Partnership Development Grants

• Institutional Contact Form
• A letter signed by the president/principal or delegate requesting institutional eligibility and confirming willingness to sign the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
• A short history of the institution, the mission statement, the policy on research if available, the current strategic plan if available, the research mandate, the latest annual report, and a statement of Canadian incorporation or constitution with governance information
• The audited financial statements for the last two years accompanied by the auditors’ opinion letter
• A completed Internal Control Assessment Questionnaire (ICAQ) and statements attesting to a policy that follows the requirements of the current edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, a policy that follows the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, and a valid Certificate of Good Animal Practice® if the institution uses animals in any research

Who is eligible?

• Canadian postsecondary institutions
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates, if eligible
• Research teams with co-directors, co-applicants, and collaborators

Who is not eligible

• Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal government departments
• For-profit organizations
• Foreign institutions as administering organizations
• Students currently enrolled in a program of study

Eligible expenses

• Project-related salaries, stipends, and travel costs
• Salary research allowance for eligible not-for-profit partners
• Cash and in-kind contribution costs recognized under SSHRC guidelines
• Costs related to research training, knowledge mobilization, and open access activities

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Projects whose main goal is curriculum development
• Projects focused on program evaluation
• Preparation of teaching materials
• Digitization of a collection
• Creation of a database

• Academic excellence
• Quality and genuineness of the formal partnership
• Training, mentoring, and employability plans for students and emerging scholars
• Merit review committee assessment under SSHRC’s selection process

• Step 1: Review program instructions
  • Read the funding opportunity description and related SSHRC guidance.
  • Check institutional eligibility and partner requirements.
• Step 2: Prepare the application
  • Complete the online application form.
  • Attach required documents and partner forms.
  • Ensure all participants complete their invitation forms.
• Step 3: Internal approval and submission
  • Submit the application to the institution’s research administrator for approval.
  • Wait for the administrator to forward the application to SSHRC.
• Step 4: SSHRC acknowledgement
  • Receive confirmation and an application number after submission.

• Successful applicants receive a notice of award and reporting requirements.
• All grant and award recipients must submit a report within six months after the end of their grant period.

• SSHRC uses a one-stage merit review process.
• Projects may involve Indigenous research or research-creation.
• The application is submitted through SSHRC’s online system.
• Successful applicants must report on the use of funds and project outcomes.