Find Ocean Research Funding in Canada

MEOPAR’s Early Career (ECR) and Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Research awards support researchers during pivotal stages of their careers. The Early Career Researcher (ECR) awards help early-career investigators establish independent research programs, while the Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) award supports emerging leaders in conducting research that addresses Canada’s most pressing ocean challenges and aligns with federal priorities.

Beyond providing research funding, these awards connect recipients to MEOPAR’s interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research network, thereby growing and extending their network of collaborators and interactions with the broader ocean community across Canada.

MEOPAR’s Expedition Fund helps Canadian ocean researchers access funding for sea-based observations across three horizons: Rapid Response, Strategic Support, and Major Expeditions. Unlike the NSERC Ship Time Program, which supports individual Discovery Grant holders, the Expedition Fund is built for multidisciplinary collaboration. Eligibility is expanded under the Strategic Science Fund, opening vessel funding to researchers who previously had limited access. This program was developed in response to an identified need, in part, by the work of the National Research Vessel Task Team, which conducted a survey showing that of 50+ marine researcher respondents, 86% did not have sufficient access to research vessels, and only 30% had a recent opportunity to propose and lead a research expedition as Chief Scientist.

MEOPAR’s Knowledge Mobilization Funding supports projects and collaborative networks that strengthen the exchange, application, and impact of ocean knowledge across Canada. Through the Knowledge Mobilization Fund and Communities of Practice (CoP) Fund, MEOPAR invests in initiatives that make research more accessible, foster collaboration, and connect diverse knowledge holders.

The Knowledge Mobilization Fund supports impactful science communication and knowledge-sharing initiatives, including public engagement materials, visual arts, data visualization, language translation, and commercialization activities. The Communities of Practice Fund supports collaborative networks that bring together researchers, Indigenous Peoples, community organizations, practitioners, policymakers, and other partners to share knowledge, develop best practices, and build capacity on common topics.

MEOPAR’s Community-led Research (CLR) funding supports multi-year and early-stage Indigenous and community-driven research projects that strengthen resilience, promote community well-being, and respond to marine environmental challenges.
The fund prioritizes Indigenous-led and community-defined research priorities, develops community research capacity through training and mentorship, and supported partnerships that bring together scientific, cultural, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

All projects are required to apply an EDIA lens across their activities and demonstrate a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation principles. Priority is given to diverse teams and applications that meaningfully engage Indigenous Peoples and equity-deserving groups in leadership and organizational composition.

Partner Funds support collaborative funding initiatives that address shared ocean research priorities through strategic partnerships. This includes Joint Calls and other co-funded opportunities developed with organizations in Canada and internationally. Recent examples include MEOPAR’s Joint Blue Carbon Call with JPI Oceans and the Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) Joint Learning Opportunity with the Carbon to Sea Initiative and Planetary Technologies. Organizations interested in developing a collaborative funding initiative with MEOPAR are encouraged to explore our Call for Partnerships