Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more

General information
Name of transfer payment program Grants and Scholarships (voted)
Start date 1978
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2011–12
Link to department’s Program Inventory
  • Insight Research
  • Research Training and Talent Development
  • Research Partnerships
Description This transfer payment program consists of grants and scholarships awarded for research, talent development and research dissemination activities in the social sciences and humanities. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results
  • Canada’s social sciences and humanities research is internationally competitive
  • Canada has a pool of highly skilled people in the social sciences and humanities
  • Canada’s social sciences and humanities research knowledge is used
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2018–19
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2019–20
General targeted recipient groups Persons (students, researchers), not-for-profit organizations (charities, foundations, non-governmental organizations, universities and research institutions)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.
Planning information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned
spending		 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 306,529,822 310,534,970 322,045,438 334,256,377
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 306,529,822 310,534,970 322,045,438 334,256,377
General information
Name of transfer payment program Research Support Fund (voted)
Start date 2003
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2014–15
Link to department’s Program Inventory Research Support Fund
Description This transfer payment program supports a portion of the indirect costs associated with the conduct of academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal research granting agencies. Grants are awarded to eligible institutions using a progressive funding formula based on the average revenues from research grants received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results Canada’s university and college research environments are strong
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2014–15
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2019–20
General targeted recipient groups Not-for-profit organizations (universities and research institutions, colleges)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.
Planning information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 397,347,143 407,514,840 415,066,290 427,638,090
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 397,347,143 407,514,840 415,066,290 427,638,090
General information
Name of transfer payment program New Frontiers in Research Fund (voted)
Start date 2018
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2018–19
Link to department’s Program Inventory New Frontiers in Research Fund
Description This transfer payment program for the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) supports research that is international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and high-risk / high-reward. The NFRF supports projects not easily supported through existing tri-agency and agency-specific mechanisms, and it contributes to enhancing Canada’s competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy. This program is administered by SSHRC on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results
  • Canada generates opportunities to build strength in high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research
  • Canada builds strength and leadership in interdisciplinary and transformative research
  • Canadian researchers have enhanced opportunities to participate in research with international partners
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation N/A
Decision following the results of last evaluation N/A
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2023–24
General targeted recipient groups Persons (researchers)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.
Planning information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 18,994,690 53,048,880 69,912,780 72,999,184
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 18,994,690 53,048,880 69,912,780 72,999,184

Note: The NFRF is a new program created in 2018–19. Spending will increase annually as the program ramps up.

General information
Name of transfer payment program Canada First Research Excellence Fund (voted)
Start date 2014
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2014–15
Link to department’s Program Inventory Insight Research
Description The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) supports Canada’s postsecondary institutions in their efforts to become global research leaders. CFREF helps institutions: (i) compete with the best in the world for talent, for partnership opportunities and to make breakthrough discoveries; (ii) seize emerging opportunities and strategically advance their greatest strengths on the global stage; and (iii) implement large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies. This program is administered by SSHRC on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results
  • Institutions develop ambitious and focused strategies
  • Canadian post-secondary institutions excel globally in research areas of strategic relevance to Canada
  • Institutions contribute to creating long-term economic advantages for Canada
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation N/A
Decision following the results of last evaluation N/A
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2019–20
General targeted recipient groups Not-for-profit organizations (universities and research institutions, colleges)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.
Planning information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 18,455,543 18,455,544 18,455,544 18,455,544
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 18,455,543 18,455,544 18,455,544 18,455,544
General information
Name of transfer payment program Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start date 2003–04
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2009–10
Link to department’s Program Inventory Research Training and Talent Development
Description SSHRC’s portion of the Canada Graduate Scholarships program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master’s or doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities. This is a tri-agency program and is administered by each respective agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC). This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results
  • Increased enrolment in graduate studies in Canada
  • Improved time to completion of degrees for Canada Graduate Scholarship holders, relative to national statistics for time to completion in their discipline
  • Enhanced capacity of Canadian universities to attract the best and brightest young people who will become the next generation of researchers
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2016–17
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2021–22
General targeted recipient groups Persons (students)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication.
Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 68,983,500 68,983,500 68,983,500 68,983,500
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 68,983,500 68,983,500 68,983,500 68,983,500
General information
Name of transfer payment program Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start date 2008–09
End date Ongoing
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2014–15
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Link to department’s Program Inventory Research Training and Talent Development
Description The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is a tri-agency program designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by offering them a significant financial award. This financial award assists students during their studies at Canadian universities. Vanier scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields. This program is administered by CIHR on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results
  • Establishment of a Canadian doctoral scholarship that is internationally competitive and internationally recognized
  • Enhanced capacity of Canadian universities to attract the best and brightest students from Canada and the world with the potential to become leaders in the next generation of researchers in Canada
  • Attract to Canada top students from other countries who will bring with them new knowledge and ideas and enrich the Canadian learning environment
  • Retain Canada’s top doctoral students in the face of intense international competition for the brightest researchers
  • Promote and brand Canada as a home of research excellence and Canadian universities as world-class institutions of researchand higher learning
  • Establish effective research collaborations and networks between Canada and the recipients’ home countries
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2014–15
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2019–20
General targeted recipient groups Persons (students)
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and directed tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication, as well as through the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships website.
Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants 8,300,000 8,300,000 8,300,000 8,300,000
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 8,300,000 8,300,000 8,300,000 8,300,000
General information
Name of transfer payment program Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)
Start date 1997
End date 2023–24
Type of transfer payment Grant
Type of appropriation Appropriated annually through the Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2014–15
Link to the department’s Program Inventory Research Partnerships
Description The program supports large-scale academically led research networks that harness the creativity and inventiveness of Canadian health, natural and social scientists, and engineers. Partners from industry, government and not-for-profit organizations contribute additional expertise and bring cash and in-kind support. This program is a tri-agency program administered by NSERC on behalf of CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions.
Expected results Strong linkages and partnerships between university, government and industry and other users (non-governmental organizations) resulting in the exploitation of leading-edge research results with economical and/or societal benefits to Canada
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2015–16
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation N/A
General targeted recipient groups Not-for-profit organizations
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.
Planning information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018–19 Forecast spending 2019–20 Planned spending 2020–21 Planned spending 2021–22 Planned spending
Total grants  9,753,000  8,770,000  7,757,016  7,154,819
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program  9,753,000  8,770,000  7,757,016  7,154,819

Note: In December 2018, the Government of Canada announced that funding for the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program will be gradually transferred to the New Frontiers in Research Fund. The transition will occur over the next few years with acomplete wind-down of the NCE suite of programs by 2023–24.