The 2023/2024 Top-up funding category will increase the impact of projects already vetted and approved by the NCC by allowing them to incorporate nascent insights or cover gaps that emerged through the work to date. Projects with a fully executed agreement by July 3rd 2025 are eligible to apply for this category of funding.
Category 3 – Top Up to 2023/2024 Awarded Projects
Category 3 – Top-ups at a Glance
We encourage you to review the 2025 Call for Proposals Guide for more detailed information about projects, matching contributions, and organization eligibility.
Organizations may submit project applications in one of three categories:
Commercialization projects support the commercialization of new technology (with Technology Readiness Levels 7-9), and products and services that address cybersecurity challenges in critical infrastructure protection, human-centric cybersecurity, network security, software security, and privacy and privacy-enhancing technologies.
Research and Development (R&D):
R&D Standard projects support research and development activities (with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-6) to design and implement innovative cybersecurity technologies, advance the state-of-the-art, and conduct studies.
R&D Spearhead projects are originally from post-secondary educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations that are novel in nature, explore risky early-stage ideas, and have defined goals and milestones. Projects should also be sufficiently flexible to adapt as new insights emerge.
Training projects provide robust and varied opportunities for the upskilling and reskilling of cybersecurity professionals across a variety of cybersecurity-related disciplines. Training projects may include public activities to raise cybersecurity awareness.
- Funding Max/Timeline: Up to $500,000 in top-up funds, with these funds fully spent within maximum of a two–year period following the end of existing contracts (URAs) but no later than March 31, 2029 – this will require an amendment to existing agreements with Ultimate Recipients.
- Grant Amounts and Matching Contributions:
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- Maximum Request of NCC Funding (CDN $) = $500,000
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- Recommended Matching Contributions:
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- Recommended Matching Contributions: $50% (ex. For a project requesting the $500,000 of top up funds, the recommended match would be $500,000 for a total increased project value of $1M)
- Matching funds be in place and documented with commitment letters by the time the full project proposal submission is made.
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- Framework: To provide enhanced support and expertise to expand an ongoing project to increase its potential impact. This enhancement could include covering newly discovered gaps in an existing project to ensure its success, or in the expansion of a promising set of deliverables. A proposal for incremental matching funds must be in place and fully spent within two years of existing agreements, but no later than March 31, 2029. Incremental KPIs and tangible deliverables must be identified and/or a strong rationale for why these top-up funds are required to achieve the originally anticipated milestones. Budgets must be updated to reflect the inclusion of the new funds and deliverables through an amendment to the existing URA.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Project Proposal
Public Announcement of Awarded Projects
Eligible Organizations
Canadian organizations that carry out their activities primarily within Canada are eligible to submit a project proposal. Organizations must fall within one of the following three categories:
Information Sessions
The NCC is offering a series of information sessions to guide project teams through the funding categories, streams, and application processes.
Resources
To support applicants during the Call for Proposals submission process, our Call for Proposals Guides and other resources offer great insight into everything you need to know, including eligibility, reporting, financing streams, and general best practices.
Streams & Matching Contributions
The NCC supports initiatives with funding from the Government of Canada through the Cyber Security Innovation Network program. Three submission streams are considered as part of the Call for Proposals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Putting together a funding proposal can be an involved undertaking, but the National Cybersecurity Consortium team is here to support applicants during the process. We compiled a list of questions that our team is frequently asked to help you prepare your application.