Apply for 2026 Partnership Engage Grants for Research Activities in Canada, Partnership Engage Grants support the objectives of the Research Partnerships program by providing short-term and timely funding for collaborative research activities.
These grants are designed to support partnerships between postsecondary researchers and a single partner organization from the public, private, or not-for-profit sector. The funded activities are intended to generate research that can help address the organization’s immediate needs and inform decision-making.
The program supports small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships that respond to specific challenges, needs, or opportunities faced by organizations outside the academic sector. Through these collaborations, non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers can share their knowledge, expertise, and capabilities to address topics of mutual interest.
The partnerships are particularly suited to projects where timely research and collaboration can provide practical insights or help an organization respond to an emerging issue or opportunity.
SSHRC also welcomes applications involving Indigenous research and research-creation.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 15th December 2026
Apply for 2026 Partnership Engage Grants for Research Activities in Canada
Overview
Partnership Engage Grants support short-term collaborations between postsecondary researchers and organizations outside the academic sector. Applicants may use one or combine different partnership approaches, including:
- Cross-sector co-creation of knowledge: Collaborative research, training, and knowledge creation addressing important social, economic, cultural, or intellectual issues.
- Partnered knowledge mobilization: Partnerships that synthesize, apply, and share existing or new Humanities and Social Sciences research in accessible ways to strengthen organizations and increase the impact of Canadian research.
Joint Initiatives
SSHRC works with organizations across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to support research, training, and knowledge-sharing activities.
The following joint initiative is associated with this funding opportunity:
- Mitacs Accelerate – Grants
Funding and Duration Apply for 2026 Partnership Engage Grants for Research Activities in Canada
- Grant Amount: $10,000 to $50,000
- Duration: 1 year
- A salary research allowance may be requested for an eligible Canadian not-for-profit organization involved in the partnership, where the individual is a co-applicant.
Apply for 2026 Partnership Engage Grants for Research Activities in Canada
Eligibility
Subject Matter
Proposals may cover disciplines, themes, approaches, or research areas eligible for SSHRC funding.
However, projects whose primary purpose is any of the following are not eligible:
- Curriculum development
- Preparation of teaching materials
- Program evaluation
- Conference or workshop organization
- Digitization of a collection
- Creation of a database
Applicants
Applications may be submitted by an individual researcher or a research team consisting of an applicant and one or more co-applicants and/or collaborators.
Applicants must:
- Be affiliated with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution.
- Have completed all requirements of their program of study, where applicable.
- Maintain the required institutional affiliation during the grant period.
Postdoctoral researchers may apply if they have established an eligible affiliation with a Canadian postsecondary institution. They should confirm with their institution that it can administer the grant.
Students cannot be applicants or co-applicants for Partnership Engage Grants.
Researchers whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution are not eligible to apply as applicants.
Applicants with an outstanding SSHRC achievement report are also ineligible until the required report has been submitted.
Co-Applicants and Collaborators
Co-Applicants
Co-applicants may be affiliated with:
- An eligible Canadian postsecondary institution
- A Canadian not-for-profit organization
- A philanthropic foundation
- A think tank
- A municipal, territorial, or provincial government
- An international postsecondary institution
Postdoctoral researchers affiliated with a postsecondary institution may also be co-applicants.
Collaborators
Individuals who make a significant contribution to the project may participate as collaborators. They do not need to be affiliated with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution.
Individuals from the private sector or federal government can participate as collaborators.
Partner Organization
Only one Canadian or international organization from the public, private, or not-for-profit sector can participate as the partner organization.
The partner organization must be independent of the applicant and academic institution. Postsecondary institutions and scholarly associations cannot serve as partner organizations.
The partner organization must also maintain an arm’s-length relationship with the applicant and academic co-applicants. Applicants must disclose any relevant relationships and explain how potential conflicts of interest will be managed.
Cash and/or in-kind contributions are not mandatory, but partner organizations are expected to contribute to the partnership where possible.
Researchers working with more than one partner organization may consider other SSHRC funding opportunities, such as Partnership Development Grants or Partnership Grants.
Multiple Applications
An individual may submit only one Partnership Engage Grant application as an applicant per calendar year.
Current Partnership Engage Grant holders may submit another application after their existing grant has reached its official end date.
Monitoring and Reporting
Successful grant holders must report on:
- Use of grant funds
- Activities completed during the grant period
- Project outcomes
SSHRC will provide reporting requirements to successful applicants with their notice of award.
Application Process
Applicants must complete the application according to SSHRC’s official application instructions.
Applications must be submitted electronically by an authorized research grants officer or equivalent representative of the applicant’s institution.
Applicants who need assistance should contact SSHRC well before the application deadline.
The application deadline is 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After the deadline, the application server will be unavailable for two business days before reopening for the next competition.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed through a competitive merit-review process based on three main criteria:
1. Challenge – 60%
Reviewers consider:
- Relevance of the research to the partner organization’s needs, challenges, or opportunities
- Originality and significance of the proposed research
- Quality of the literature review
- Appropriateness of the research methods and theoretical approach
- Opportunities for student and emerging researcher training
- Potential impact within the partner organization and beyond
2. Feasibility – 20%
Reviewers consider:
- Whether the objectives can realistically be achieved within the proposed timeline
- Involvement of the partner organization
- Appropriateness and justification of the budget
- Other available resources and partner contributions
- Quality of knowledge mobilization and stakeholder engagement plans
3. Capability – 20%
Reviewers consider:
- Relevant experience and research outputs of the applicant and team
- Previous knowledge mobilization activities and stakeholder engagement
- Contributions to training and mentoring of students and emerging researchers
Applications must receive a minimum score of 3.0 out of 6.0 on each evaluation criterion to be recommended for funding.
Funding Score Scale
- 5–6: Very good to excellent
- 4–4.9: Good to very good
- 3–3.9: Satisfactory to good
- Below 3: Unsatisfactory
Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds generally cannot be used to:
- Pay team members who are eligible to hold SSHRC grants
- Provide salaries or stipends to individuals who are eligible to hold agency grants
- Fund course release time for research activities
Up to $50,000 may be used to develop partnership-related tools.
Specific exceptions may apply to compensation for Indigenous team members participating in funded projects, subject to the applicable Tri-agency guidelines.
Policies and Requirements
Applicants and grant holders must comply with SSHRC and Tri-agency policies, including requirements relating to:
- Financial administration
- Open access to publications
- Research data management
- Indigenous research
- Sensitive technology research and affiliations of concern
- National security considerations for research partnerships
Applicants should also consult SSHRC’s guidance on knowledge mobilization, research training, Indigenous research, and research-related tools when preparing their applications.
Communication of Results
SSHRC communicates competition results to applicants through the SSHRC Extranet for Applicants and to institutions through the Grants and Scholarships Administration Portal.
Applicants will also receive a summary of the merit review committee’s assessment, where applicable.
Application deadlines:
March 16, 2026 (8:00 p.m. eastern) Competition closed
June 15, 2026 (8:00 p.m. eastern) Competition closed
September 15, 2026 (8:00 p.m. eastern) Competition closed
December 15, 2026 (8:00 p.m. eastern) Competition open
What Makes a Strong Application?
A strong SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant application should clearly demonstrate the value of the partnership, the importance of the research, and the practical benefit to the partner organization. Applicants should focus on:
- Clearly explain the specific challenge, need, or opportunity facing the partner organization and how the proposed research will address it.
- Demonstrate meaningful involvement of the partner organization in designing and carrying out the research.
- Present clear objectives, a strong research question, appropriate methods, and a convincing theoretical and literature foundation.
- Explain how the research findings will inform decision-making or benefit the partner organization and potentially other stakeholders.
- Provide a feasible timeline showing how the project can be completed within the one-year grant period.
- Ensure that all requested costs are appropriate, clearly explained, and proportionate to the proposed activities.
- Provide a clear plan for sharing and applying the findings with the partner organization and other relevant audiences.
- Demonstrate that the applicant and team have the research experience, knowledge, and partnership skills needed to successfully complete the project.
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a Partnership Engage Grant?
A Partnership Engage Grant provides short-term funding for collaborative research activities involving postsecondary researchers and one public, private, or not-for-profit partner organization.
2. How much funding is available?
Partnership Engage Grants provide between $10,000 and $50,000 for one year.
3. Who can apply for a Partnership Engage Grant?
Applications can be submitted by an individual researcher or a research team. Applicants must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution. Students cannot apply as applicants or co-applicants.
4. How many partner organizations can be involved?
Only one Canadian or international organization from the public, private, or not-for-profit sector can serve as the partner organization for a Partnership Engage Grant.
5. How are applications evaluated?
Applications are assessed on three criteria: Challenge (60%), Feasibility (20%), and Capability (20%). Applications must receive at least 3.0 out of 6.0 on each criterion to be recommended for funding.
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