AgriScience Program – Clusters: 6. After you apply

6. After you apply

After you submit your application, we’ll send you an acknowledgement notice.

You should not consider an application submitted to the program until you receive the acknowledgement notice.

Please note that the submission of an application creates no obligation on the part of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to provide funding for the project. The Minister retains discretion to determine, based on other public policies and public interest considerations, whether an application will ultimately receive funding.

Submission and review process

1. You’ll submit your full application

Please submit:

  • your completed application
  • all required supporting documents

2. We'll verify your full application

We’ll review your application to confirm that it is complete.

  • If information or documents are missing, we’ll ask you to provide them or submit a revised application.
  • Your application is considered complete on the day all required information is received.
  • If the missing documents are not submitted by the requested date, your application may be closed.

3. A technical review is completed

Once your application is complete, we’ll send it for technical review. The technical review is done by four branches at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

The technical review involves a comprehensive, multidisciplinary review process that assesses applications through program, science, sector, policy, performance and financial lenses.

Programs Branch

A performance analyst will assess the performance measures for each activity to make sure they are:

  • measurable
  • meaningful
  • aligned with the program’s objectives and priorities

A financial analyst may review your application based on its complexity and level of financial risk.

This review may include:

  • financial statements
  • project budget

The assessment looks at factors such as:

  • profitability
  • liquidity
  • leverage
  • capital structure
Science and Technology Branch

Technical reviewers assess:

  • scientific methodology
  • timelines and milestones
  • budget
  • priority areas
  • novelty and potential impact of the research
  • advancement from previously funded work
  • performance measures
  • knowledge and technology transfer strategy
  • capacity of the applicant and principal investigators
  • strength of collaborations and partnerships
  • intellectual property considerations

The review is done by:

  • an AAFC scientist
  • an analyst from the Science Partnerships Division
  • a commercialization officer from the Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization
Strategic Policy Branch

Reviewers who have expertise on government and department policy priorities will assess your application for:

  • alignment with industry and sector needs
  • alignment with program priorities
  • novelty and potential impact of the research
  • performance measures
  • knowledge and technology transfer strategy
  • strength of collaborations and partnerships
Market and Industry Services Branch

Reviewers from national and regional offices who have expertise on sector and industry needs will assess your application for:

  • alignment with industry and sector needs
  • novelty and potential impact of the research
  • strength of collaborations and partnerships

4. A director-level review is completed

Directors from the four AAFC branches will review the technical recommendations to make sure:

  • all questions raised by reviewers are addressed
  • all branches can discuss the application before it moves forward

5. A review is completed by the Director General Innovation Committee

The Director General Innovation Committee (DGIC):

  • includes Director General–level officials from across AAFC
  • ensures recommendations align with the department’s priorities

Program officials present the DGIC with:

  • a summary of your application
  • technical review results
  • recommended activities for funding

The DGIC provides a funding recommendation to the Minister.

6. We’ll notify you of the Minister’s funding decision

The Minister of AAFC makes the final funding decision. We’ll notify you of the Minister’s decision.

7. We’ll work with you on an agreement

If your application is approved, we’ll work with you to finalize the funding agreement. This will include a Contribution Agreement and a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement.

We’ll work with you to:

  • draft the agreement
  • negotiate terms
  • sign the agreement

Service standards

Our goal is to:

  • respond to general inquiries made to our phone number or email address before the end of the next business day
  • acknowledge receipt of your application within one business day
  • assess your application and send you an approval or a rejection notification letter within 100 business days of receiving a complete application package
Date modified: