Sponsor

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) 

Program

Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative (Phase II)

For More Information

• NSERC-CNSC Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative (Phase II) [1]
• NSERC eligibility criteria for faculty [2]
• NSERC Online Presentation and Attachment Standards [3]
• NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research [4]
• NSERC guide for applicants: equity, diversity and inclusion in your application [5]

Description

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) are collaborating to enhance research and knowledge, strengthening the science needed for regulatory decisions regarding the safe and secure deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). Phase I (2022) provided funding to support effective and efficient regulation and regulatory oversight of SMRs. Phase II (2025) aims to build upon the foundational research established in Phase I. This phase will focus on extending existing projects and funding new research endeavours to address critical challenges in the deployment of SMRs. Phase II will support innovative research over a two-year period, emphasizing advancements in reactor safety, efficiency, and environmental impact.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

The CNSC’s mandate involves four major areas:

• Regulation of the development, production and use of nuclear energy in Canada to protect health, safety and the environment
• Regulation of the production, possession, use and transport of nuclear substances, and the production, possession and use of prescribed equipment and prescribed information
• Implementation of measures respecting international control of the development, production, transport and use of nuclear energy and substances, including measures respecting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices
• Dissemination of scientific, technical and regulatory information concerning the activities of CNSC, and the effects on the environment, health and safety of persons, of the development, production, possession, transport and use of nuclear substances

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), through grants, fellowships and scholarships, promotes and supports research and research training in the natural sciences and engineering to develop talent, generate discoveries and support innovation in pursuit of economic and social outcomes for Canadians.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer a promising pathway to support Canada’s low-carbon energy transition and are expected to be less complex, easier to operate and more cost effective than current nuclear technology. For example, a 300-megawatt SMR could supply enough clean power for an estimated 300,000 homes. With approximately 76,000 Canadians employed across its supply chain, Canada's nuclear industry is well positioned to leverage its more than 60 years of science and technology innovation to become a leader in the development and deployment of SMR technology.

The Government of Canada has determined that supporting the development of this technology can position Canada as a clean energy leader; support the decarbonization of provincial electricity grids; facilitate the transition away from diesel power in remote communities; and help decarbonize heavy emitting industries. It is important that SMRs are safely and securely deployed and that regulatory decisions are based on solid science.

Research Objectives

Chemistry and materials

1. Effects of high temperature on reactor components

2. Chemistry control for various materials and fuel types

Environmental and radiological protection

3. Source term characterization

4. Geotechnical and effect of the environment on SMR design and operation

5. Emergency planning

Human and organizational factors

6. Interface design – Opportunity costs and benefits of analog, digital and mixed-display suites for use in the control and monitoring of complex environments

7. Impact of digital control rooms on situational awareness and the use of decision-aiding systems

8. Impact of digital control rooms on operator workload and vigilance

9. Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML)/Automation and its use in advanced control systems – Human factors implications

Safeguards and security

10. Cyber security

11. Effects of SMR deployment in unconventional locations on conventional safeguards inspection and verification methods

12. Security of SMRs

Novel fuel compositions

13. Safeguards, nuclear material accountancy and non-proliferation impacts from the introduction of new fuel and associated fuel manufacturing techniques

Thermal fluids - performance of passive safety systems

14. Thermal hydraulics, neutronics and reliability engineering associated with natural circulation systems

15. Passive containment cooling system performance

Please consult the announcement page [1] for full details of the research objectives.

Eligibility

If you are a Canadian university researcher who is eligible [6] to receive NSERC funds, you can apply on your own or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible academic researchers. However, please note that a maximum of three LOIs per researcher will be accepted under the call (as either applicant or co-applicant). College faculty can participate as co-applicants.

Collaborators from federal, provincial or municipal government organizations or laboratories may take part in the research, but they must bring their own resources to the collaboration. They will not have access to grant funds. In order to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest, or preference for a particular SMR technology, private sector partners (i.e., utilities and reactor vendors) are excluded from the current call.

Partnering Organizations

If required, you may involve partnering organizations in your project. Your partner organizations can be from the public or not-for-profit sectors.

You may involve whichever partner organizations you need to achieve your research goals and successfully mobilize your research results to achieve the desired impact and benefits for Canada. Cash contributions are not required. However, each partner organization must actively play a role in the project and support it through in-kind contributions. Such involvement must be achieved by doing at least one of the following:

• Playing an active role in the project’s research activities
• Using the project’s research results to help achieve its desired outcomes
• Playing an active role in translating or mobilizing knowledge to ensure that the research results have an impact and benefit for Canada

In reviewing your application, NSERC and CNSC will assess the relevance of each partner organization, their capacity to translate, mobilize and/or apply the research results to achieve the intended outcomes, and the value of their proposed in-kind contributions. CNSC will prioritize funding to projects that most clearly fulfill the objectives of the funding call.

All partner organizations are responsible for complying with NSERC policies and procedures, and with other Canadian laws, regulations, standards or policies that apply to the collaborative research activities outlined in the proposal.

At the Step 2 – Full application stage, the applicant will ask partners to participate in the application by completing a partner organization form (see the instructions [7]). In addition, at NSERC’s request, a partner organization may be asked to provide supplemental information that describes the organization and enables NSERC to determine whether the partner organization is eligible.

Maximum Project Value

Up to $120,000 per year, for a maximum of two years.

Indirect Costs

There are no indirect costs on the funding provided directly by NSERC. 

NSERC funding is not contingent upon cash and/or in-kind contributions from external sponsor(s)/partner(s). For this reason, any cash contributions from external sponsor(s)/partner(s) will be subject to a rate of 40% indirect costs. This information is outlined in the Full Cost of Research Policy [8].

Project Duration

Two years (these grants will also qualify for an automatic one-year extension but with no additional funding)

Special Notes

Research involving Indigenous Peoples and communities

NSERC and CNSC are committed to supporting Indigenous research. NSERC defines Indigenous research as research in any field or discipline related to the natural sciences and engineering that is conducted by, grounded in, or meaningfully engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.

We encourage you to consider the relevant concepts, principles and protocols for any research involving Indigenous People and communities, which are outlined in the following documents:

• The Tri-agency’s strategic plan, Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada [9], identifies strategic directions guided by the following key principles of self-determination, decolonization of research, accountability and equitable access
• Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2) - Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada [10]
• SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research [11]
• Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act [12]

Collaborating outside the natural sciences and engineering

Developing and implementing policies or directly applying your research results may depend on socio-economic or other requirements, as well as scientific understanding beyond the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). You are encouraged to collaborate with academic researchers in fields other than the NSE. Such researchers may be co-applicants for this call if they meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria for faculty [2]. Research costs for these collaborations can represent up to 30% of the total project costs and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification. 

An example of a research area of interest includes risk perception related to radiation. Research demonstrates that public perception related to radiation and nuclear technology is strongly correlated with the community’s familiarity with, and current presence of, nuclear within their everyday life (e.g., host communities, nuclear workers). This poses a significant challenge to SMRs proposed for deployment in provinces and territories with little to no experience with nuclear — not to mention the additional confounding factor of transporting fuelled reactor vessels through communities. The CNSC is interested in Canadians’ perception of risk related to radiation and radiation exposure. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, trust/confidence in sources of information on radiation and radiation health effects and psychosocial effects of radiation risk perception.

How to Apply

Refer to How to apply [14] and the instructions [7] for completing a grant for further information.

Applicants must begin by submitting a letter of intent (LOI) before the deadline. All invited applicants will then complete a full application to be submitted before the full application deadline.

Step 1 – Letter of Intent

The principal applicant must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to NSERC via NSERC’s online system using the LOI template [15] by July 17, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET). All documents must follow the NSERC Online Presentation and Attachment Standards [3].

The NSERC eligibility criteria for faculty [2] apply. The eligibility of the applicant and co-applicants will be reviewed internally by NSERC.

The LOI template must not exceed five pages, excluding references, and must describe the following:

• The main research objectives and expected outcomes
• How the research fits within the program and research objectives
• The novelty of the project and the main concepts and approaches
• Members of the team, their expertise and expected contributions
• An approximate budget request, by project year
• Key elements of a proposed knowledge mobilization plan
• Relevance to advancing research areas of CNSC’s mandate
• Relevance of the project to Canada and any project partners

Your LOI is evaluated using the following criteria [16]. The LOI must address all criteria and sub-criteria to be considered for invitation to submit a full proposal.

Note: Attach the completed LOI template under the section Form 101 – Proposal.

In addition to a completed LOI template, applicants and co-applicants must provide the following documents and information to NSERC via the online system [17]:

The applicant and each co-applicant must link their personal data form with CCV attachment [18] (NSERC – Form 100A).

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system [17]  and select Form 101 - Grant from the drop-down menu
• Select Research partnerships programs, then Alliance grants
• For the Proposal type field, select Letter of Intent
• For the Type of call field, select [CNSC - SMR] from the drop-down menu
• Once you have filled all the required sections, click “Verify” on your Form 101 to get the “Completed” status
• Click “Submit” to send the application to your institution for approval

Step 2 – Full Application (by invitation only)

Based on the review of the LOI, applicants may be invited to proceed with a full application. NSERC will send a letter of invitation to applicants, and only applications from those who have been invited to submit will be accepted.

The letter of invitation will provide instructions on how to apply to this call which will fall under the Alliance grants program. Full applications must be submitted via NSERC’s online system [17].

Applications from invited applicants will be accepted at any time until November 6, 2025, before 8:00 p.m. (ET).

A complete application must include:

• An application for a grant (Form 101)
• A personal data form linked with common CV attachment (Form 100A) for each applicant and co-applicant
• A proposal template [19]
• A biographical sketch for each collaborator (maximum of two pages)
• Partner organization(s) and other related forms (as required)
• STRAC attestation form (as required)

Instructions for submitting documents and information to NSERC:

• Log in to NSERC’s online system [17]
• Select the appropriate Form 101 from your portfolio (Form 101 – CNSC – SMR created at the LOI stage)
• Following the instructions for completing a grant application [7] , fill out the proposal template [19] (maximum 10 pages, excluding references) and complete the other sections of your application
• In the case where your application aims to advance a listed sensitive technology research area [20], submit a completed STRAC attestation form [21] for each researcher with a named role (i.e., the applicant, the co-applicants and the collaborators)

Submit your completed application and supporting documents, including the personal data form linked with CCV attachment [18] (NSERC Form 100A) for the applicant and all co-applicants, through NSERC’s online system [17]. If applicable, your partner organization’s contact person will be invited through the online system to provide information about the organization following the partner organization instructions [22].

By submitting your application, you and your co-applicants (when applicable) agree to the Terms and conditions of applying for applicants [23].

By participating in your application, your partner organizations agree to the terms and conditions of applying for partner organizations [24].

For submissions under this call, you agree that any information contained in your letter of intent (LOI) or full proposal will be shared with the CNSC for purposes consistent with the program objectives.

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
Proposal template [25]	282.12 KB