
Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream
Last Update: January 24, 2025
Canada
Funding for research to support the skills development of adults
Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Min. $7,500,000
Timeline
- Open Date : January 26, 2022
- Closing date : March 9, 2022
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Grant Providers
- Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
- Government of Canada
Status
Closed
Overview of the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program
Receive up to $7.5 million per research and innovative project to identify better ways of helping persons prepare for, return to or keep employment and be productive participants in the labour force.
Financing terms and conditions
Funding for the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream is designed to support significant research efforts with a structured funding approach to ensure project success.
- Funding available up to $7.5 million per project.
- All projects must conclude by March 31, 2024.
- Provision for dissemination strategy to enhance the uptake of the Skills for Success Model.
Eligible projects & activities
The Skills for Success Program's Research and Innovation Stream aims to enhance the employment readiness of individuals through innovative research projects. Eligible activities focus on research initiatives that improve employment skills across various regions or nationally.
- Conducting research to support adult skills development that prepares individuals for employment.
- Developing innovative projects to improve methods of helping individuals keep employment and remain productive in the workforce.
- Creating dissemination strategies to share project findings with organizations and employers to encourage the adoption of the Skills for Success Model.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 7,500,000
Conducting a labour market study to address specific employment barriers
$ 7,500,000
Implementing a job retention program for individuals with disabilities
$ 7,500,000
Launching a skills development initiative for Indigenous communities
$ 7,500,000
Developing an online platform to provide skills training for remote work
$ 7,500,000
Creating a mentorship program for unemployed youth
$ 7,500,000
Establishing a recycling training program for marginalized groups
Eligibility criteria of the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program
To be eligible for the Skills for Success Program under the Research and Innovation Stream, organizations must meet certain criteria regarding their applicant type and project scope.
- The organization must be either a not-for-profit organization, for-profit organization (with non-commercial intent), labour union, research organization, think tank, academic institution, Indigenous organization (including band council, tribal council, or self-government entity), or a provincial/territorial government, institution, agency, or Crown Corporation.
- In Quebec, organizations must comply with the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30), including obtaining necessary authorization before signing any agreement with the Government of Canada.
Who is eligible?
The Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream was open to a variety of organizations when the application period was active. Eligible applicants included not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations (with non-commercial intent), labour unions, research organizations, academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, and provincial and territorial government bodies, among others. It was crucial for the applying organization to align with the program's objectives, which focus on the development and support of research and innovative projects aimed at improving employability and active participation in the labour force.
Eligible expenses
The Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream funds projects that aim to identify better methods of skills development for adults. Eligible activities revolve around research and innovation to enhance job readiness and participation in the labour force.
- Conducting research to support the skills development of adults.
- Innovative projects identifying new ways to help individuals prepare for and retain employment.
- Development of dissemination strategies for broad adoption of the Skills for Success Model.
Eligibility criteria of the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program
The evaluation and selection of projects for the Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream are based on specific criteria to ensure that projects meet the program’s objectives effectively.
- Organization’s capacity to deliver the project, described in detail.
- Project objectives alignment with the goal to identify better ways of helping persons prepare for, return to, or retain employment and participate productively in the labour force.
- Description of how the project addresses labour market issues in multiple jurisdictions or possesses potential relevance for similar issues in other regions.
- Clear description and feasibility of project activities, including timelines for completion.
- Specific, concrete, and measurable expected results, alongside a robust plan for gathering, measuring, and reporting on these results.
- Detailed and justified project costs that support the outlined activities and demonstrate reasonableness.
- Additional funding consideration for projects addressing the needs of under-represented groups in the labour market, with priority allocations for women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of official language minority communities, newcomers, and racialized groups.
How to apply to the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program
1
Gather Supporting Documents and Information
- Complete the application form.
- Complete the Budget Detail Template.
2
Decide How to Apply
Choose between applying online, by email, or by mail.
3
Apply Online
- Create a GCOS account (allow up to 10 business days for account creation).
- Review the applicant guide to complete the application form.
- Upload the Budget Detail Template in GCOS.
- Complete and submit the application form online within 20 hours to avoid session expiration.
- Print the application for your records before submitting.
- Click “submit” to complete your application submission.
4
Apply by Email
- Complete the application form online or by hand.
- Complete the Budget Detail Template.
- Email your completed application package to EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
- Include ‘Research and Innovation Stream’ in the email subject line.
5
Apply by Mail
- Complete the application form online or by hand.
- Complete the Budget Detail Template.
- Mail your completed application package to the specified address for the Skills for Success Program.
- If sending parts of the application by mail, indicate this in your email and include the subject line ‘Research and Innovation Stream’.
6
Confirmation of Receipt
- Receive automatic confirmation of receipt via email for online submissions.
- Receive confirmation by email for submissions via email or mail.
- Ensure the receipt of a confirmation number; if not received, the application was not submitted.
Additional information
Some additional miscellaneous information is provided about the grant process and requirements.
- Information sessions were held on February 8, 2022.
- Once you begin completing the online form, it will only be available for 20 hours.
- You cannot save or access your application at a later time while using the online form.
- Applications submitted by email will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.
- Applications submitted by mail will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 21 calendar days.
Contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca
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