To the Canadian Cybersecurity and Privacy Community,
As promised in December, we are following up with an update about the 2026 Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN) Call for Proposals. We are confirming that the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) is unable to run a 2026 Call. We would like to emphasize, however, that cybersecurity and privacy remain Canadian government priorities, and ISED continues to work with the NCC to undertake a Call in 2027.
We will provide an update as we confirm details closer to 2027. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience and encourage you to continue engaging with our community as we shape our 2027 plans. We are incredibly proud of the achievements made by our funded projects, and are looking forward to supporting future talent and innovation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ken Barker
Scientific Director
National Cybersecurity Consortium
Congratulations to the 2025 Call for Proposals successful project teams!
At the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC), we are helping build a future in which Canadian organizations are global leaders in cybersecurity.
We are keeping Canadians safe by supporting cybersecurity products and services that are meaningful across the country and around the world. The projects funded by the NCC represent a diverse range, protecting important Canadian sectors such as the automotive industry, critical marine systems, health care data, democratic elections in Canada, and developing cybersecurity talent in the country.
The Call for Proposals, made possible by the Cyber Security Innovation Network program, contributes approximately $80 million in funding over four years. This support goes to projects led by Canadian organizations across industry, academia, and the not-for-profit sector.
Funded projects fall within three streams:
Projects with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-6 via the design and implementation of innovative cybersecurity technologies, advancing the state of the art, and supporting studies into emerging cybersecurity issues.
Projects that include new technology with TRL 7-9, developing products and services that address cybersecurity challenges in critical infrastructure protection, human-centric cybersecurity, network security, software security, and privacy protection.
Projects that provide and build opportunities for cybersecurity and privacy professionals across many disciplines.
The 2025 Call for Proposals also supports projects in three funding categories:
Intended to make impactful progress on highly targeted, larger budget projects.
An open call for cybersecurity and privacy-related projects.
Intended to 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.
An important part of the Call for Proposals process is evaluating and identifying high-quality projects for funding. We are drawing on experts within Canadian cybersecurity and privacy to serve as external reviewers.
Please complete this survey if you would like to be considered for an External Reviewer.
Canadian organizations that conduct their activities primarily in Canada are eligible to submit a project proposal. Organizations must fall within one of the following three categories:
The NCC’s information sessions guide project teams through the funding categories, streams, and application processes.
To support applicants during the Call for Proposals submission process, our Call for Proposals Guides and other resources provide comprehensive guidance on eligibility, reporting, financing streams, and best practices.
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.
