Research Support Fund – Supporting the indirect costs associated with research

Bouchard (Phoenix pay system) class action

On April 15, 2025, the Superior Court of Quebec approved the Bouchard class action settlement agreement. Eligible class members have until October 24, 2025, to submit a claim for damages caused by the Phoenix pay system.

Additional Budget 2024 Incremental Project Grants funding—2024-25 application process

As recently announced, the Incremental Project Grants (IPG) stream of the Research Support Fund program has received additional funding through Budget 2024. For the 2024-25 fiscal year exclusively, the application process for these additional funds will occur outside of the regular IPG application process.

Application requirements

Institutions eligible to receive these additional funds will be invited to complete a new IPG application through the Convergence Portal. The application process is anticipated to open on December 11, 2024, with applications due on January 22, 2025.

Use of grant funds, and reporting requirements

Institutions will be able to apply expenses retroactively to April 1, 2024. A three-month extension has been put in place to allow institutions to use the additional Budget 2024 IPG funds until June 30, 2025. Institutions will be required to report on the use of these grant funds.

Reporting requirement update

Use of grant funds and reporting requirements update 2025

A three-month extension has been put in place to allow institutions to use their 2024-2025 Research Support Fund (RSF), Incremental Project Grants (IPG), and Research Security funds until June 30, 2025.

End of grant period reporting requirements

The RSF base grant Outcomes Report has been revised and will be implemented for use by institutions for the 2024-25 reporting requirements. As a result, the Statement of Account and the Outcomes Reports for the RSF base grant, IPG (including the additional funds from Budget 2024), and Research Security will become available to institutions in the summer. Institutions will have approximately three months from that date to complete their reporting requirements.

What is the Research Support Fund?

The Research Support Fund assists Canadian postsecondary institutions with the costs associated with managing their research enterprise, helping them to maintain a world-class research environment. Grants can be used to:

maintain modern labs and equipment;
secure research from threats;
provide access to up-to-date knowledge resources;
provide research management and administrative support;
meet regulatory and ethical standards; or
transfer knowledge from academia to the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Over $450 million is invested each year through the Research Support Fund to support researchers, collaboration and breakthrough science. This includes the Incremental Project Grants and research security.