Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream
Last Update: August 12, 2025
Canada
Funding for research to support the skills development of adults
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $7,500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : January 26, 2022
- Closing date : March 9, 2022
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Closed
Overview
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
- Maximum financial assistance of up to $7.5 million per project.
- All funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2024.
Activities funded
- Conducting research aimed at supporting the skills development of adults to improve their employability and adaptability in the labour market.
- Developing and testing innovative approaches or practices to help individuals prepare for, return to, or retain employment.
- Implementing nationwide or regional projects that address current labour market challenges, with the potential for broader application in other jurisdictions.
- Designing strategies to enable widespread adoption of the Skills for Success Model, including plans to share project results with other organizations and employers.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 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
Creating a mentorship program for unemployed youth
$ 7,500,000
Conducting a labour market study to address specific employment barriers
$ 7,500,000
Developing an online platform to provide skills training for remote work
$ 7,500,000
Establishing a recycling training program for marginalized groups
Eligibility
- The applicant must be one of the following types of organizations: 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, self-government entity), or a provincial/territorial government, institution, agency, or Crown Corporation.
- The organization must submit only one application per stream under a single CRA business registration number.
- The project must end by March 31, 2024.
- The project must be national or regional in scope and focus on supporting research and innovation to help individuals prepare for, return to, or retain employment, and enable broad adoption of the Skills for Success Model with a strategy for result dissemination.
- Organizations located and operating in Quebec subject to the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30) must obtain required authorization before signing an agreement with the Government of Canada.
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations (for non-commercial, non-profit-generating activities supporting program objectives)
- Labour unions
- Research organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions
- Indigenous organizations, including band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities
- Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown Corporations
Who is not eligible
- For-profit organizations whose activities are commercial in nature or intended to generate profit.
- Organizations submitting more than one application per stream under a single CRA business registration number.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel salaries and benefits directly related to the research and innovation project.
- Costs for developing and implementing dissemination strategies, such as creating promotional materials (e.g., infographics, videos, capsules).
- Travel expenses necessary for project activities, such as conferences, meetings, or knowledge-sharing events.
- Expenses for data collection, tracking, and evaluation tools or systems to measure project outcomes.
- Reasonable administrative and overhead costs essential for project management and reporting.
Eligible geographic areas
- Projects must be national in scope (addressing labour market issues in multiple provinces or territories across Canada, including online), or
- Projects may be regional in scope (addressing a labour market issue in a single province or territory with the potential to address similar issues elsewhere in Canada)
Selection criteria
- Demonstrated organizational capacity and relevant experience to deliver the project.
- Clarity in how the project supports research and innovation to help individuals prepare for, return to, or retain employment and be productive in the labour force.
- Well-defined, clear, and feasible description and timeline of project activities.
- Specific, concrete, and measurable expected project results, including a plan for gathering, measuring, and reporting outcomes.
- Justification of project costs, ensuring expenses are reasonable, detailed, and support project activities.
How to apply
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
- Only one application per stream was permitted under a single CRA business registration number.
- Selected projects were required to include a dissemination strategy to share results with organizations and employers.
- Priority was given to projects addressing the needs of under-represented groups, with targeted allocations for persons with disabilities and racialized Canadians.
- Information sessions related to the call were held on February 8, 2022, available online or via teleconference.
Contacts
EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream. 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 Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream?
How much funding can be received?
What expenses are eligible under Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream?
Who is eligible for the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program?
Who can I contact for more information about the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream?
Where is the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream available?
Are women eligible for the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program?
Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program?
Are Black Canadians eligible for the Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream program?
More programs like this
Open
ISED — Artificial intelligence (AI)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)Supports testing innovative AI prototypes for Canadian government needs
Canada
Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationWage Subsidies And InternsOpen
Mitacs Accelerate
MitacsConnect organizations with academia for research and innovation collaboration
Canada
Researchers And FacilitiesExpert AdviceOpen
Digital and Quantum Innovation Platform — PINQ²
Plateforme d'Innovation Numérique et QuantiqueGet expert advice and the use of a high-tech environment
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP) — Project Stream
Innovation CanadaFunding for complex Indigenous IP projects
Canada
Grant and FundingOpen
CFI — Innovation Fund
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)CFI Innovation Fund supports research infrastructure development
Canada
Grant and FundingOpen
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream
Government of CanadaSupports infrastructure projects for critical minerals development in Canada
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
On-road Transportation Decarbonization — R&D Projects
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)Funding for research and development projects in transportation
Canada
Grant and FundingOpen
Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF)
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities CanadaSupports long-term public transit and active transportation infrastructure projects
Canada
Grant and FundingOpen
Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP)
Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR)Supports northern research training for Canadian university students
Canada
Grant and FundingOpen
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream
Government of CanadaSupports infrastructure projects advancing critical minerals development in Canada
Canada