Overview:
As part of ResearchNB’s Ideas Pillar, this program is designed to fund bold, innovative ideas that tackle complex organizational, social and/or environmental challenges facing New Brunswickers within one of the provincial priority sectors. We’re looking for projects that push boundaries in social innovation, capacity building, partnership development and co-creation - projects that think differently and act creatively.
New Brunswick might be small, but it’s bursting with big ideas and collaborative spirit. We’re looking for applicants who can harness that energy - partnering creatively with organizations outside of the research institution who will be engaged in the project’s research design, development, implementation and evaluation activities.
By the end of the award, researchers must demonstrate how the project’s research activities contributed to changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and relationships of partners and how these changes contributed, or are expected to contribute, to improvements in the targeted organizational, social and/or environmental challenge. Researchers must also demonstrate a sustained engagement plan with partners beyond the award period (e.g., continued collaboration, additional projects, or co-led knowledge mobilization).
Leverage:
No leverage is required for this program as it has been designated a 'Seed Fund' for fiscal year 2026-2027. Seed Funds aim to build capacity for long-term research investment in New Brunswick. Accordingly, projects will be required to demonstrate potential for future grant capture via a funding map and a clear plan for funding sustainability beyond the award period.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be researchers at one of the eligible research institutions listed in our Award Guidelines.
- Projects must be partnered with at least one non-research partner from outside of the research institution. The partner(s) must be involved in equity-based co-creation and/or co-implementation. The partner can be a new or existing partnership.
- Projects whose primary objective is curriculum development, preparation of teaching materials, program evaluation, organization of a conference or workshop, digitization of a collection, or creation of a database are not eligible for funding under this program.
Eligible Expenses:
Expenses that contribute to advancing the project are eligible. Please see the Award Guidelines for more details.
Award and Reporting:
Award Value: Up to $20,000
Award Duration: Up to 2 years
Anticipated Notice of Decision date: August 20, 2026
Status Reporting: The award is for a maximum duration of two years, with a Status Report due at year one and a Final Status Report due three months after the award end date. Awardees are required to submit 1- and 3-year Impact Reports following the Final Status Report. These reports are to be completed via the application portal.
In the Final Status Report, the applicant will be required to provide the name and email address of the partner(s) to allow for the distribution of a partner Final Report, and 1- and 3-year Impact Reports.
For an explanation of our policy on extensions, see the Award Guidelines.
Evaluation Criteria
Application Form
Fund Manager: alyssa@researchnb.ca
Partnerships for Social Innovation Fund
Overview:
As part of ResearchNB’s Ideas Pillar, this program is designed to fund bold, innovative ideas that tackle complex organizational, social and/or environmental challenges facing New Brunswickers within one of the provincial priority sectors. We’re looking for projects that push boundaries in social innovation, capacity building, partnership development and co-creation - projects that think differently and act creatively.
New Brunswick might be small, but it’s bursting with big ideas and collaborative spirit. We’re looking for applicants who can harness that energy - partnering creatively with organizations outside of the research institution who will be engaged in the project’s research design, development, implementation and evaluation activities.
By the end of the award, researchers must demonstrate how the project’s research activities contributed to changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and relationships of partners and how these changes contributed, or are expected to contribute, to improvements in the targeted organizational, social and/or environmental challenge. Researchers must also demonstrate a sustained engagement plan with partners beyond the award period (e.g., continued collaboration, additional projects, or co-led knowledge mobilization).
Leverage:
No leverage is required for this program as it has been designated a 'Seed Fund' for fiscal year 2026-2027. Seed Funds aim to build capacity for long-term research investment in New Brunswick. Accordingly, projects will be required to demonstrate potential for future grant capture via a funding map and a clear plan for funding sustainability beyond the award period.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be researchers at one of the eligible research institutions listed in our Award Guidelines.
- Projects must be partnered with at least one non-research partner from outside of the research institution. The partner(s) must be involved in equity-based co-creation and/or co-implementation. The partner can be a new or existing partnership.
- Projects whose primary objective is curriculum development, preparation of teaching materials, program evaluation, organization of a conference or workshop, digitization of a collection, or creation of a database are not eligible for funding under this program.
Eligible Expenses:
Expenses that contribute to advancing the project are eligible. Please see the Award Guidelines for more details.
Award and Reporting:
Award Value: Up to $20,000
Award Duration: Up to 2 years
Anticipated Notice of Decision date: August 20, 2026
Status Reporting: The award is for a maximum duration of two years, with a Status Report due at year one and a Final Status Report due three months after the award end date. Awardees are required to submit 1- and 3-year Impact Reports following the Final Status Report. These reports are to be completed via the application portal.
In the Final Status Report, the applicant will be required to provide the name and email address of the partner(s) to allow for the distribution of a partner Final Report, and 1- and 3-year Impact Reports.
For an explanation of our policy on extensions, see the Award Guidelines.
Evaluation Criteria
Application Form
Fund Manager: alyssa@researchnb.ca