicants must submit a complete application through NSERC’s online system [19]. International collaborators should consult their respective national funder’s instructions [11] to determine whether they must submit a copy of the proposal or other application materials through their national funder’s process in parallel with the submission to NSERC.

International collaborators should consult their respective national funder’s instructions [20] to determine whether they must submit a copy of the proposal or other application materials through their national funder’s process in parallel with the submission to NSERC.

Please visit the Funding Opportunity Website [1] for detailed information on how to apply.