Today, Dalhousie University is inviting industry to respond to a second Call for Participation for the Nova Scotia Subsurface Energy Research and Development Investment Program. The program is a provincial initiative to help understand the potential of Nova Scotia’s onshore natural gas deposits and support informed, evidence-based energy and climate decisions. The Program offers financial incentives to operators to explore Nova Scotia’s natural gas potential as part of a controlled research initiative. Dalhousie University is administering the program on behalf of the Nova Scotia Government.
“It’s incredibly important that we take full advantage of our natural resources, in safe, responsible ways, to boost Nova Scotia’s economic and energy security. We can’t leave this opportunity on the table – we have to explore it,” said Premier Tim Houston. “A second call for participation reflects the strong interest to date and feedback we heard from industry and gives more time for operators to build Nova Scotia into their plans.”
The University announced the first Call for Participation on February 27, 2026, with submissions from interested companies due April 15, 2026.
Following the close of the first call on April 15, 2026, and in response to strong interest and constructive feedback from industry, the decision was made to issue a second Call. This second Call is commencing while the Province negotiates the terms of the contract with the successful proponent(s) in the first round and is intended to build on the engagement already demonstrated and to further support broad participation by qualified proponents.
“This second call reflects the strong interest we’ve seen from industry and the value of listening to that feedback,” said Graham Gagnon, vice-president, research and innovation, Dalhousie University. “It creates flexibility for proponents while maintaining momentum in the program.”
The key milestones of the second Call are:
- Call for Participation (CFP) Open: May 25, 2026
- Question Period: May 25, 2026 – October 30, 2026
- Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026 (2:00 p.m. Atlantic)
- Identification of Qualified Proponents: throughout second Call
The second Call will close on November 30, 2026. Throughout the duration of the Call, submissions will be evaluated, and qualified proponents may proceed to potential negotiations with the Province before the closure of the Call.
The technical committee for the Subsurface Energy Research and Development Investment Program will receive, screen, and evaluate submissions based on the evaluation criteria described in the second Call for Participation, and will forward that analysis to the Province for next steps, which includes identifying preferred Proponents and conducting contract negotiations.
The Government of Nova Scotia announced the program on December 22, 2025, and engaged Dalhousie University as administrative lead, focusing on program administration, research leadership, and community engagement.
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