How much funding can be received?

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.

grant_single_labels|projects

Eligible projects and activities for this grant include supporting research and innovative projects to help individuals prepare for, return to, or keep employment, and to be productive participants in the labour force.

Conducting research to support the skills development of adults
Focusing on research addressing labour market issues present in multiple or single jurisdictions
Implementing innovative methodologies to help individuals enter or remain in the workforce
Developing dissemination strategies to share project results with organizations and employers

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$7,500,000

Toronto

Conducting a labour market study to address specific employment barriers

$7,500,000

Vancouver

Implementing a job retention program for individuals with disabilities

$7,500,000

Winnipeg

Launching a skills development initiative for Indigenous communities

$7,500,000

Montreal

Developing an online platform to provide skills training for remote work

$7,500,000

Calgary

Creating a mentorship program for unemployed youth

$7,500,000

Halifax

Establishing a recycling training program for marginalized groups

grant_single_labels|admissibility

To be eligible for this grant, your organization must meet certain criteria related to the type of organization and the project's characteristics and scope.

Not-for-profit organization
For-profit organization (non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
Labour union
Research organization, Think tank, Academic Institution
Indigenous organization including band council, tribal council, self-government entity
Provincial and territorial government, institution, agency and Crown Corporation
Project duration must not exceed March 31, 2024
Project scope must be national or regional
Request no more than $7.5 million per project
Focus on supporting research and innovative projects to help persons prepare for, return to or keep employment, and be productive participants in the labour force
Include a dissemination strategy to share project results with organizations and employers

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Yes, there are specific types of eligible companies for this grant. Eligible organizations must meet the criteria listed under the eligibility section.

Not-for-profit organization
For-profit organization (if the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
Labour union
Research organization, Think tank, Academic Institution
Indigenous organization including band councils, tribal councils, or self-government entities
Provincial and territorial government, institutions, agencies, and Crown Corporations

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Summary not provided.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

Eligible projects under the Skills for Success Program's Research and Innovation Stream must be national in scope, addressing labour market issues present in multiple jurisdictions, or regional in scope, addressing issues in one jurisdiction with potential applicability elsewhere.

National in scope: Labour market issues in multiple provinces/territories including online
Regional in scope: Labour market issues in one province/territory with potential broader relevance

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The assessment of applications includes criteria such as organizational capacity, project objectives, activities, results, and costs, as well as additional funding considerations prioritized for projects that address the needs of under-represented groups in the labour market.

Organization’s capacity: Describe in detail how your organization has the relevant experience to deliver this project
Project objectives: Describe how the project supports research and innovative projects to identify better ways of helping persons prepare for, return to or keep employment and be productive participants in the labour force
Project objectives: Describe how the project addresses a labour market issue that is present in multiple jurisdictions or has the potential to address the same or similar skills and labour market issues in other parts of the country
Project activities: Describe how the organization will support research and innovative projects to identify better ways of helping persons prepare for, return to or keep employment and be productive participants in the labour force
Project activities: Provide clear and relevant description of the project activities
Project activities: Provide clear and feasible timelines to complete the project activities
Project results: Describe the expected results of your project. They must be specific, concrete, and measurable
Project results: Describe how you plan to gather, measure and report on results achieved by your project
Project costs: Provide a brief and clear justification of how you intend to use the money
Project costs: Demonstrate that the costs are reasonable, detailed and support the project activities
Additional funding considerations: Priority will be given to proposed projects that respond to the needs of under-represented groups in the labour market, such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of official language minority communities, newcomers, and racialized groups

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Gather your supporting documents and information
Completed application form
Budget Detail Template
Step 2: Decide how to apply (online, email, or mail)
Apply online
Create your GCOS account. Note: It may take up to 10 business days to create your account.
Read the applicant guide to complete your application form.
Complete the Budget Detail Template (PDF format) and upload it in GCOS.
Apply online using GCOS.
Information to know when applying online:
Once you begin completing the online form, it will only be available for 20 hours. If you do not complete it within this timeframe, your session will expire and you will have to start over.
The questions in the online form are in the same order as the PDF application form. However, the questions are not numbered online.
You cannot save or access your application at a later time.
Private and public organizations must have a CRA business number to apply online.
You can print a copy of your application before submitting. This is the only opportunity to print your application.
After you print a copy of your online application, click “submit” to complete your application. If you do not click “submit”, your application will not be sent to us.
Apply by email or mail
Read the applicant guide to complete your application form.
Complete the Application form online or by hand.
Complete the Budget Detail Template (PDF format).
Send your complete application package by email or mail to:
Email address: EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca. Indicate in the email subject line ‘Research and Innovation Stream’
Mailing address:
Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream
Coordination Unit Mailstop 402
National Grants & Contributions Delivery Centre (ESDC)
140 Promenade du Portage Phase IV 4th Floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9
If you cannot email the documents, you can send them by mail. In your email, note that you are sending additional documents by mail and indicate in the email subject line ‘Research and Innovation Stream’
Step 3: After you’ve applied
We will review your application and decide if you will receive funding.
Funding decisions are expected to be made in late Fall 2022.
Online:
You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt with a confirmation number by email.
If you do not receive a confirmation number, your application was not received.
By email:
You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt by email.
By mail:
You will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 21 calendar days.
We will use the email address you provided in your application.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

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.

grant_single_labels|contact

EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca

Apply to this program

Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream: Funding Overview

The Skills for Success Program aims to enhance foundational and transferable skills for Canadians to better prepare them for the workforce. Applications for the Research and Innovation Stream, which offered grants up to $7.5 million per project, were accepted from January 26, 2022, to March 9, 2022.

Understanding the Grants Offered by the Skills for Success Program – Research and Innovation Stream

The Government of Canada's Skills for Success (SFS) Program, spearheaded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), is dedicated to empowering Canadians at all skill levels by enhancing their foundational and transferable skills. These skills are crucial for individuals to better prepare for, secure, and maintain employment, as well as to adapt and succeed in the ever-evolving job market. This article provides an in-depth explanation of the Research and Innovation Stream grant, a fundamental component of the SFS Program.

Application Period and Funding Details

The application period for the Research and Innovation Stream was open from January 26, 2022, to March 9, 2022, closing at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Funding decisions were to be made by late Fall 2022, aiming to support projects that align with the program’s objectives. Eligible organizations could apply for up to $7.5 million per project, with all projects required to conclude by March 31, 2024.

Objectives of the Research and Innovation Stream

The core objective of the Research and Innovation Stream is to finance projects that undertake research and develop innovative approaches to assist individuals in preparing for, re-entering, or maintaining employment. Additionally, projects must ensure participants are productive contributors within the workforce. The stream emphasizes broad adoption and integration of the Skills for Success Model, mandating funded projects to include a dissemination strategy that shares findings with relevant organizations and employers.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Research and Innovation Stream, applicants had to meet specific eligibility criteria:

Eligible Applicants

The following categories of organizations were eligible to apply:

Not-for-profit organizations
For-profit organizations (provided the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
Labour unions
Research organizations, Think tanks, Academic Institutions
Indigenous organizations, including band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities
Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations

Notably, organizations located and operating in Quebec needed to ensure compliance with the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30).

Eligible Projects

Projects needed to meet several criteria:

The project duration could not extend beyond March 31, 2024.
The project scope had to be either national (addressing a labour market issue in multiple jurisdictions) or regional (addressing an issue in one jurisdiction with potential relevance to other parts of the country).
Funding requests could not exceed $7.5 million per project.
Projects must have focused on supporting research and innovative ways to help individuals prepare for, return to, or keep employment and be active participants in the labour force.
Projects had to include a strategy for disseminating results to enable the broad adoption of the Skills for Success Model.

How Applications Were Assessed

The assessment process involved three key steps to evaluate applications thoroughly:

1. Screening for Eligibility

Applications were screened to ensure they met the mandatory eligibility requirements, including:

The application was submitted by the deadline.
The organization was eligible according to the program criteria.
The application package was complete, including all mandatory information, a completed Budget Detail Template, and a signed attestation.
The project activities were eligible based on the specified criteria.

Incomplete applications were notified by email with a 5-business day window to submit missing information; otherwise, the application was rejected.

2. Project Assessment

Eligible applications were evaluated based on several criteria:

Organization’s Capacity: Applicants needed to demonstrate their ability to deliver the project effectively, showcasing relevant experience and expertise.
Project Objectives: The project needed to align with the SFS Program's goals of supporting research and innovation in skills development.
Project Activities: Clear and feasible activities and timelines were required, with a strong emphasis on innovative approaches to skills development.
Project Results: Expected results had to be specific, concrete, and measurable, with an outlined strategy for gathering and reporting achievements.
Project Costs: Applicants had to provide a detailed and reasonable budget, explaining how funds will be utilized to support project activities.

3. Additional Funding Considerations

The assessment also considered additional factors to prioritize projects that aligned with certain criteria, such as:

Responding to the needs of under-represented groups in the labour market, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of official language minority communities, newcomers, and racialized groups.
Allocating funding with the intention of supporting under-represented groups, with specific allocations for persons with disabilities and racialized Canadians.

Steps to Apply

The application process was outlined in several steps:

1. Gather Supporting Documents and Information

Applicants needed to prepare a completed application form and a Budget Detail Template.

2. Decide How to Apply

Applications could be submitted online, via email, or by mail. For online submissions, applicants had to create a GCOS account, which could take up to 10 business days to be activated. It was important to note that once the online form was started, it needed to be completed within 20 hours, as the session would expire after that period. Private and public organizations required a CRA business number to apply online. For email or mail submissions, applicants had to ensure all documents were completed accurately and sent by the specified methods.

After Application Submission

Following the submission, the review process would determine if the application would receive funding, with decisions expected by late Fall 2022. Applicants received confirmation receipts based on their method of submission (online, email, or mail).

Contact and Information Sessions

For any questions or further information regarding the application process, applicants were encouraged to contact the provided email address: EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca. Additionally, information sessions were held on February 8, 2022, to provide further clarification and support.

Glossary of Key Terms

The document included a comprehensive glossary covering essential terminology like accessible formats, collaboration with employers, data collection strategies, demographic information, dissemination strategy, diversity, evaluation strategy, foundational and transferable skills, Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+), and more. These terms were crucial for applicants to understand as they articulated their projects and proposals. In conclusion, the Research and Innovation Stream of the Skills for Success Program aimed to empower organizations to explore innovative solutions in skills development for the Canadian workforce. By adhering to the outlined application process and meeting the eligibility criteria, organizations could secure substantial funding to drive impactful projects capable of addressing national and regional labour market issues.