NSERC-NSTC Call on Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence

The NSERC-National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan call on semiconductors and artificial intelligence is a bilateral research program under NSERC's international collaboration stream. It funds university-led teams in Canada and Taiwan that want to combine Canadian AI strength with Taiwanese semiconductor expertise on a shared research problem. The call uses a grant instrument with a ceiling of CAN$225,000 per three-year project, or CAN$75,000 a year, while NSERC and NSTC each invest up to CAN$1 million across the opportunity. The process is two-stage, starting with a letter of intent and moving to a full proposal only by invitation. Canadian university researchers must lead, Taiwan-based collaborators must meet NSTC eligibility, and industry, public-sector, and not-for-profit partners outside academia are not permitted. The best proposals are built around joint work rather than parallel national projects. The record points to chip design, manufacturing, packaging, compound semiconductors, MEMS sensors, shared high-performance computing resources, and trainee exchange as the clearest fit, and it also requires STRAC attestation for every named researcher. Teams that can show a balanced academic partnership, a clear division of work, and a credible research plan are the ones that fit this call best.

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