How much funding can be received?

Your business can partner with college researchers who are eligible to apply for grants for social innovation projects that are conducted in partnership with public, private or not-for-profit sector organizations.

grant_single_labels|projects

Yes, there are eligible projects and activities for this grant which aim to foster community innovation. These projects connect colleges' talents and facilities with the community's research needs, addressing challenges in various fields.

Integration of vulnerable populations
Community development
Education and training
Climate change
Environmental degradation
Health and well-being

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$98,000

Vancouver

Initiating an education and training program for marginalized youth to improve job readiness

$87,000

Montreal

Launching a climate change awareness campaign through educational workshops and community events

$93,000

Calgary

Developing a health and well-being program for seniors, focusing on physical and mental health

$112,000

Ottawa

Initiating a community development project focused on improving public spaces and urban green areas

$120,000

Edmonton

Establishing a recycling and waste management improvement program

$105,000

Toronto

Developing a community garden to integrate vulnerable populations and promote environmental sustainability

grant_single_labels|admissibility

To be eligible for the CCSIF grant, the applicant must hold a remunerated position at an eligible Canadian college that meets specific criteria related to programs and applied research areas.

The applicant must hold a remunerated position at an eligible Canadian college.
The applicant must create and complete the application in the Convergence Portal and be responsible for administering the grant on behalf of the institution.
The college must be declared eligible to administer grants according to the eligibility requirements for colleges of at least one of the three federal granting agencies (NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC).
The research and knowledge or technology transfer activities should lie within the mandate of the appropriate granting agency. The college must be eligible to receive funding from that agency.
The college must offer programs in the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and/or health sciences, aligning with the applied research areas proposed.
The college’s faculty members involved in CCSIF grants must be engaged in applied research in the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and/or health sciences.
The college must provide the space, facilities, and services to enable its faculty members to conduct applied research.
The research proposal should identify a principal investigator affiliated with the administering institution, qualified to undertake the research independently.
A maximum of five applications can be submitted per college to each competition in any research area covered by the Tri-agency, with a different principal investigator for each proposal.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Eligible expenses for CCSIF grants include various costs related to research and innovation activities.

Salaries and benefits for research personnel
Travel and subsistence costs
Equipment and research supplies
Knowledge dissemination activities
Administrative and overhead costs
Costs related to the maintenance and repair of research facilities

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grants are open to Canadian colleges situated throughout Canada. There are no geographic restrictions provided that the institutions meet the eligibility requirements set by NSERC, CIHR or SSHRC.

Canadian colleges
Eligibility with NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for the CCSIF grant. The proposals are evaluated based on criteria such as potential impact on the community, quality of the applied research, and capacity of the college to deliver the project.

Relevance of the proposed research to community needs
Potential for tangible benefits and impact on the community
Quality of the research methodology and innovation
Involvement and engagement of students in the research activities
Capacity and capability of the college to deliver the proposed project
Collaboration with community organizations and partners
Sustainability of the project outcomes beyond the funding period
Budget justification and efficient use of resources

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Ensure Eligibility
Verify that your college is declared eligible to administer grants by NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC.
Ensure the college offers programs in the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and/or health sciences.
Step 2: Identify Principal Investigator
Select a principal investigator affiliated with the administering institution who is responsible for the intellectual direction of the research.
The principal investigator should be qualified to undertake the research independently and may be listed as the applicant or a co-applicant.
Step 3: Create CCSIF Application
Access the Convergence Portal to create your application.
Ensure all relevant information, including details about the research proposal, partners, and community innovation aspects, is complete and accurate.
Step 4: Submit Application
Submit the completed application through the Convergence Portal.
Ensure the application is submitted by the college and not by individual researchers to adhere to the institutional grant requirements.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

- CCSIF grant applications are no longer accepted through the NSERC online research portal and must be submitted through the Convergence Portal. - The CCI program has transitioned to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration for all CCI grants. - Applications exclusively in the social sciences and humanities, health sciences, or the natural sciences and engineering will be funded by SSHRC, CIHR, or NSERC, as appropriate. - Multidisciplinary grants containing a natural sciences and engineering research component will be funded by NSERC. - A maximum of five applications can be submitted per college to each competition in any research area covered by the Tri-agency, but a different principal investigator should lead each proposal.

grant_single_labels|documents

College and Community social innovation Fund

Apply to this program

College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) Grant Overview

The College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grants are designed to foster community innovation by connecting the research capabilities of Canadian colleges and polytechnics with the needs of community organizations. Managed by NSERC in collaboration with CIHR and SSHRC, these grants support multidisciplinary research that addresses social, health, and environmental challenges.

Detailed Explanation of the CCSIF Grant

The College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) is a strategic grant initiative managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in conjunction with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The program is tailored to enhance community innovation by leveraging the unique research capabilities of Canada's colleges and polytechnics.

CSSIF grants aim to strengthen the collaborative ties between academia and community organizations. Through these partnerships, researchers, students, and community partners come together to tackle various challenges, such as integrating vulnerable populations, community development, education, climate change, environmental sustainability, and health and well-being. By fostering these collaborations, CCSIF grants help enhance the applied research capacity of colleges, broaden their community engagement, and contribute to the public good.

Who Can Apply?

CSSIF grants are institutional. This means that the applicants must be faculty members holding remunerated positions at eligible Canadian colleges and polytechnics. These institutions must be declared eligible based on the criteria set forth by NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC. Furthermore, the colleges must offer programs in relevant fields such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or health sciences.

The applications are created and submitted through the Convergence Portal, and the research proposal must identify a principal investigator responsible for the research's intellectual direction. The principal investigator should be affiliated with the college and qualified to undertake independent research. While a college can submit a maximum of five applications in each competition, each proposal must have a different principal investigator.

Eligibility Requirements

For a college to be eligible, it must:

Hold eligibility to administer grants from at least one of the three federal granting agencies (NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC).
Offer relevant programs in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, or health sciences.
Ensure its faculty members are engaged in applied research within these fields.
Provide the necessary facilities, space, and services to support this research.

Additionally, the research proposal must align with the mandates of the granting agencies. If the proposal solely falls within the domain of one agency, the college must be eligible to receive funding from that agency. Multidisciplinary proposals that include a natural sciences and engineering component will be funded by NSERC.

Application Process

All CCSIF grant applications need to be submitted through the Convergence Portal as of March 2022. The grant submissions must adhere to the guidelines provided in the “Instructions for completing a CCSIF grant application.” The transition to the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration for CCI grants took place in April 2022, aligning all CCI grants under a unified financial administration standard.

Benefits of CCSIF Grants

CCSIF grants provide several benefits, including:

Enhanced Community Collaboration: They lay the foundation for robust partnerships between colleges and community organizations, propelling collective social innovation efforts.
Research Capacity Building: By increasing the research capacity of colleges, CCSIF grants embed research skills among students and faculty, enriching the educational ecosystem.
Multidisciplinary Research: These grants support multidisciplinary projects that draw upon diverse academic disciplines, fostering holistic solutions to community challenges.
Economic and Social Development: Through community-driven research, these grants contribute to socio-economic development, addressing issues like vulnerable population integration, environmental challenges, and public health.

Key Focus Areas

CCSIF grants prioritize several key areas, including:

Integration of Vulnerable Populations: Research initiatives that focus on integrating marginalized or vulnerable groups into the community, ensuring inclusive growth and social cohesion.
Community Development: Projects aimed at fostering sustainable community development, enhancing local economies, and improving the quality of life.
Education and Training: Innovative educational programs and training initiatives designed to enhance skills, knowledge, and employability among community members.
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability: Research addressing climate change and environmental degradation, promoting sustainable practices, and mitigating adverse environmental impacts.
Health and Well-being: Initiatives aimed at improving public health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life for community members.

Steps to Develop a Successful Proposal

To craft a compelling CCSIF grant proposal, follow these steps:

Identify Community Needs: Engage with local community organizations to identify pressing challenges and areas where collaborative research can make a difference.
Build a Multidisciplinary Team: Assemble a team of researchers, faculty members, and students from relevant disciplines to address the identified challenges comprehensively.
Engage Community Partners: Form partnerships with community organizations, ensuring their active participation and input throughout the research process.
Articulate Clear Goals: Define clear, measurable research objectives and outcomes that align with the community's needs and the priorities of the granting agencies.
Leverage Institutional Resources: Highlight the facilities, expertise, and support the college can offer to conduct the proposed research.
Follow Application Guidelines: Adhere to the guidelines provided in the “Instructions for completing a CCSIF grant application” while preparing your proposal.

Conclusion

The College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grants play a pivotal role in driving community innovation and development across Canada. By fostering collaboration between academia and community organizations, these grants address a wide range of societal challenges. For colleges and polytechnics seeking to enhance their research capacity and contribute to the public good, applying for CCSIF grants presents an invaluable opportunity to make a tangible impact on society.