NRC-IRAP Request for Science and Technology Assistance Form
To support SME driven requests for direct research and development support, faculty may be approached by the Office of Innovation and Community Engagement (OICE) to work on a project. The maximum contribution is $5,000 over 3 to 5 days. There is no cash contribution required by the company. All proposed projects must be approved by NRC-IRAP. Please contact Danielle Goodfellow at danielle.goodfellow@smu.ca to discuss the proposed project.
Deadline: Anytime
Invest Nova Scotia Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program
Tier 1 – To assist Nova Scotia registered small-to-medium sized companies with most of their workforce in the province to improve their productivity, develop a new product, process, or service and increase growth, Frist time applicants must apply for a Tier 1 to start. A maximum contribution of $15,000 over 8 months.
Tier 2 – To build on projects approved for Tier 1 funding. A maximum of $25,000 over 8 months.
Deadline: April to May 2026
Mitacs Accelerate
Supports research internship between a student (undergraduate, graduate, Postdoctoral Fellow) or recent graduate (up to 2 years post-graduation), an Academic Supervisor and a partner organization (company, non-profit, Municipality or Hospital). The research internships must address a single research plan. Funding starts at a minimum contribution of $15,000 over 4 months with a 50% contribution from the partner organization. Applications must go through a peer review process that can take between 4 to 6 weeks.
Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur
Accelerate Entrepreneur helps student entrepreneurs to further develop the research or technology at the core of their business. Mitacs provides a minimum contribution of $10,000 over 4 months. The student company contributes 50% of the costs.
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
Supports internship between a student (undergraduate, graduate, Postdoctoral Fellow) or recent graduate (up to 2 years post-graduation), an Academic Supervisor and a partner organization (company, non-profit, Municipality or Hospital). The internships must be focused on a business challenge and drive innovation. Funding starts at a minimum contribution of $10,000 or $15,000 over 4 months with a 50% contribution from the partner organization. This application does not go through a peer review process like the Mitacs Accelerate program.
NSERC Alliance Advantage
This funding program is focused on research projects that are driven by the partner(s). The purpose of the program is to expand research and development capacity by generating new knowledge or applying existing knowledge in an innovative way through collaboration between a researcher or team of researchers and partners (e.g. private, public, and not-for-profit sectors). Funding contributions can range from $20,000 to $1,000,000 over 1 to 5 years. NSERCs contributions will vary depending on the size of the company.
SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant
The purpose of this program is to support new partnerships between a single or team of researchers with one or more industry collaborators (including Government, not-for-profits and private companies). Funding contributions vary between $7,000 to $25,000 over 1 year.
Deadline: September 15, December 15, March 15 and June 15
Springboard Atlantic Innovation Mobilization Program
Industry Engagement
Promotes partnership development of effective regional partnerships with industry. The maximum program support is $15,000 for up to one year.
Market Support
To build and develop a prototype of technology for marketing purposes. The maximum program support is $5,000 for up to one year.
Proof of Concept
To support early-stage technology validation and market connections in Atlantic Canada assigned to an institution. The program can provide up to $20,000 support over one year.
Patent and Legal Fund
To protect IP to attract early-stage investment technology transfer in Atlantic Canada. Up to $15,000 support can be provided over two years.
Note: Only research institutions that are members of Springboard Atlantic are eligible to apply to Springboard funding programs. A total of 65.38% of the costs are covered by Springboard, the other 34.62% must come from other matching sources.
Deadline: anytime
Invest Nova Scotia Early Stage Commercialization Fund
To support novel early stage/proof of concept research that demonstrates the commercial potential for Nova Scotia-based institutions. The program support is a maximum of $50,000.
Deadline: Call for submissions (August), Proposals are due (early October), Short listed (end of October), Shortlist researchers meet with committee (early November), Recipients notified (end of November)
ACOA Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
There are two funding streams in this program. The Regional Innovation Ecosystems stream is open for non-profit organizations such as post-secondary educational institutions to apply. The program was developed to build on the region’s strengths and bring new ideas to market, to support innovative entrepreneurs and start-ups that are poised to grow, and to increase company’s productivity and global competitiveness, and to attract investment and talent.