PIAAC Skills Research Grants 2025: How to Win up to 90K for Canada Focused Workforce Evidence

Canada is sitting on a goldmine of data about adult skills and barely scratching the surface of it.

If you work in labour economics, adult education, workforce development, public policy, or skills research, the Future Skills Centre’s “Strengthening Canada’s Skills with PIAAC Research” open call is basically your dream RFP: up to 90,000 CAD per project, one tidy 6–7 month window to deliver, and a clear expectation that your findings will actually be used to shape programs and policy.

This is not a theoretical exercise. The call is tied to Cycle 2 of the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) — a massive international survey on adult skills (think literacy, numeracy, problem-solving) and how they play out in work and life. Canada has this data. It is powerful. It is also, so far, underused.

Future Skills Centre (FSC) wants you to change that.

If you have rigorous ideas about how adult skills connect to productivity, job quality, inclusion, social participation, or regional inequality in Canada, this is funding that lets you go deep, move quickly, and publish work that people in government and industry will actually read.

Is it competitive? Absolutely. Will it be worth the work if you win? Also absolutely.

At a Glance: PIAAC Research Grants for Canada 2025–2026

What This Opportunity Actually Offers

On the surface, this is a 50,000–90,000 CAD research grant. That alone will get the attention of any serious research team. But the real value comes from three things:

1. Access to a rich, national dataset
2. A clear policy audience that cares
3. A tight, focused timeframe that forces clarity

1. Real money for real research

With 50–90K, you are not just covering a graduate student stipend and a few conference trips. You can realistically fund:

• A principal investigator’s time (buyout or summer salary)
• One or more research assistants to handle data cleaning, analysis, and knowledge mobilization
• Data-related expenses (if needed, though PIAAC itself is available)
• Translation, design, and dissemination costs so your results do not die in a PDF nobody reads

The budget is framed around customary research expenses: think salaries, benefits, and direct research costs. This is meant to support a focused, time-bound project that produces clear, usable findings.

2. A built-in policy and practice audience

FSC is explicit: they want research that informs systems change and supports “more inclusive and resilient pathways for Canadians.” In plain English: they want work that people who run programs, shape funding, or design policy will actually use.

Your project is more than an academic exercise. It can:

• Identify which groups are being left behind in foundational skills
• Examine how skills relate to wages, job stability, and job quality
• Highlight regional or sectoral patterns that current programs miss
• Show where adult education, upskilling, or reskilling is working — and where it is not

Because this call builds on FSC’s report “Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada,” there is already a policy narrative in place. Your research plugs into that, and if you frame it well, your work becomes part of a national conversation on skills.

3. A focused 6–7 month window

The projects begin in April 2026 and must finish by October 31, 2026. That means you have roughly half a year to:

• Finalize your research design
• Conduct analysis using PIAAC Cycle 2 data
• Write outputs
• Share findings with the right people

The short duration is not a bug, it is a feature. It pushes you to design a sharply scoped project: not “everything about skills in Canada,” but “this very specific, answerable question that ties to policy levers.”

If you design it right, you can:

• Produce one main report
• Generate one or two high-quality academic or policy papers
• Create a few friendly outputs (briefs, infographics, webinars) that make your findings travel

Who Should Apply (and How to Know if You Are a Good Fit)

This is a Canada-focused, data-driven opportunity. It is not for everyone, and that is exactly what makes it powerful if it is right for you.

Ideal applicants and teams

You are in the sweet spot if:

• You are based at a Canadian post-secondary institution, non-profit research centre, or eligible for-profit organization willing to do the work at cost (no profit margin).
• You or your team have strong quantitative analysis skills, especially with large-scale survey data.
• You care about adult skills, workforce development, or social inclusion and have at least some familiarity with Canadian policy debates.
• You are comfortable working to a tight timeline and producing outputs for both technical and non-technical audiences.

This call actively welcomes:

• University research chairs building a program on skills or labour markets
• Policy think tanks looking to ground their recommendations in solid microdata
• College-based applied research units tied to adult education or workforce programs
• For-profit research firms that do public-interest research and are happy to work at cost

Who cannot apply

One key exclusion: federal, provincial, and territorial government ministries and agencies cannot apply directly as applicants.

However, they can often participate as partners, advisors, or consumers of the research. If you have close ties to a ministry that is hungry for better skills data, that can be a huge asset — just structure the application through an eligible organization.

What “partnerships/consortia” means in practice

You can apply as one organization or as a consortium.

Practical examples:

• A university economist partners with a non-profit that works with underemployed adults to co-design research questions and share findings with communities.
• A college applied research centre partners with a municipal workforce board to explore regional skill mismatches.
• A for-profit research firm teams up with a university statistician to handle advanced modelling, while the firm leads project management and dissemination.

Strong partnerships are not just decorative; they are a way to prove your research will not sit on a shelf.

Insider Tips for a Winning PIAAC Research Proposal

This is a competitive call. To rise above the pack, you need more than a good idea. You need a sharp, convincing, executable plan. Here is how to stack the odds in your favour.

1. Start with one burning question, not a laundry list

Reviewers will not reward you for trying to study everything PIAAC can measure. They will reward you for one or two precise, high-value questions tightly linked to Canadian policy or practice.

For instance:

• “How do foundational skills relate to job quality among racialized workers in mid-sized Canadian cities?”
• “Are adults with low literacy more likely to exit the labour force early, and how does this vary by region?”
• “Which combinations of skills are associated with upward mobility over time for immigrant workers?”

If you can explain your core question in two clear sentences, you are on the right track.

2. Show you understand PIAAC and its quirks

Anyone can read a brochure. What reviewers want to see is that you understand the strengths and limits of the PIAAC dataset:

• Acknowledge sample sizes and the implications for sub-group analysis.
• Show you know about plausible values, weights, and complex survey design.
• Be realistic about what PIAAC can and cannot say about causality.

If you are using Cycle 2, mention how it compares to Cycle 1 and whether you will use both for trend analysis. Even a short paragraph that signals technical competence will calm reviewer nerves.

3. Anchor your proposal in FSCs “Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being” report

They explicitly encourage you to read this report before you apply. That is your hint: tie your project to the gaps the report identifies.

For example:

• “The FSC report notes a lack of evidence on [X group]. Our project directly addresses this gap by…”
• “While the report highlights regional differences, it does not unpack the role of foundational skills in [Y outcome]. Our analysis uses PIAAC to do exactly that.”

You do not need to agree with every framing in the report, but you should show you have read it and positioned your project in that context.

4. Treat knowledge mobilization as a real work package, not an afterthought

If your dissemination plan is “publish a report and maybe a paper,” you will look out of touch with the goal of systems change.

Spell out:

• Who needs to see your results (ministries, employer groups, unions, colleges, community organizations).
• How you will reach them (briefings, webinars, bilingual summaries, visual dashboards, op-eds).
• When you will engage them (not just at the end — consider early consultations to refine questions).

If you can name specific audiences or partners, even better.

5. Design for the 6–7 month window

Reviewers have a built-in scepticism about overstuffed projects. Cut ruthlessly.

Ask yourself:

• What can you confidently complete in 6 months, assuming some hiccups?
• Which analyses are “core” and which are “nice to have”?
• How will you prioritize if time or staffing gets tight?

Spell this out directly in your workplan. A project that is clearly scoped and obviously feasible will often beat a more ambitious but unrealistic one.

6. Budget like someone who actually runs projects

The budget and narrative should tell the same story.

If your project rests heavily on complex modelling, but you have 5K for research assistance, reviewers will wonder who is doing all the work. If you budget almost nothing for knowledge mobilization, they will doubt your commitment to impact.

Be explicit:

• Justify staff time and expertise.
• Explain any travel, software, or external services.
• Include realistic costs if you plan to translate outputs or design high-quality briefs.

7. Get someone outside your field to read your summary

The review panel will likely include people from different disciplines and backgrounds. Your summary and significance sections need to be clear to an intelligent non-specialist.

Before you submit, hand your 1–2 page summary to:

• A colleague in a different field
• A policy friend
• Someone who understands Canada but not PIAAC

If they cannot explain back to you what you are doing, why it matters, and who will care, revise until they can.

A Realistic Application Timeline (Working Back from January 6, 2026)

You cannot write a competitive proposal of this kind in a frantic week. Here is a realistic, no-nonsense timeline.

September–October 2025: Design and scoping

• Read the Call for Proposal Guidelines in full.
• Read FSC’s “Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada”.
• Sketch 2–3 possible research questions and run them past a few trusted colleagues or partners.
• Decide your lead organization and any partners; agree on roles.

November 2025: Methods, partnerships, and early drafting

• Refine your research questions, methods, and data strategy (including PIAAC details).
• Draft a 1–2 page concept note and share it with internal or external reviewers.
• Confirm partner roles and any letters of support.
• Draft the core sections: significance, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes.

Early December 2025: Budget and full draft

• Build a detailed budget and justification in coordination with your institution’s research office (if you have one).
• Produce a full draft of the application, including knowledge mobilization and workplan.
• Translate key elements if needed (especially if you are submitting in French).

Mid–Late December 2025: Review and polish

• Send the draft to at least two reviewers (one technical, one more policy-oriented).
• Revise based on feedback, tightening the narrative and pruning excess jargon.
• Double-check alignment: do your questions, methods, timeline, and budget all match?

Early January 2026: Final checks and submission

• Aim to submit at least 48 hours before the January 6 deadline.
• Confirm all required documents are attached and consistent.
• Check names, institutional details, and contact information carefully.

Required Materials (and How to Make Them Strong)

The call breaks the process into two main steps, but there are several building blocks behind those steps.

Step 1: Read the core documents

Before you write a single sentence, download:

• Call for Proposal Guidelines – this is your rulebook and scoring sheet. It will outline eligibility, selection criteria, timelines, and any formatting rules.
• Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada – treat this as the “literature review briefing note.” Your proposal should speak directly to its themes, gaps, or recommendations.

Take notes as you read. Highlight:

• Phrases about priority populations or issues
• Mentions of knowledge gaps
• Any explicit references to PIAAC

These notes will feed directly into your significance section.

Step 2: Complete the application form (English or French)

The online application form (available in both English and French) will likely require you to prepare:

• Project summary – a concise overview of your question, methods, and expected impact.
• Detailed project description – including background, objectives, research design, timeline, and outputs.
• Budget and justification – how you will spend 50–90K responsibly.
• Team information – who you are, your qualifications, and your institutional setup.
• Partnership information – if you are applying as a consortium.
• Knowledge mobilization plan – how results will reach people in a position to act.

Draft these pieces in a separate document first, then paste into the form to avoid losing work and to allow proper editing and review.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Future Skills Centre is explicit that this call is about building evidence that leads to real-world change. Expect the selection criteria to revolve around four big questions.

1. Relevance to Canadian skills and workforce issues

Reviewers will ask:

• Does this proposal answer a question that matters for Canada’s skills and workforce challenges?
• Is it clearly rooted in the Canadian context — demographics, regions, sectors, or equity concerns?

Proposals that zero in on priority groups (e.g., newcomers, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, workers in transitions) or clear policy debates (e.g., upskilling, digital skills, essential skills) will stand out.

2. Quality and rigor of the research design

You will be judged on:

• Whether your methods actually match your research questions
• How you handle PIAAC’s structure and limitations
• The clarity of your analytical strategy

You do not need to drown reviewers in equations, but you do need to convince them you can handle this dataset rigorously and efficiently.

3. Feasibility within time and budget

With projects starting April 2026 and finishing by October 31, 2026, the panel will be harsh on anything that feels bloated.

They will look for:

• A focused set of questions and analyses
• A realistic schedule with clear milestones
• A budget that matches the scope and avoids wishful thinking

A smaller, tightly argued 60K project can be more compelling than an over-ambitious 90K proposal.

4. Potential for impact and knowledge mobilization

Finally, they will ask:

• Who will benefit from this research?
• How will they hear about it?
• What concrete decisions could this evidence influence?

If you can draw a straight line from “our findings” to “better policy or practice in [specific area],” you will be ahead of the pack.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A lot of otherwise good proposals get quietly sunk by avoidable missteps. Do not be that applicant.

Mistake 1: Treating PIAAC as generic survey data

If you write your proposal in a way that could apply to any dataset, reviewers will doubt you understand what makes PIAAC unique.

Fix: Reference specific PIAAC features (skills domains, design, waves) and explain why this dataset is particularly suited to your question.

Mistake 2: Overreaching on scope

“Everything about adult skills in Canada” is not a project. It is a fantasy.

Fix: Pick one main area and do it extremely well. If you must have secondary questions, frame them as “if time permits” and be upfront about priorities.

Mistake 3: Vague buzzwords instead of clear policy hooks

Overusing abstract language about “skills for the future of work” without naming who you are studying and which decisions your work will inform makes you forgettable.

Fix: Name specific systems (e.g., employment services, adult basic education), funding programs, or types of policy decisions your evidence can inform.

Mistake 4: Weak or absent partners

If you claim your findings will help frontline organizations, but none are involved, reviewers will raise an eyebrow.

Fix: Bring at least one meaningful partner on board — not just for a logo, but for actual input on questions and for dissemination.

Mistake 5: Treating communication as an afterthought

A solitary “we will publish a report” sentence screams “ivory tower.”

Fix: Build a small but concrete communication plan, with 2–3 purposeful outputs (briefs, workshops, bilingual materials, etc.) targeted to named audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to use PIAAC data, or can we add other data sources?

PIAAC should be central, but you can absolutely complement it with other sources — administrative data, qualitative interviews, or program data — as long as:

• PIAAC remains a core component, and
• You can realistically manage all data sources within 6–7 months.

Be clear about what each dataset adds and why it is worth the extra work.

Can individuals apply, or only organizations?

This call is oriented toward organizations: post-secondary institutions, research centres, and eligible for-profit organizations. If you are an individual researcher, you will need to apply through an organization that can hold the grant and manage finances.

Can government agencies be partners even if they cannot apply?

Yes. While federal, provincial, and territorial ministries and agencies cannot be the lead applicant, they can often:

• Sit on advisory committees
• Provide input on questions
• Help interpret findings
• Participate in briefings or dissemination

If you have strong policy connections, highlight them as a strength of your project.

Is 50–90K enough for a meaningful PIAAC project?

If you try to answer ten questions at once, no. If you design a focused, analytically sharp project, yes.

Think of this as funding for a medium-sized, high-impact study, not a five-year research program. Many strong PIAAC-based articles and policy reports have been produced with similar or smaller budgets.

Can we submit more than one proposal?

Typically, programs like this limit organizations or PIs to one proposal per call to avoid spreading resources too thin. Check the Call for Proposal Guidelines for any rules on multiple submissions, and if in doubt, email FSC for clarification.

What happens after we submit?

The call text indicates that decisions will begin to be communicated starting in March 2026, with all funded projects starting in April 2026. Expect:

• An internal and/or external review process
• Notifications of success or rejection
• Likely some negotiation or clarification on scope or budget for successful projects

Will we receive feedback if we are not funded?

Many competitive research calls provide at least summary feedback. The best way to know is to check the Guidelines or contact FSC directly. Even short comments can be extremely useful for future calls — and for rethinking your research design.

How to Apply and Get Started

You do not need to guess your way through this process. FSC has laid out a clear path; your job is to follow it deliberately and bring your own rigor and creativity.

1. Read the official materials carefully.
   Download the Call for Proposal Guidelines and the report “Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada.” Take a couple of hours to really understand what FSC cares about.

2. Clarify your idea and your team.
   Decide on your core research question, your lead organization, and any partners. Get early buy-in from your institution’s research office if you have one.

3. Map your project to the 6–7 month window.
   Draft a timeline from April to October 2026. Identify key milestones: data preparation, analysis rounds, drafting, partner review, and dissemination.

4. Draft your proposal outside the portal.
   Prepare your narrative, budget, and knowledge mobilization plan in a separate document. Edit ruthlessly before you move anything into the online form.

5. Complete the official application form.
   Use the English or French application link provided by FSC and copy in your refined content. Double-check for formatting issues, word limits, and completeness.

6. Submit early.
   Aim to hit submit at least two days before January 6, 2026. Submission portals always choose the worst possible moment to misbehave.

Apply Now

If you are ready to turn Canada’s underused adult skills data into evidence that matters, this is your moment.

Visit the official opportunity page and application portal here:
Future Skills Centre PIAAC Research Initiative Application

Read the guidelines, gather your team, and design a project that makes PIAAC data work for Canada, not just sit in a database.