Vision
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians.
Our Role
NSERC’s role is to make investments in people, discovery and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians. We invest in people by supporting 26,500 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. We promote discovery by funding nearly 11,800 university professors every year. And we help make innovation happen by encouraging about 1,400 Canadian companies to invest in university research and training. Over the last ten years,NSERC has invested more than $7 billion in basic research, university-industry projects, and the training of Canada’s next generation of scientists and engineers.
NSERC in Brief
NSERC is the national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada’s capability in science and technology. NSERC supports both basic university research through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among post-secondary institutions, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.
NSERC is a separate employer of the Government of Canada, reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Industry. It is governed by a President and a Council of distinguished members selected from the private and public sectors, and universities. The Council is advised by various standing committees that are guided by a Peer Review Process.
