NSERC International Funding 2026:Your Complete Roadmap from Catalyst Grant to Large-Scale Collaboration
INTERNATIONAL FUNDING - 12 MIN READ
Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council has built one of the most structured international collaboration funding ladders available to researchers anywhere. The design is deliberate: there is a grant for the first handshake, a grant for the sustained collaboration, and larger programs that reward the teams who have done the relationship work. What is less obvious is how tightly these programs connect to each other — and why the decisions you make right now, with several of the streams currently on pause, will determine how quickly your team moves when the intakes reopen.
This guide covers every NSERC program relevant to international partnerships, in the order a research team should encounter them. It starts with the Alliance International Catalyst grant — the entry point designed specifically for forming the international teams that go on to compete for larger funding — and builds toward the Discovery Grants, the Alliance Advantage and Society streams, and the upcoming Collaboration grant reopening.
Each section includes a direct link to the official program page, current status, award values, and a strategic note on what to do now.
Color guide — grant categories at a glance
Foundation (Discovery) Catalyst — General Catalyst — Quantum Collaboration Alliance Scale-upThe International Collaboration Funding Pathway
Section 01
The Foundation: Why the Discovery Grant Unlocks Everything
Before the Catalyst grant or any other Alliance International program, there is one prerequisite that shapes the entire pathway. To be eligible to apply for any Alliance International grant — Catalyst, Collaboration, or Catalyst Quantum — a Canadian researcher must hold an active NSERC Discovery Grant as primary applicant at the time of application. This is a hard eligibility requirement, not a formality.
The Discovery Grant is NSERC's flagship program, supporting ongoing individual research programs for typically five years. Its value is not only operational — it signals that a researcher has passed rigorous peer review and has an active program of record. That credential is what makes a Canadian partner credible to international collaborators.
Grant 01 · Discovery Program · Foundation
Discovery Grants (Individual) Program
5-year program · individual researcherDiscovery Grants fund ongoing programs of research with long-term goals, providing flexible operating funds and the institutional standing required for international partnership applications. Recipients are not restricted to activities described at application — which includes the freedom to pursue and develop international collaborations as they emerge. The 2026 competition cycle is currently underway.
If you do not yet hold an active Discovery Grant, your first step toward the international collaboration pathway begins here.
View official program page →Grant 02 · Discovery Program · Foundation
Discovery Horizons Grants
5-year program · individual or teamDiscovery Horizons supports investigator-initiated projects that integrate or transcend traditional disciplines — bridging natural sciences and engineering with social sciences, humanities, and health research. It accepts both individual and team projects. For internationally oriented research addressing climate adaptation, AI governance, sustainable infrastructure, or food security, this platform is well-suited.
Note that individuals cannot hold both a Discovery Grant and a Discovery Horizons grant simultaneously. Choosing your Discovery entry point shapes which collaboration pathways open to you downstream.
View official program page →Section 02
The Entry Point: Catalyst Grants for International Team Formation
The Alliance International Catalyst grant is the instrument NSERC designed specifically for the problem of starting an international collaboration. It is not a project grant — it is a team-formation grant. Its purpose is to fund the early work of identifying a serious international partner, conducting joint exploratory research, and generating the preliminary results and relationship depth needed to compete for a Collaboration grant.
Since the program launched in December 2021, NSERC awarded 679 Catalyst grants supporting researchers in 60 countries. Demand significantly exceeded supply, which is part of why both the standard Catalyst and the Collaboration streams were suspended for program refinement. Both are expected to reopen in 2026.
Grant 03 · Alliance International · Catalyst
Alliance International Catalyst Grant
Up to $25,000 · 1 yearThe standard Alliance International Catalyst Grant provides up to $25,000 for one year to initiate research partnerships with international academic colleagues in the natural sciences and engineering. It funds exploratory research activities, personnel exchanges, and the early joint work needed to establish a credible foundation for a subsequent Collaboration grant application.
Eligibility requires an active NSERC Discovery Grant as primary applicant. The international collaborator must be an academic researcher at an accredited institution. The funding covers Canadian costs only — the international partner is expected to bring their own resources.
Section 03
Quantum Track: Catalyst Grants for Quantum Science Partnerships
Running parallel to the standard Catalyst stream, NSERC has established two dedicated Catalyst Quantum grant streams for researchers in quantum science and technologies. These sit within Canada's National Quantum Strategy and are structured to build bilateral quantum research partnerships with international academic teams — one stream for G7 partners, one for all other nations.
Grant 04 · Alliance International · Catalyst Quantum — Non-G7
Alliance International Catalyst Quantum Grants
Up to $25,000 · 1 year · up to 40 grantsUp to 40 grants of $25,000 each per cycle for Canadian researchers building quantum research partnerships with international academic collaborators from countries outside the G7. Eligible areas include quantum algorithms, encryption, post-quantum cryptography, quantum sensing, quantum networks, and quantum computing hardware. Both applicants and co-applicants must hold active NSERC peer-reviewed grants. Non-academic partner organizations are not permitted under this stream.
Applicants are limited to one application under this stream. This limit is separate from other Alliance International application limits — meaning it does not count against eligibility for the G7 stream or the standard Catalyst Grant.
View official program page →Grant 05 · Alliance International · Catalyst Quantum — G7
G7 Countries Alliance International Catalyst Quantum Grants
Up to $25,000 · 1 year · France · Germany · Italy · Japan · UK · USAThe companion stream for quantum science collaborations with researchers from G7 member countries. This grant emerged from the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit Kananaskis Common Vision for Quantum Technologies, which committed member nations to accelerated quantum cooperation as part of Canada's G7 presidency commitments. If your international collaborator is based at a US, UK, or European G7 institution, this is the designated entry point into a strategically prioritized bilateral funding track.
The application limit for this stream is separate from the non-G7 Catalyst Quantum limit — a researcher could apply to both in the same period, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for each.
View official program page →Section 04
The Growth Stage: Alliance International Collaboration Grant
Once a Catalyst partnership has produced joint work and both teams have a clear, fundable research agenda, the Collaboration grant is the next step. It is designed for teams where the international partner has already secured their own national funding for the joint project — a requirement that structures genuine bilateral commitment into the funding model.
Grant 06 · Alliance International · Collaboration
Alliance International Collaboration Grant
Up to $100,000/year · up to 3 years · total up to $300,000The Alliance International Collaboration Grant provides up to $100,000 per year for up to three years to allow Canadian researchers to participate fully in a joint international project. The international academic collaborator must have already secured equivalent funding from their own national funding agency — that international funding, at least equal to the NSERC request, is recognized for cost-sharing. This is a Canadian-costs-only grant: expenses incurred by the international partner are not eligible.
Since its launch, 96 Collaboration grants have been awarded, supporting partnerships in 28 countries. The program was paused in May 2025 and the intake is expected to reopen in Spring 2026.
Section 05
Scaling Up: Alliance Advantage and Society Grants
Teams that have built credible international partnerships and are ready to bring in industry, government, or civil society partners can access significantly larger funding through the Alliance Advantage and Society streams. Both are on rolling intake — no fixed application deadline — and both welcome foreign and multinational organizations as partner entities.
Grant 07 · Alliance Program · Scale-up — Industry-Driven
Alliance Advantage Grants
$20,000–$1,000,000/year · 1–5 years · NSERC covers up to 66.7%Alliance Advantage grants support applied research projects driven by the needs of private, public, or not-for-profit sector partners. NSERC contributes up to two-thirds of direct project costs, with at least one partner organization making matched cash contributions. Foreign and multinational companies are explicitly eligible as partner organizations, making this a natural destination for teams that have used the Catalyst and Collaboration pathway to build a strong international network and are now ready to bring industry partners into it.
These grants support projects of varying scale — from a single researcher with one industry partner, to multi-university teams with partners across several sectors and countries. The rolling intake means timing is determined by partnership readiness, not a competition calendar.
View official program page →Grant 08 · Alliance Program · Scale-up — Societal Impact
Alliance Society Grants
$20,000–$500,000/year · 1–5 years · NSERC covers 100%Alliance Society grants support research at the intersection of natural sciences, engineering, and societal challenges. A key structural difference from the Advantage stream: NSERC covers 100% of eligible project costs. Partners contribute to the project but are not required to make matched cash contributions recognized for cost-sharing — making this well-suited for public agencies, not-for-profits, or community organizations as the driving partner.
For internationally oriented projects addressing climate adaptation, water systems, clean energy transitions, global food security, or public health infrastructure, the Society stream paired with international academic collaborators creates a compelling case for global-scale societal impact anchored in Canadian-led research.
View official program page →Summary
All Eight Programs at a Glance
| Grant | Value | Stage | Status | Int'l Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Grants (Individual) | Variable / 5 yr | Foundation | Open (Annual) | Prerequisite for Alliance Int'l |
| Discovery Horizons | Variable / 5 yr | Foundation | Open (Annual) | Cross-disciplinary teams |
| Alliance Int'l Catalyst | $25K / 1 yr | Initiation | Spring 2026 | 60+ countries |
| Catalyst Quantum (non-G7) | $25K / 1 yr | Initiation | Monitor | Non-G7 nations |
| Catalyst Quantum (G7) | $25K / 1 yr | Initiation | Monitor | France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA |
| Alliance Int'l Collaboration | $100K/yr × 3 | Sustained | Spring 2026 | 60+ countries |
| Alliance Advantage | $20K–$1M/yr | Scale-up | Open (Rolling) | Intl. industry partners welcome |
| Alliance Society | $20K–$500K/yr | Scale-up | Open (Rolling) | Intl. partners welcome |
A note on timing
Both the Alliance International Catalyst and Collaboration streams are currently suspended for intake while NSERC refines program objectives. The Collaboration stream is expected to reopen in Spring 2026. The Catalyst Grant reopening is anticipated in the same period but has not been confirmed. Neither suspension changes the preparation work that should be happening now: forming partnerships, confirming Discovery Grant eligibility, and coordinating bilateral application timelines with international collaborators.
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Navigating this funding pathway requires more than knowing the programs. It requires a formed international partnership, a coordinated bilateral application strategy, and the proposal architecture to make both visible to reviewers. That is the work Rainpax Global supports.
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