SSHRC Partnerships
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Scored mainly on research merit. Only 2 lead with that.
- The decision is made by a jury or selection panel. 16 work that way.
- Publishes the score sheet reviewers actually use. Only 30 do.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Funds large-scale, multi-year research partnerships between postsecondary institutions and organizations from the private, public, or non-profit sectors in social sciences and humanities, providing up to $2.5 million over 4–7 years. Only faculty members at eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions can lead applications — businesses and non-profits participate exclusively as partner organizations, contributing a minimum 35% in cash or in-kind. The two-stage annual competition has an approximately 18.5% overall success rate.
Eligibility Requirements
- Organization from the private, public, or non-profit sector partnering with academic researchers in social sciences or humanities
- Must partner with at least one Canadian postsecondary institution (private-sector companies cannot be the lead applicant)
- Project involves large-scale, multi-year collaborative research in social sciences or humanities
- Research team includes a mix of academic researchers and non-academic partners
- Not a federal government agency as lead applicant (can participate as collaborator only)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2.5M over 4-7 years (Partnership Grants); $10,000-$50,000 for 1 year (Partnership Engage Grants)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 35% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Partnership Grants: annual two-stage cycle (Stage 1 LOI ~February, Stage 2 full ~October; next Stage 1 ~February 2027). Partnership Engage Grants: quarterly deadlines (~Mar 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Dec 15).
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Very difficult — extensive requirements
Very high competition — highly selective
Very complex — extensive preparation required
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis grant is for academic researchers, not businesses -- but businesses gain enormous value as partner organizations.
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Partnership is not genuinely collaborative -- partners appear as token signatories rather than co-creators of the research agenda
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
How SSHRC Partnerships judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents on sshrc-crsh.canada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-10.
6 of the sources
- Partnership Grants
- Partnership Grants—Stage 2: October 2026 Competition
- Partnership Grants—Stage 2: October 2026 competition—Application…
- Partnership Grants—Stage 2: October 2026 competition—Partner…
- Partnership Grants—Stage 1: February 2026 Competition
- Partnership Grants—Stage 1: February 2026 Competition—Application…
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What SSHRC Partnerships favours
Strength of contributions plan and confirmed contributions under Feasibility◦
“The strength and credibility of the contributions plan, including the extent of confirmed contributions, will be an important consideration under the Feasibility criterion in assessing proposals.”
The form
Stage 1 partner form
- 1Contact information (Stage 1)short answerno limit
- 2Stage 1written answer · 2 pagesno limit
Partner organizations must attach an electronic copy of a letter of engagement. It must be written on official letterhead and include the following information:
- 3Submitting the form (Stage 1)checkboxno limit
Stage 1 shared sections
- 4Description of team (mandatory) — Stage 1written answer · 3 pagesno limit
Explain the different types of expertise needed to ensure the success of the partnership. Describe the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the project director, co-director(s) and key co-applicants and/or collaborators, as applicable.
- 5Stage 1written answer · 1 pageno limit
Stage 2 partner form
- 6Contact information (Stage 2)short answerno limit
- 7Stage 2written answer · 2 pagesno limit
- 8Contributions from partner organization (Stage 2)tableno limit
- 9Submitting the form (Stage 2)checkboxno limit
Stage 2 members and organization
- 10Collaborator information (member staff)short answerno limit
- 11Organization information (not-for-profit organizations only)written answer · 2 pagesno limit
Stage 2 narratives
- 12Knowledge mobilization plan (mandatory)written answer · 2 pagesno limit
- 13Expected outcomes (mandatory)selection + writtenno limit
- 14Description of formal partnership (mandatory)written answer · 4 pagesno limit
- 15Partnered chairs (if applicable)written answer · 1 pageno limit
- 16Governance (mandatory)written answer · 2 pagesno limit
- 17Participants’ involvement (mandatory)written answer · 2 pagesno limit
- 18Evidence of formal partnership (mandatory)upload · 20 pagesno limit
- 19Stage 2written answer · 4 pagesno limit
- 20Data management plan (mandatory)written answerno limit
Stage 2 security and attestations
- 21Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern Attestation Moduleuploadno limit
- 22National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Formuploadno limit
Partner Addition Form
- 23Section 2: Organization Informationshort answer · 100 characters
- 24Section 2: Partner Contributionstableno limit
- 25Section 2: Letter of Engagementwritten answerno limit
bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits
Judged against
SSHRC Partnerships publishes its score sheet. in Premium
- 1
Why is a formal partnership the right approach?
Show them Describe how each partner shares intellectual leadership, holds a governance seat and takes part in decisions, and what the partnership achieves that a single team could not.◦
In the funder’s words · 2
- Quality and genuineness of the formal partnership and associated management and governance arrangements and leadership, including involvement of partner organizations and others in the design and conduct of the research and/or related activities 30%
- Expertise of the team and appropriateness of partner organizations in relation to the proposed project 30%
- 2
Is the research original and well designed?
What to show, and the funder’s 7 criteria behind it in Premium
- 3
Is the budget and contribution plan credible?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
- 4
Can this team deliver and train people?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
Where applicants fail
“If you do not follow the specified requirements, your attachment may render the application ineligible.”
“The applicant / project director cannot submit his/her application until you have submitted the Partner Organization Form.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 9 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
6 more rules that can reject you · 11 more criteria · 23 more prompts
Do you pass?
Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.
Your organisation
Eligible institution administers the funds
Only an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization can administer grant funds.
Not-for-profit has a postsecondary partner
Not-for-profit organization applicants must have at least one Canadian postsecondary institution partner organization to be eligible for this funding opportunity.
The project
35% additional contributions over the grant
A minimum of 35% in additional cash and/or in-kind contributions from sources other than SSHRC during the term of the grant (four to seven years)
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Stage 1 grantup to $30,000
You can request up to $30,000 to assist the research team in preparing the Stage 2 application.
Stage 2 grantup to $500,000/year, up to $2.5M
up to $500,000/year, up to $2.5M over 4–7 years
Minimum 35% contributionsMin. $350,000 per $1 million
For example, if $1 million is requested from SSHRC, a minimum of $350,000 in additional contributions must be secured from partner organizations, bringing the actual budget total to $1.35 million.
Your shareMinimum 35% cash or in-kind from partners
a minimum of 35% in additional cash and/or in-kind contributions from sources other than SSHRC during the term of the grant (four to seven years)
StackingTotal government assistance capped at 100%
The maximum level—or stacking limit—of total government assistance (federal, provincial and municipal assistance for the same eligible expenditures) will not exceed 100 per cent of eligible expenditures.
What it pays for · 2
- Grant funds can be used for consulting fees for expert and/or professional and technical services that contribute directly to the proposed research activities, as long as the service is not being provided by a team member or an individual whose status would make them eligible to hold a SSHRC grant.
- Applicants can apply for up to 50% of the annual salary of the person who is to be replaced to cover the percentage of time that person will be devoting to the project.
What it does not pay for · 2
- Grant funds cannot be used to remunerate team members regardless of an individual’s eligibility to apply for grants.
- Grant funds cannot be used for course release time to allow an individual to engage in research activities.
From application to money
- Talk to SSHRC staffTalk to SSHRC well before deadline
- Partner form submittedPartner submits own form and engagement letter
- Stage 1 applicationLaunch: October 2026Stage 1 application launch: October 2026
- Stage 2 applicationStage 2 application due October 29, 2026
- Results announcedMay 2027Results announced May 2027
- Achievement reportTrack and report leveraged contributions
In the funder’s words · 6
- Talk to SSHRC staff
- Project directors needing help while preparing their application should communicate with SSHRC well in advance of the application deadline.
- Partner form submitted
- The partner organization completes its own online form, attaching a letter of engagement of at most 2 pages on official letterhead.
- Stage 1 application
- The host submits the Stage 1 application with the project description, the team description and the contributions plan in the online system.
- Stage 2 application
- Invited applicants submit the full application, plus each partner’s letter of engagement and contributions table.
- Results announced
- Expert panels and a multidisciplinary committee complete the review and decisions are released.
- Achievement report
- Successful applicants track partner contributions throughout the grant duration in order to report on the total amount leveraged.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win SSHRC Partnerships
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 15-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 11-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 15
Eligible Expenses 11
Ineligible Expenses 9
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow SSHRC Partnerships Compares
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about SSHRC Partnerships