CSIN 2026 Call for Proposals Update
To the Canadian Cybersecurity and Privacy Community,
We are contacting you today to provide an update regarding the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC)’s Call for Proposals and the status of the Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN) funding program. Unfortunately, we are unable to undertake a full 2026 CSIN funding call in the same way we have in previous years. We are working to make available some funding next year within the CSIN program, and are developing other potential opportunities that are not yet confirmed.
We recognize that this change may be unexpected. In this message, we want to share context, provide a look to the future, and affirm our commitment to supporting the community.
Why This Change Is Occurring
The federal political landscape in Canada has experienced considerable challenges, having seen a prorogued government, change in leadership and departmental restructuring all within the span of a year. Throughout this period, the NCC has maintained a positive and close working relationship with its government counterparts in a variety of federal departments and have been working together to secure support for the Canadian cybersecurity and privacy community. Given the year of flux, however, 2026 will see an interruption in our regular community-driven funding call.
We would like to emphasize that the recent updates in government strategy and priorities affirm that cybersecurity and privacy are understood as critical, and ways to advance the ecosystem are being explored. It is anticipated that the NCC will continue to serve as a primary vehicle for supporting our community.
What You Can Expect
We understand that the annual Call for Proposals has become a key driver within the ecosystem and we remain committed to building our collective success. To maintain transparency and momentum:
- we will provide you with an update about a 2026 CSIN funding call in February;
- we continue to host an annual conference where leaders in our field will exchange ideas, develop strategies, and form awareness of what is happening in Canada;
- we are hosting a Canada-wide Capture the Flag series – a cybersecurity challenge for students from Canadian post-secondary institutions to help grow the next generation of cybersecurity professionals;
- we are developing a series of stories that showcase the impact and successes of NCC funded projects to be launched in spring 2026.
These initiatives, and your continued participation in them, will be critical to ensuring the value we are collectively providing to Canada is known and strongly supported by our funders.
The NCC’s Board of Directors, staff, and Scientific and Ecosystem Advisory Committee remain dedicated to supporting Canada’s cybersecurity and privacy ecosystem in new ways, and by furthering our existing programming. We ask for your understanding during this period of transition and assure you that we will follow up with you in February with an update.
In the meantime, you are welcome to be in touch if you have questions or would like to have a conversation. The NCC office will be closed for the holiday season between December 22 and January 2, and we will endeavor to respond upon our team’s return.
Thank you for your continued trust and engagement. I assure you that our team is navigating this change carefully in a way that will strengthen the foundation for future growth so we can continue to fulfill our mission with resilience and optimism.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ken Barker
Scientific Director
National Cybersecurity Consortium