NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) 2025

Sponsor

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Program

Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program

For More Information

CREATE Program Guidelines (Note: Program Guidelines will be updated in March 2025 to reflect changes to this year's competition)

CREATE Program - Frequently Asked Questions

NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research

See 'File Attachments' section below for slides from the 2025 Information Webinar for Prospective Applicants

Description

The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:

• Raise the standards in graduate training;
• Encourage collaborative and integrative approaches and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and,
• Facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce. 

These innovative programs must foster the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills and improve their job readiness for careers in industry, government, non-governmental organizations and/or academia.

In addition, these programs should encourage the following as appropriate:

• Technical and professional skills development;
• Trainee mobility, nationally or internationally, between individual universities and between universities and other sectors;
• Interdisciplinary research within the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), or at the interface between the NSE and health or between the NSE and the social sciences and humanities -- however, the main focus of the training must still lie within the NSE; 
• Increased multi-sectoral, national, and international collaboration; and,
• Equity, diversity, and inclusiveness of research team and trainees.

Eligibility

CREATE grants are tenable only at NSERC-eligible Canadian universities, and the applicant must hold an eligible full-time position at that university in an NSERC-supported field. Researchers at non-eligible organizations may participate as collaborators. Ensure that you consider the eligibility requirements for applicants, co-applicants and collaborators described on NSERC’s website under Eligibility criteria for faculty.

The following conditions apply to all applications:

• In the case of multi-organization collaborations (academic, industrial, government or not-for-profit sectors), the applicant must be from an NSERC-supported field at an NSERC-eligible university. One person must be designated to administer the grant. This person is the “applicant” and is responsible for completing and submitting the LOI and the application (if invited) on behalf of the group. The applicant’s university will be the lead university.
  • All universities that will be involved in the application must have at least one co-applicant listed in the proposal. This ensures access to CREATE funds for all students/fellows involved at that university. The funds will be administered by the co-applicant on behalf of all the students/fellows whether they are under the co-applicant’s direct supervision or not.
• Only trainees supervised by collaborators at one of the grantee institutions are eligible for CREATE stipends and expenses.
• At least 70% of the group of co-applicants must be from NSE fields, but co-applicants at the interdisciplinary frontier between NSE and the areas covered under the umbrella of SSHRC and CIHR may be incorporated into proposals. Applicants submitting proposals at the interdisciplinary frontiers of the granting agencies may be required to justify why NSERC is in fact the most appropriate funding agency for their training proposals.
• The focus should be on new training initiatives; i.e., as CREATE initiatives cannot be renewed nor duplicated, a new proposal must be different in theme, approaches to training, and applicant team from previous grants.
• A researcher may only be the applicant on one CREATE initiative annually. There is a limit on participation in multiple CREATE initiatives. NSERC limits the participation of an individual researcher in a maximum of two CREATE initiatives as either an applicant or co-applicant (active or applied for).
  • NEW: If a researcher is already an applicant or co-applicant on two active grants, the timeline for determining eligibility to apply for a new initiative depends on the grant end date of the oldest of the two grants. The grant end date includes the 1-year Covid extension.
• Each training program will have a program committee responsible for overseeing the progress of the program and its future directions. The chair of the program committee cannot be the CREATE lead applicant nor any co-applicant, direct collaborator (e.g., financial stakeholder, internship host, trainee supervisor, research collaborator or joint author), the program coordinator or a trainee.
• CREATE initiatives are expected to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. This includes the team, program committee, and trainees.
• Additional requirements are as follows:
  • Researchers who currently hold or participate in an active CREATE grant must clearly describe their distinct contribution to, and justification for, their participation in the proposed training program.
  • Researchers who are applying in a research area already supported by other active CREATE grants must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded.
  • Previous CREATE grantees and co-grantees must clearly describe how this application differs from those already funded.

Descriptions required above should appear in either the "Excellence of proposed team of researchers" or the "Merit of the proposed training program section," as applicable. Please refer to form 187 instructions for details. The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient information to enable the selection committee to evaluate the relationship with other CREATE initiatives. Currently funded CREATE grantees can be found in the competition results.

Maximum Project Value

Funding of $150,000 (± $50,000) in the first year and $300,000 (± $50,000) annually for up to five subsequent years will be provided by NSERC for up to $1.65 million over six years. It is expected that funds will be spent on an annual basis. Year 4-6 funding is dependent on positive performance evaluations by NSERC. The grantee will be able to choose either an April or a September start. 

CREATE initiatives are expected to be self-sustaining by the end of six years. Note that there is no automatic extension for the use of funds, and renewal of funding beyond six years is not possible.

Collaborators may contribute additional funds. The application must provide a detailed justification of all expenses.

Eligible Expenses:

• At least 70% of the CREATE grant must be used for trainees’ stipends.
  • Up to 30% of this portion can be distributed to trainees who are not enrolled in the NSE.
• Remaining 30% of the CREATE funds may be used for the following expenses:
  • Training program administration;
  • Trainee travel;
  • Dissemination of training materials;
  • Initiative website maintenance for duration of the grant;
  • Travel & accommodation costs of the applicant, co-applicants or program coordinator to attend training events.

Indirect Costs

0%

Special Notes

NEW: The Letter of Intent (LOI) stage is now semi-competitive. There will be no limit on the number of LOIs submitted from any university. The University of Guelph has an allotment of 2 proposals that may move forward to the full application stage. If more than 2 LOIs are submitted by the University, LOIs will be reviewed by the NSERC Selection Committee to determine which may move forward to the full application stage. LOIs submitted to the International stream are exempt from the institution’s allotment. LOIs will be evaluated based on the following:

• Merit of proposed training program (60%)
• Excellence of the team of researchers (40%)

NEW: NSERC will fund four CREATE initiatives in Genomics. Applications should include "Genomics" in the title. LOIs submitted to the Genomics call are not included in each university’s allotment of LOIs advancing to the application stage. Each university can submit up to two LOIs for the Genomics call.

NEW: The total number of new CREATE grants that can be awarded to an institution is capped at 3 per competition year.

How to Apply

Applying to the CREATE Program involves a two phase application process: 

• Phase 1: Letter of Intent; and, 
• Phase 2: Full Application.

Phase 1: Letter of Intent

To apply for a CREATE Program grant, researchers must first submit Form 187 to their university for consideration. Refer to Form 187 instructions for complete information. The entire LOI application process is performed using NSERC’s Online System. Applicants must wait to "Submit" their LOI until the research grants office has reviewed and approved the submission. Applicants will be responsible for submitting the approved LOI to NSERC directly online.

A complete LOI includes the following:

• Form 187;
• Form 100 for the applicant;
• Letter from the applicant’s University Vice-President Research (or designate) confirming the University's support:
  • Indicate the total number of LOIs the university will be submitting this competition year.
  • Do not provide support details, as these will be included in the support letter provided at the application stage.
  • The letter is for NSERC administrative purposes only and should not be more than 1 page long. The letter must be written on letterhead, signed and saved in a portable document format (PDF).
• Outline of Training Program (NEW: Maximum 3 pages)
  • Objectives, novelty, how trainees would be better prepared for careers, involvement of stakeholders, description of potential future employers, and an assessment of job prospects for trainees;
  • Yearly recruitment targets, professional and technical skills training and mobility experiences should be described;
  • NEW: Proposals that include Indigenous research activities must describe the measures that will be taken to respond to community and/or partner needs and priorities. Consult the Indigenous research webpage for more information;
  • CREATE initiatives are not renewable. Previous CREATE grantees and co-grantees must describe how this application differs from those previously funded in terms of participants, training approach, theme and subject matter.
• NEW: Excellence of Team
  • Complementarities, expertise, roles and responsibilities (EDI should be considered)
  • Training and mentoring experience

Phase 2: Application

Applicants invited to submit a full application must then submit the following documents to NSERC through the research grant office by the deadlines indicated above. The research grant office will submit the full application to NSERC directly, on behalf of the applicant. 

• Form 102;
• Form 100 for the applicant;
• Form 100 or CCV for up to 10 co-applicants;
• Self ID questionnaire for applicant and co-applicants;
• NEW: STRAC attestation forms for applicant and co-applicants if working in a Sensitive Technology Research Area;
• One letter of support from the lead university (signed by College Dean, ADR, or VPR (or designate)); 
  • List of all contributions from the university;
  • Describe the details of support;
  • Involvement in the training program; and,
  • Plans to ensure sustainability.
• A maximum of three letters from collaborators; 
• Research training program proposal (Maximum 14 pages, plus one page for references);
• Budget justification (Maximum 2 pages); and
• Support from other sources (Maximum 2 pages).

Information For Co-applicants

If you need to meet a deadline set by the lead institution for this opportunity, please ensure that you provide the Research Services Office with at least five days notice in advance of the lead institution’s deadline to review the application, or your proposed component of the project. Please be in touch with the Research Services Office (contact information below) ahead of the deadline if it looks like it will be difficult for you to submit all the required documentation on time (i.e. budget, proposal, OR-5 Form).

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
CREATE Information Session 2025 - Slides	1.56 MB