Open
Insight Research
Supports early-stage social sciences research
Last Update: May 23, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
SSHRC supports social sciences and humanities research excellence through this program. Funding is available for individual or team projects developing new research questions, methods, or approaches over 1 to 2 years, up to $100,000.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Conduct research and development activities
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Early-stage research projects.
- Development of new research questions.
- Experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches, or ideas.
- Case studies, pilot initiatives, and critical analyses of existing research.
- National or international research collaboration.
Documents Needed
- Application form
- SSHRC CV
- Research contributions document
- Project summary and detailed description
- Budget and budget justification
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individual researchers
- Research teams
- Emerging scholars
- Established scholars
- Eligible postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates
Who is not eligible
- Students enrolled in a program of study
- Applicants whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution
- Researchers who failed to submit a required SSHRC achievement report
- Applications mainly outside SSHRC’s mandate, such as those better suited to NSERC or CIHR
Eligible expenses
- Student salaries or stipends, and related travel.
- Professional and technical consulting services.
- Travel and subsistence costs for the research team and students.
- Supplies, software, and similar direct research items.
- Computer hardware or other equipment not already provided by the institution.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects mainly focused on curriculum development or teaching materials.
- Projects mainly focused on program evaluation, conferences, workshops, digitization, or database creation.
- Payment or travel costs for team members, presenters, or guest speakers.
- Course release time to conduct research.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed through a competitive merit review process.
- SSHRC may seek at least two external assessments.
- Committee members rank applications and are not bound by external assessments.
- Funding decisions depend on committee recommendations and available funds.
- Successful applicants are notified through SSHRC’s online system and receive a notice of decision.
Additional information
- For applications involving research-creation, support material may be required.
- Applicants will receive an application number after submission.
- Successful applicants must comply with reporting requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Insight Research Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Insight Research. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Insight Research?
SSHRC supports social sciences and humanities research excellence through this program. Funding is available for individual or team projects developing new research questions, methods, or approaches over 1 to 2 years, up to $100,000.
Who is eligible for the Insight Research program?
To be eligible for the Insight Research program, you must:
SSHRC-eligible subject matter
Eligible applicant or team
Eligible Canadian institution
What expenses are eligible under Insight Research?
Early-stage research projects.
Development of new research questions.
Experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches, or ideas.
Case studies, pilot initiatives, and critical analyses of existing research.
National or international research collaboration.
Who can I contact for more information about the Insight Research?
You can contact Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Where is the Insight Research available?
The Insight Research program is available across Canada.
Who are the financial supporters of the Insight Research?
Insight Research is funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)