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Source verified July 12, 2026
Research Support Fund
Supports Canadian postsecondary institutions with federally funded research administration
Latest source updateLast Update: July 5, 2026Latest change: The Research Support Fund now shows a new 2026-27 application window, a reduced 2026-27 IPG budget, and updated administration and expense guidance.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 5, 2026
Latest change: The Research Support Fund now shows a new 2026-27 application window, a reduced 2026-27 IPG budget, and updated administration and expense guidance.
Research Support Fund deadlines, budgets, and guidance updated
The Apply to the program page now shows the 2026-27 RSF intake as May 6, 2026 to June 16, 2026, replacing the earlier 2026-27 dates of April 9, 2026 to May 20, 2026, and it also adds a new 2028-29 intake row. The page still says applications must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. eastern and that timelines are tentative. The Incremental Project Grants page now states that the 2026-27 budget was reduced from $115.77 million to $103.89 million, reflecting a 2% reduction that applies only to the 2026-27 cycle. Supporting administration content also expanded, including clearer instructions for communication products, annual eligibility confirmation, and related reporting requirements. The Eligible and ineligible expenditures page and the Financial Administration Guide were also revised with more detailed eligible and ineligible cost guidance, including added accessibility wording for research facilities, new exclusions such as open-access publishing costs, and additional administration instruction
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Research Support Fund provides annual support to Canadian postsecondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and institutes for the indirect costs of federally funded research. It helps cover research facilities, knowledge resources, administrative support, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property and knowledge mobilization activities.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Maintain modern labs and equipment
- Provide access to up-to-date knowledge resources
- Provide research management and administrative support, including support for equity, diversity and inclusion practices
- Meet regulatory and ethical standards
- Transfer knowledge from academia to the private, public and not-for-profit sectors
Documents Needed
- Research Support Fund Application Form
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian postsecondary institutions
- Affiliated research hospitals
- Affiliated research institutes
Who is not eligible
- Institutions that receive operating funding through any other institution
- Organizations that are not Canadian postsecondary institutions or affiliated research hospitals or institutes
Eligible expenses
- Research facilities and the accessibility of research facilities, including libraries, laboratories, animal holding facilities, research networking spaces, offices of research and finance administration, and researchers’ offices
- Acquisition of library holdings in accessible formats, including journals, books, collections, periodicals and site licences
- Computer hardware and software, software licences for libraries, including software related to accessibility
- Financial and audit costs, including auditing agency grant funds and software for the institution’s financial systems used to manage the institution’s research enterprise
- Costs associated with mobilization of knowledge in accessible formats
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Expenditures to meet regulatory requirements in the research facilities category
- Technology to track grant applications and provide financial services in the library holdings category
- Recruiting costs for faculty, including advertising, airfare for candidates and relocation costs for new hires
- Support for fellowships, scholarships and stipends
- Course load reduction, release time allowances, research time stipends, salary research allowances and teaching releases
Eligible geographic areas
- Canadian postsecondary institutions and their affiliated organizations.
How to apply
- Complete and submit the application form in the Convergence Portal.
- Fulfill the accountability and public acknowledgment requirements, as applicable, based on the grant value.
- Log into Convergence and view the portal as a Research Administrator.
- Select the current fiscal year and view the grant amount.
- Complete all sections of the Application Form.
- The Senior Official must accept the Terms and conditions and submit the application by the application deadline.
Processing and Agreement
- TIPS informs eligible institutions of their notional grant amount and invites them to apply.
- TIPS sends Notices of Award to institutions.
- TIPS pays out grants to institutions according to the payment schedule.
- Institutions must submit a statement of account by the reporting deadline.
- Institutions must submit an outcomes report by the reporting deadline.
Additional information
- The RSF program is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) within SSHRC.
- Institutions must re-apply annually to receive continued funding support.
- The RSF grants are awarded for a single year and institutions must meet reporting requirements to remain eligible.
- Affiliated organizations must have formal agreements in place to be included in the grant calculation.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Research Support Fund Program
What is the Research Support Fund?
The Research Support Fund provides annual support to Canadian postsecondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and institutes for the indirect costs of federally funded research. It helps cover research facilities, knowledge resources, administrative support, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property and knowledge mobilization activities.
Who is eligible for the Research Support Fund program?
To be eligible for the Research Support Fund program, you must:
Canadian, not-for-profit, degree- or diploma-granting postsecondary institution
Received research funding from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC in one of the three most recent fiscal years
Conferred degrees in the required period before or after application
What expenses are eligible under Research Support Fund?
Maintain modern labs and equipment
Provide access to up-to-date knowledge resources
Provide research management and administrative support, including support for equity, diversity and inclusion practices
Meet regulatory and ethical standards
Transfer knowledge from academia to the private, public and not-for-profit sectors
Who can I contact for more information about the Research Support Fund?
You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at information@rsf-fsr.gc.ca or by phone at 613-995-4273.
Where is the Research Support Fund available?
The Research Support Fund program is available across Canada.
Is the Research Support Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Research Support Fund is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Research Support Fund?
Research Support Fund is funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)