Following the success of the Community and College Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) pilot program, the Government of Canada’s Budget 2017 provided an additional $10 million over two years beginning in 2017-18 to continue this initiative.
Starting this year, CCSIF grants will now be administered under the College and Community Innovation Program, a tri-agency initiative managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with SSHRC and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
This collaboration between the three agencies will ensure greater harmonization of rules and practices, and more efficient and centralized services related to funding for colleges and polytechnics.
CCSIF grants are intended to support social innovation research projects at colleges, which are in partnership with local community organizations. Projects are in areas such as education, integration of vulnerable populations and community development.
The deadline for submitting applications is December 1, 2017. Applicants must submit proposals online using NSERC’s application system. The system will be available as of October 12, 2017. The program description and application instructions have been provided in advance to allow the colleges and their partners sufficient time for the planning and preparation of their CCSIF applications.
Information webinars on the CCSIF program will be held throughout October. Sessions will be available in English and French.
Webinar schedule
The Association pour la recherche au collégial (ARC) will also be organizing a webinar in French, presented by NSERC, on October 17. For details and to register, please communicate directly with ARC by email at arc@cvm.qc.ca.