This program is currently between intakes. Pilot program; 2026–27 cycle expected. Monitor cihr-irsc.gc.ca for competition notices. Confirm on the official site ↗
Updated August 2026 · Verified against Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) guidelines
✨ New Program Milestone-Based Est. 2024
Grant Federal Between Intakes

CIHR Partnering for Impact — Catalyst Grant

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Maximum Funding
Up to $150,000
2026–27 cycle expected; exact dates TBD
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
CIHR Partnering for Impact — Catalyst Grant provides Up to $150,000 ($125,000 + $25,000 for equity-focused engagement); requires a non-academic partner contribution. Funding stream from CIHR's Knowledge Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan enabling health researchers to co-produce knowledge and solutions in partnership with non-academic organizations, including private sector companies. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted 2026–27 cycle expected; exact dates TBD.
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Eligibility & Details

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Program Description

Funding stream from CIHR's Knowledge Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan enabling health researchers to co-produce knowledge and solutions in partnership with non-academic organizations, including private sector companies. The Catalyst Grant provides up to $150,000 for feasibility and pilot studies, with a non-academic partner required to contribute matching support. The 2025-26 competition closed October 23, 2025 and was awarded May 27, 2026 — nearly $10 million across 73 grants, funded by CIHR and Employment and Social Development Canada. No subsequent competition has been announced.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Principal Investigator must be an eligible CIHR researcher affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution or affiliated research institute
  • A non-academic partner organization (private sector, government, NPO, or community organization) must be formally engaged and providing matching support
  • Project must focus on health research with a clear knowledge-to-practice translation pathway
  • Industry partners may be SMEs or large organizations; sector-specific focus not required
  • Both academic and non-academic team members must contribute meaningfully to research design and knowledge mobilization
  • Previous CIHR funding does not disqualify applicants; this stream is complementary to existing competitions
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Healthcare Life Sciences Biotechnology Medical Devices Research
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $150,000 ($125,000 + $25,000 for equity-focused engagement); requires a non-academic partner contribution
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
2026–27 cycle expected; exact dates TBD

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win

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Insider Tip

CIHR's Partnering for Impact stream explicitly requires co-production — the non-academic partner must be involved in shaping the research questions, not just funding a pre-designed study.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Identify an Eligible Academic Partner Connect with a Canadian university or research institute researcher whose work aligns with your health technology area. The researcher must meet CIHR's Principal Investigator eligibility requirements. Establish a relationship and begin discussing mutual research interests.

Required Documents 7

✓ Research proposal (typically 10–15 pages per CIHR formatting requirements)
✓ Partner organization letter of commitment detailing nature and value of matching contribution

Eligible Expenses 7

Ineligible Expenses 5

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NSERC Alliance Grants SR&ED Tax Credits NRC IRAP
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Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How CIHR Partnering for Impact — Catalyst Grant Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
CIHR Partnering for Impact — Catalyst... Up to $150,000 Moderate Milestone-Based 2026–27 cycle expected;...
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CIHR Partnering for Impact — Catalyst Grant

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Can sole proprietors apply as the non-academic partner?
No — non-academic partners must be formal organizations (e.g., incorporated company, NPO, government agency). Sole proprietors cannot provide matching contributions as required.
What's the typical matching contribution ratio?
Non-academic partners must contribute cash or in-kind support equal to or greater than CIHR's funding. For example, a $120,000 CIHR grant requires at least $120,000 from the partner.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Most rejections cite lack of genuine co-production — the non-academic partner didn't help design research questions, or the partnership was structured as consultancy rather than collaboration.
Can I apply if my company has received CIHR funding before?
Yes — previous CIHR funding does not disqualify you. The Catalyst Grant is complementary to other CIHR competitions.
How long does it take to get funds after approval?
Funds are disbursed in milestones over 1–2 years. The first payment is typically released within 30 days of signing the agreement.

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