NSERC Idea to Innovation Grants

NSERC Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grants sit under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and are designed to move promising technologies out of universities and colleges and into Canadian companies. The program supports pre-competitive development, so the emphasis is on early transfer rather than late-stage commercialization, with company uptake built into the model from the start. The program is built around four routes. Phase I is fully supported on direct research costs, Phase II shares costs with a private-sector partner, Phase Ib Supplement can add up to $60,000 for six months, and Market Assessment is another stream for shaping commercial direction. Phase Ib Supplement and Market Assessment are paused as of February 14, 2025, while Phase I and Phase II remain active. The combined Phase I and Phase II support is capped at three years, and one grant is allowed per phase per technology or IP position. Applicants work through the university’s Industry Liaison Office, which makes the institution part of the delivery path rather than a passive host. The intake calendar runs four times a year in January, March, June, and September, so the program rewards teams that can keep research, licensing, and partner conversations moving in step. The strongest fit is a university or college project with clear Canadian transfer potential and a company path for Phase II.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.