Strategic Science Fund (SSF)

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Canada
• Post-secondary institutions (as Ultimate Recipients)
• Research hospitals (as Ultimate Recipients)
• Indigenous organizations and governments (as Ultimate Recipients)
• Start-up companies, including those in Canadian post-secondary-linked incubators (as Ultimate Recipients)

Who is not eligible

• Federal departments, agencies, or crown corporations of the Government of Canada.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for researchers, research staff, students, highly qualified personnel (HQP), trainees, administrative staff, and management (within public service equivalent rates).
• Operating costs of core research facilities and day-to-day administrative operations (up to 15% of the total award).
• Purchase of equipment (excluding major research equipment over $250,000), scientific collections, computer hardware or software required for the project, and information databases.
• Direct costs of knowledge creation and professional or technical services (including consulting and translation).
• Materials and supplies for project execution.
• Travel and accommodation expenses for research, knowledge mobilization, networking, and staff (in line with government directives).
• Incremental costs for knowledge mobilization, technology transfer, policy development, tool development and evaluation, intellectual property protection, market studies, and prototype development.
• Expenses related to seminars, workshops, networking meetings, and conferences.
• Communications, public education, and dissemination of research results.
• Office supplies, hospitality (aligned with federal standards), insurance, rent, utilities, and audit costs.
• Support for indirect costs (overhead) for ultimate recipients, if redistributing funds, up to 15% of project costs with justification.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations incorporated and operating anywhere in Canada.

• Strategic value aligned with core federal responsibilities and priorities.
• Added value to federal science, technology, and innovation investments.
• Presence at the national level.
• Science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) capacity, sound governance, and operational efficiency.
• Critical role of federal funding and demonstrable impact.

• Step 1: Submit Letter of Intent (LOI)
  • Prepare a Letter of Intent detailing how your organization aligns with the program's objectives and merit-review criteria.
  • Submit the LOI to the SSF Secretariat as instructed in the call for proposals.
• Step 2: LOI Review and Invitation
  • The SSF Secretariat, with input from relevant government departments and agencies, reviews LOIs for merit and program alignment.
  • Based on this review, selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.
• Step 3: Prepare and Submit Full Application
  • Develop a comprehensive application, including project details, governance, financial plans, and matched funding strategies.
  • Include all documents required as per SSF guidelines and the invitation to apply.
  • Submit the full application to the SSF Secretariat by the specified deadline.
• Step 4: Technical and Expert Panel Review
  • The application undergoes technical review by at least two subject matter experts.
  • A multidisciplinary expert panel assesses proposals, considering technical reviews and strategic considerations (such as governance, finance, EDI, IP, and security).
• Step 5: Steering Committee Recommendation
  • The expert panel and SSF Program Management Committee provide recommendations to the SSF Steering Committee.
  • The Steering Committee evaluates and makes funding recommendations to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Health.
• Step 6: Final Decision and Notification
  • Ministerial decision is communicated to applicants.
  • Successful applicants will be notified and proceed to the next steps.
• Step 7: Sign Contribution Agreement
  • Work with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada or Health Canada to negotiate and sign a contribution agreement, outlining roles, expectations, and reporting requirements.

• All recipients are required to develop and implement policies for privacy, conflict of interest, equity, diversity, inclusion, and research security.
• Intellectual property generated from funded activities must provide benefits to Canada and recipients must ensure proper IP policies and reporting.
• Annual self-evaluation of the board of directors is expected to identify and improve governance practices.
• Recipients must ensure compliance with federal official languages requirements for communications and annual reporting.