Accelerate Grant Program

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) is pleased to announce the 2026 Accelerate research grants. This program helps to drive the AC’s approach to accelerating scientific discovery, not only by expanding the scope and depth of research but also through the translation of groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications. These grants provide funding for research across physical, life, computational, and social science domains relevant to, but not limited to the following:

• the development of self-driving labs (SDLs) or the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools required to build SDLs,

• the use of SDLs for materials or molecule discovery,

• policy or other frameworks to support the responsible use and uptake of SDLs, or

• the implications (economic, social, etc.) of AI and automation for accelerated discovery and the community-based use of these technologies.

End-uses of the research should support advances in sustainability, well-being, or human health. Applications from all disciplines are encouraged. Indigenous science and technology and community-engaged research are focus areas for the AC.

This year, the AC is collaborating with:

Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technology (CRAFT),

Moonshot Funding

• Accelerate Moonshot Funding: maximum $500,000 (2 years)
• Joint CRAFT-AC Moonshot Funding: maximum $500,000 (2 years)
  • Grant applications submitted to the CRAFT-AC stream will also be considered for the AC Moonshot grant stream competition.

Translation Funding

• Accelerate Translation Funding: up to $500,000 (2 years) with the possible addition of $300,000 for equipment.

NOI Application Deadline: August 7, 2026

Full Application Deadline: October 26, 20266

Submit 2-page notice of intent (NOI) that will be assessed for project eligibility and quality, and to identify grant applications that can be merged.

AC Moonshot and Translation Grants

• Lead principal investigators (PIs) must meet the University of Toronto’s eligibility guidelines and be eligible to hold tri-agency funding.
• AC staff scientists are eligible co-applicants.

CRAFT-AC Moonshot grants

• The project must align with the CRAFT mission to develop novel microfluidics-based technologies including diagnostics, organ-on-a-chip and biofabrication technologies.
• Proposed projects are required to utilize NRC in-kind resources, including Research Officers and/or Technical Officer.
• The grant team must include an NRC co-PI.

Please review the full grant guidelines for additional eligibility requirements.

A hybrid information and networking event will be held:

Date: July 21, 2026

Time: 11:30AM

Location: 700 University Ave., 10th floor seminar room

This is an opportunity to learn about the funding competition and find collaborators.

RSVP now. Full details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, funding rules, CFREF guidelines, ethical discovery principles and intellectual property can be found on the AC’s website.

Please contact acceleration@utoronto.ca if you have any questions.