SPRINT Ocean Microgrants

The SPRINT Ocean Microgrant Program, supported by Cox & Palmer, provides funding for student-led projects that address opportunities, challenges, and innovation needs within Nova Scotia’s ocean sector.

Projects may involve collaboration with ocean-related companies, organizations, communities, or research partners and may be undertaken by students from any NSCC program area.

Eligible projects may contribute to areas such as:
• Ocean technology and innovation
• Fisheries, aquaculture, and marine resources
• Ocean sustainability and renewable energy
• Manufacturing, digital, data, or software solutions that support the ocean sector

Applications are encouraged from students in any NSCC program. Projects do not need to focus on ocean science but must clearly demonstrate a benefit to, or connection with, the ocean sector.

Students may apply for either:
• A $500 SPRINT Ocean Microgrant; or
• A $1,000 SPRINT Ocean Project Grant for projects that require additional resources to achieve project objectives.

Eligibility
Applicants must:
• Be enrolled full-time in an NSCC program.
• Have identified an NSCC faculty member or Applied Research staff member who has agreed to provide guidance and oversight throughout the project. Support may include helping refine project objectives, providing subject matter expertise, meeting periodically to discuss progress and facilitate access to resources or partners.
• Demonstrate how the project will contribute to student learning and development.
• Be able to complete the project within the award period.

Award Period
Projects awarded in Winter 2027 must be completed no later than May 28, 2027. Completion dates for future funding rounds will be communicated when those competitions are launched.

Projects may be undertaken as:
• Work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences
• Course-based projects
• Capstone projects
• Independent applied research projects
• Community- or industry-partnered projects
• Other approved experiential learning opportunities

Applicants should demonstrate that their proposed activities can reasonably be completed within the award period. Students proposing to complete a project for academic credit are responsible for obtaining any required approvals from their faculty member, program area, or academic department. Receipt of a SPRINT award does not automatically confer academic credit.

Knowledge Sharing and Tech Showcase Participation
Successful applicants are expected to share their project outcomes with the NSCC community.

Where feasible, students will be encouraged to participate in the annual NSCC Tech Showcase to present their project through a poster, demonstration, prototype, presentation, or other suitable format.

Recognizing that some projects may still be underway at the time of the Tech Showcase, students who are unable to participate or whose projects are not yet ready for public presentation may be invited to participate in an alternate knowledge-sharing opportunity, such as:
• An online project showcase;
• A virtual presentation session;
• A project poster submission; or
• Another Applied Research student celebration event.

The intent is to provide all award recipients with an opportunity to share their project experience, outcomes, lessons learned, and impacts with peers, faculty, staff, industry, and community partners.

Award
Varies
Deadline
Supplemental Questions

  1. Project Title


    Provide a short project title in plain language.

  2. Project Description


    Describe your project. Include:
    • The problem or opportunity you are addressing.
    • The proposed solution or approach.
    • The anticipated outcomes or deliverables.

    Suggested limit: 500 words

  3. Student Learning Goals


    What do you hope to learn through this project? Describe the skills, knowledge, and experience you expect to gain.

    Suggested limit: 250 words

  4. Industry/Community Partner

    If your project involves an industry or community partner:
    • Identify the partner.
    • Describe how they will benefit from the project.
    • Describe any discussions you have already had with the partner.
    • Explain how you plan to communicate and collaborate with them during the project.

    Suggested limit: 250 words

  5. Project Plan and Challenges



    Describe your planned approach to completing the project, including key activities, milestones, anticipated challenges, and how you will address them.

    Suggested limit: 250 words

  6. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion



    How have you considered equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, or diverse perspectives in your project? Information on Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research can be found here: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/EDI_guidance-Conseils_EDI_eng.asp

    Suggested limit: 250 words

  7. Academic Connection



    Will this project be completed as part of an academic requirement or experiential learning opportunity? Check all that apply.
  8. If you selected "other" in the previous question, please describe:
  9. If applicable, please provide the course, placement, or program name and briefly describe how the project will contribute to your academic experience.

  10. Faculty or Applied Research Support



    Please identify the faculty member or Applied Research staff member supporting your project and briefly describe the nature of their involvement (for example: periodic check-ins, technical guidance, project supervision, access to facilities, industry connections, or other support).

  11. Research Ethics



    Will your project involve human participants (surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.)?
  12. If you selected "yes" in the previous question, please briefly describe the activities.

    Important: Projects involving human participants may require review and approval by the NSCC Research Ethics Board (https://www.nscc.ca/appliedresearch/about/research-ethics-board/index.asp) before the project can begin. Students whose projects require ethics review will be supported through this process by the Applied Research team. Applicants should consider the additional time required for ethics review when planning their project timeline. Research ethics approval may take several months.

  13. Connection to the Ocean Sector



    Describe how your project supports, benefits, or addresses a challenge or opportunity within the ocean sector. Projects may relate to ocean technology, fisheries and aquaculture, marine industries, offshore operations, sustainability, or other activities that contribute to the ocean economy.

    Suggested limit: 250 words
  14. Show 8 more