The NRC's Outreach Initiative provides grant funding to support non-profit organizations or charities for a variety of science- or innovation-based initiatives or projects.
Eligible activities, projects or initiatives include support for science- or innovation-based conferences, workshops, symposia, or other outreach activities aimed at better promoting outreach to, and engagement with, Canadians, including those from under-represented groups interested in STEM.
"The NRC was a crucial Shad partner. Your financial grant assisted with the costs of offering the month-long, online STEM immersion to 600 youths. In addition to the incredible contribution by your astronomy and astrophysics team members, the NRC's involvement made a strong and positive contribution to the program. Shad participants learned about the extensive NRC capabilities and research areas across the country, exposing opportunities for future collaboration and employment. IRAP's mandate and capabilities in helping small and medium enterprises access, develop, exploit and apply technologies to create new products, services and industrial processes to stimulate innovation was also discovered by participants."
Indigenous outreach stream
The Indigenous outreach stream of the NRC's Outreach Initiative is intended to fund organizations for science or innovation-based initiatives by Indigenous peoples and for Indigenous peoples. The schedule, eligibility and assessment criteria, as well as responsibilities and implementation, are identical to the NRC Outreach Initiative except that those eligible should be focused toward Indigenous STEM individuals or topics.
Events that are not eligible for the NRC Indigenous Outreach Initiative will still be considered for the NRC Outreach Initiative.
Eligible events for the Indigenous outreach stream should seek to address 1 or more of these strategic priorities:
- Building intentional relationship with Indigenous researchers, innovators, communities, organizations and governments in the context of STEM
- Advancing equity and themes of reconciliation through colaboration, engagement and partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in STEM-related areas
- Bridging knowledge systems and working together to enhance existing research practices or processes, and develop new strategies
- Increasing participation of Indigenous peoples in STEM
Assessment of your request
Your request for an Outreach Initiative grant will be assessed based on the following factors:
- Commitment to advancing science literacy, knowledge or expertise
- Alignment with NRC's research priorities or support for technology innovation
- Impact of proposed Outreach Initiative
- Inclusion of under-represented groups, STEM talent development or promotion of STEM
To encourage the submission of a diverse and wide range of proposals, consideration may be given to applicants who have not previously received funding through the program, and/or initiatives that benefit wide-reaching events throughout Canada and that are deemed NRC priorities.
Application period:
The NRC Outreach Initiative accepts applications on a semi-annual basis. Applicants are expected to submit their applications be the following deadlines:
- Spring intake round: May 9
- Fall intake round: October 10
In exceptional cases, the NRC may consider urgent applications outside of the semi-annual cycle. In such cases, applications will be assessed using the same criteria used to evaluate other applications.
How to apply
To apply, contact the NRC Stakeholder Relations group to receive the application form and the application guide.
If your application is successful, you will be responsible for:
- administering the funds as set out in the funding agreement
- reporting on results once at the end of your project, allowing the NRC to collect performance measurement data
Contact us
NRC Stakeholder Relations group: NRC.StakeholderRelations-Relationsavecintervenants.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca