POLAR International Partnership Research Development Program 2026–2028: Up to $100,000 for Arctic and Antarctic Research
Polar Knowledge Canada offers up to $100,000 per project over two fiscal years to strengthen international collaboration on existing Arctic or Antarctic research programs.
POLAR International Partnership Research Development Program 2026–2028: Up to $100,000 for Arctic and Antarctic Research
The POLAR International Partnership Research Development Program 2026–2028 is an open Canadian government funding call for research teams that already have an Arctic or Antarctic project underway and want to add or strengthen an international collaboration. Polar Knowledge Canada says it will distribute up to $100,000 per project over two fiscal years, covering fiscal years 2026–27 and 2027–28. The application deadline is September 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
This is a partnership-development grant, not a general-purpose research award for a new idea. The strongest applicants will already have a defined project, meaningful progress, a Canadian Principal Investigator, and a credible reason that an international institution, organization, or collaborator will improve the work. The proposed activities might support joint research, knowledge exchange, data sharing, researcher mobility, community engagement, or other collaboration that adds measurable value to the existing program.
Key details
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | POLAR International Partnership Research Development Program 2026–2028 |
| Funder | Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) |
| Funding | Up to $100,000 per project |
| Funding period | Up to two fiscal years: 2026–27 and 2027–28 |
| Application deadline | September 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Geographic focus | Research based in the Canadian Arctic and/or Antarctic regions |
| Eligible lead applicants | Canadian academic institutions and organizations, and Indigenous or community organizations |
| Principal Investigator | Must be based at an eligible Canadian academic institution, organization, or Indigenous or community organization |
| Project requirement | An existing Arctic or Antarctic research project with defined objectives, activities, and progress |
| Partnership requirement | An international research institution, organization, or collaborator aligned with Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy |
| Science pillars | One Health; energy, technology, and cold-climate innovation; climate, biodiversity, and shifting landscapes |
| Application route | Polar Knowledge Canada Online Application and Reporting portal |
| Official program page | Canada.ca program page |
The $100,000 figure is a maximum, not an automatic award. POLAR says funding will be based on the financial needs of the project and the proposed activities, as well as available funding, the application volume, and the merit of applications against the evaluation criteria. A smaller, well-justified request is likely to be more credible than a maximum request filled with loosely connected costs.
What this grant is intended to support
POLAR’s stated objective is to support existing Arctic and Antarctic research projects that are actively underway and have defined research objectives, activities, and outcomes. Grant funds are intended to develop, expand, or strengthen international research collaborations. The official guide names joint research, knowledge exchange, data sharing, and other collaborative efforts as examples of the work that may be supported.
That emphasis changes how an applicant should frame the proposal. The application is not simply asking, “What research would you like to do?” It is asking, “What is already happening, what international collaboration is missing or could be stronger, and what specific funded activities will make the existing project more useful, rigorous, connected, or durable?” The proposal should make the before-and-after difference visible.
For example, a project may have an established Canadian Arctic research program but lack access to a partner’s specialized data, laboratory capability, field comparison, modelling expertise, community network, or knowledge system. The POLAR-funded component could then describe the collaboration activities needed to close that gap. The relevant output might be a shared dataset, comparative analysis, joint field protocol, workshop series, researcher exchange, co-produced knowledge product, or other tangible result. The source does not prescribe one universal activity model; the applicant must show why the chosen collaboration fits the project.
The proposed partnership also needs to support the objectives of the call and align with POLAR’s Science and Technology Framework, Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, and current general focus areas in international science partnerships. Alignment should be demonstrated through the project’s activities and outcomes rather than by attaching a broad policy label to an unrelated project.
Who can apply and who cannot
Eligible lead applicants include Canadian academic institutions and organizations, as well as Indigenous and community organizations. The Principal Investigator must be based at one of these eligible Canadian institutions or organizations. The existing research project must be based in the Canadian Arctic and/or Antarctic regions and must support Arctic or Antarctic science connected to at least one of POLAR’s three Science and Technology pillars.
The call is designed for an existing research program, not an unformed concept. POLAR says that most successful applications will involve a project that has been ongoing for a minimum of two years, although exceptions may be made. The program’s definition of an existing project is practical: it should already have been established, with defined objectives, ongoing activities, and/or demonstrated progress toward research outcomes. Applicants should therefore be ready to point to evidence of current work, not just future aspirations.
The proposed international partner must be a research institution, organization, or collaborator that closely aligns with Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy. The partner may be new or existing. The guide specifically asks applicants to explain which partners are involved, what roles they will play, whether the relationship is new or established, how the collaboration will be strengthened, and what the partnership will contribute.
Projects that received funding under the previous POLAR International Partnership Research Development Program 2025–2027 are not eligible to apply. That restriction applies to the project, so teams with earlier POLAR support should review the official guide carefully rather than assuming that a different title or new partner creates eligibility.
The three science and technology pillars
Every proposed project must meet at least one of POLAR’s three pillars. The pillars are broad enough to support interdisciplinary work, but the application should identify the primary fit clearly.
One Health connects wildlife health, human health, and ecosystem health. POLAR lists food security in the North, sustainable harvesting, food safety, northern supply chains, and the health and well-being of Arctic communities as priority areas. A proposal under this pillar should explain the interaction among these systems and the benefit of the proposed collaboration to the research question or affected communities.
Energy, technology, and cold-climate innovation covers energy and technology challenges in cold climates and remote locations. Examples include energy systems, waste management, transportation, housing, and other solutions that improve resilience and sustainability in northern environments. The partnership should add more than a generic technology exchange; it should help develop, test, compare, or apply a solution in a cold-climate or remote context.
Climate, biodiversity, and shifting landscapes supports research on the effects of climate change on Arctic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Listed areas include biodiversity, permafrost, glaciers, sea ice, wildlife, vegetation, extreme weather, and landscape-level changes that inform stewardship and climate adaptation. Applicants should connect the proposed international activity to evidence, monitoring, analysis, or decision-making that improves understanding or response.
How to apply
Applicants must create an account on the POLAR Online Application and Reporting portal and submit the completed application package there. The Canada.ca page warns that applicants are responsible for ensuring the package is complete. Applications that do not meet all eligibility criteria or are incomplete will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.
The official guide divides the package into three parts. Part A is the application form, which collects applicant, institution, Principal Investigator, project, location, team, partner, and funding information. Part B is the project proposal, including the workplan and budget. Part C is the declaration and signature. The guide recommends keeping copies of source files, because successful applicants may need to adjust their proposal before contribution agreements are finalized.
The deadline is September 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Build in time to create the portal account, obtain any required organizational information, review uploaded files, and resolve technical problems. Notifications will only be sent to successful candidates, according to the program page.
Required proposal sections and materials
The guide gives applicants a useful view of the review structure. The project summary has a maximum of 150 words and carries 5 percent of the evaluation weight. It should be a clear, nontechnical overview of the project’s purpose, anticipated impact, and outcome, including the locations, international collaboration, partners, and expected deliverables.
The project context section has a 300-word maximum and carries 20 percent. It should describe the existing project’s objectives, current activities, and progress to date. It should also explain alignment with POLAR’s objectives and pillars, how the international collaboration will enhance the existing work, the relevant locations, northern and Indigenous research principles or knowledge systems where applicable, permits or regulatory requirements, and risks with mitigation measures.
The international partnership, collaboration approach, and expected outcomes section allows up to 600 words and carries the largest weight at 30 percent. It should identify partner roles, explain whether the partnership is new or existing, describe collaboration activities, and show how the work will strengthen research outcomes, knowledge exchange, scientific capacity, researcher mobility, visibility, or overall project value. A letter of support from the international partner is recommended but not required, particularly when the project is establishing a new partnership.
The organizational capacity section is limited to 150 words and carries 15 percent. Applicants should summarize relevant team expertise, experience administering similar projects and funding, and the organization’s ability to deliver the plan. The guide also asks for audited financial statements for the last year, supplied by web link or upload.
The remaining proposal components are a project activity workplan and a project budget, each carrying 15 percent. The application package also includes a completed and signed application, signed budget template, completed workplan, articles of incorporation, and audited financial statements for the last year. The portal provides the workplan and budget templates referenced in the guide.
Building a strong workplan and budget
The workplan should describe only activities directly supported by the requested POLAR funding. For each activity, include a timeline by fiscal year, measurable results, tangible outputs, and the responsible team members. The guide expects each person named in the application package to be involved in at least one listed activity. This makes the workplan an accountability tool, not a decorative schedule.
Use outputs that can be counted or inspected. “Improve collaboration” is too vague on its own. A more useful formulation would specify the number of joint meetings, shared protocols, training sessions, exchange visits, datasets, reports, stakeholder engagements, or other deliverables that are genuinely necessary for the project. The exact output will depend on the project, and applicants should not promise activities that the team cannot complete within the two fiscal years.
The budget should follow the workplan closely. POLAR says expenses will be assessed for their direct link to activities, consistency with program objectives, efficient and economical use of resources, and necessity. Travel should be limited to what is necessary for project activities, fieldwork, or community engagement. The guide also highlights benefits to northern communities, such as employment of northern staff, community participation, communications support, and translation.
Applicants must report other sources of funding, including cash and in-kind contributions. In-kind support can include office space, equipment, materials, or professional services provided voluntarily, but the guide says these contributions must still be assigned a fair-market dollar value. Coordinate the multi-year budget with the Canadian government fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31.
What reviewers are likely to look for
The published weights point to a clear reviewer logic. First, the project must be understandable. The summary and context should let a reader see what exists, what has been accomplished, and why international collaboration is the next practical step. Second, the partnership must be substantive. A partner’s name is not a collaboration plan; the application should identify responsibilities, activities, expected contributions, and benefits on both sides.
Third, the project should produce outcomes that matter beyond the funded meetings themselves. Explain how the partnership will improve data, methods, scientific capacity, community benefit, knowledge exchange, policy relevance, or the project’s long-term international reach. Fourth, the organization must be able to deliver. A concise description of relevant experience, financial administration, staff roles, and risk controls can reassure reviewers that the plan is feasible.
A strong proposal will also treat northern and Indigenous knowledge, community participation, licences, permits, and ethical or regulatory requirements as part of the research design where relevant. These elements should be specific to the project. Do not add them as generic statements if they do not describe how the team will work.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most serious mistake is applying with a new project that does not meet the existing-project requirement. Before drafting, assemble evidence of objectives, activities, progress, and current institutional ownership. A second mistake is treating the grant as unrestricted travel or networking money. Every requested cost should connect to a defined activity and result.
Another risk is selecting an international partner because the organization is prestigious rather than because it contributes a necessary capability, data source, field setting, knowledge system, or route to impact. Explain the practical reason for the partnership. If the relationship is not finalized, describe what has been discussed and what the partner is expected to do without claiming a commitment that has not been made.
Applicants should also avoid overloading the project with every possible POLAR pillar. Choose the strongest fit and explain it. Keep the summary within its word limit, use the templates provided in the portal, reconcile the totals across fiscal years, include other contributions, and check that every required document is present before submission.
Timeline and next steps
The current call is open as of August 25, 2026. The application deadline is September 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. POLAR says it will publicly announce successful recipients after contribution agreements are signed; it does not publish a selection announcement date on the program page.
If this opportunity fits, start by testing eligibility against the existing project and Principal Investigator requirements. Then select the strongest pillar, confirm the international partner’s role, draft the 150-word summary and 300-word context, and build the 600-word collaboration section around measurable activities and outcomes. Complete the workplan and budget together so that the requested funding, timelines, outputs, and responsible people agree. Finally, submit through the official portal early enough to review the confirmation and retain copies of the complete package.
Frequently asked questions
Is this funding for a new research idea?
No. POLAR describes the call as support for an existing Arctic or Antarctic research project with defined objectives, activities, and progress. Most successful applications will involve a project underway for at least two years, although exceptions may be made.
Can an international university apply as the lead?
The official eligibility rules identify Canadian academic institutions and organizations, and Indigenous or community organizations, as eligible applicants. The Principal Investigator must be based at an eligible Canadian institution or organization. An international institution can participate as a partner, but it should not be assumed to qualify as the Canadian lead applicant.
Does the partner need to be confirmed before applying?
Not necessarily. A letter of support from the international partner is recommended but not required, particularly for a new partnership. The application must still explain the proposed partner, role, collaboration approach, and expected contribution honestly.
Can a project cover both Arctic and Antarctic research?
The call supports existing research based in the Canadian Arctic and/or Antarctic regions. The proposal should identify its geographic locations precisely and explain how the proposed collaboration serves the relevant project.
Where can applicants ask questions?
POLAR directs applicants to its Grants and Contributions team. The official guide lists [email protected] for questions about the program and application package.