Sponsor

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

Program

Partnership Development Grants (PDG)

For More Information

For additional information, please visit the program's website [1] for

• Program guidelines
• Application forms
• Evaluation criteria

Description

SSHRC Partnership Development Grants (PDG) 2026 support the development of partnered research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities. The program is designed to foster new collaborations among postsecondary institutions and partners from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors or to develop and test innovative partnership approaches that can serve as models for broader adoption. Supported activities may include research, knowledge mobilization and the meaningful involvement of students and emerging scholars. The program welcomes disciplinary, interdisciplinary, interinstitutional, international and cross-sector partnerships that address issues of intellectual, social, cultural or economic significance.

Upcoming Webinars - registration links will be available on the SSHRC PDG homepage [1]. 

• (English) September 24, 2026 - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST)
• (French) September 25, 2026 - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST)

Eligibility

Applicants must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution and work in formal partnership with academic and/or non-academic organizations. Review eligibility [2] requirements. 

Funding Availability

Partnership Development Grants are valued at $75,000 to $250,000.

Institutional and partner organization contributions: Applicants are expected to include a plan to seek and secure cash and/or in-kind contributions for their initiative during the life of the grant. While there is no minimum contribution requirement, institutions and their partner organizations are expected to demonstrate that a formal partnership currently exists or is in the process of being developed, by supporting the activities of the formal partnership through cash and/or in-kind support.

For more information, see SSHRC’s Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions [3].

Indirect Costs

There are no indirect costs on the funding provided directly by SSHRC. Partner(s) cash contributions are subject to the applicable indirect cost rate as specified in the Full Cost of Research Policy [4]. 

Project Duration

1 to 3 years. 

Special Notes

Quality and commitment of formal partnerships: Applicants should include relevant documentation to allow informed evaluation of the quality and level of commitment of the proposed formal partnerships [5].

Applicants must include evidence of formal partnership in their application. Evidence can include, but is not limited to:

• governance frameworks;
• agreements (intellectual property, conflict resolution, etc.);
• strategic plans; and
• other relevant documentation.

Guidelines and related support material: All applicants for SSHRC funding should consult the following guidelines while preparing their application:

• SSHRC Partnership Tool Kit [6] includes tips and resources to help researchers and project partners plan and implement a partnership—from preparing a funding application to planning and implementing knowledge mobilization activities.
• SSHRC’s Definitions of Terms [7] for terms used in the grant application process.
• The Guidelines for Effective Research Training [8], which can also be useful to reviewers and postsecondary institutions.
• SSHRC’s Indigenous Research Statement of Principles [9] and Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research [10] for applications involving Indigenous research [11].
• SSHRC’s definition of knowledge mobilization [12] and Guidelines for Effective Knowledge Mobilization [13] for guidance on connecting with research users to create impact.
• SSHRC’s Guidelines for Support of Tools for Research and Related Activities [14], for clarification on how applicants can include up to $7,000 of funding for research and research-related tools in any SSHRC grant application.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the application form [17] in accordance with the accompanying application instructions [18]. Applications must be submitted electronically through SSHRC's online system and forwarded by the institution's research administration office on behalf of the applicant.

Information For Co-applicants

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Research Services Office (RSO) with at least five days in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with RSO (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).