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NSERC Code Tables

Research Subject Codes

Select a "primary" and "secondary" research subject from the following list of Research Subject Codes. Insert the code numbers in the spaces indicated on the form.

1000 CIVIL ENGINEERING
1001 Construction engineering and management
1002 Geotechnical engineering (including engineering geology)
1003 Transportation engineering
1004 Survey engineering and remote sensing
1005 Hydraulic engineering
1006 Hydrologic engineering
1007 Water resources and supply
1100 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
1101 Structural loads and safety
1102 Steel: materials and structures
1103 Concrete: materials and structures
1104 Structural analysis
1105 Structural materials
1106 Offshore engineering
1107 Earthquake engineering
1200 AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
1201 Irrigation
1202 Agricultural waste management
1203 Agricultural power and machinery
1300 FOREST ENGINEERING
1301 Forest management
1302 Forest operations
1303 Wood science and engineering
1400 MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING
1401 Mining engineering
1402 Mineral processing
1403 Rock mechanics
1500 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
1501 Water quality, pollution
1502 Waste water treatment
1503 Air and noise pollution
1504 Solid waste management (including radioactivity)
1505 Bioremediation
1600 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
1601 Operations research and management science
1602 Management information systems
1603 Logistics
1604 Manufacturing
1605 Human factors engineering
1606 Operations management
1700 DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
1701 Engineering design
1702 Advanced manufacturing
1703 Occupational safety
1800 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
1801 Reaction fundamentals and reactor design
1802 Biochemical engineering
1803 Thermodynamics
1804 Heat transfer
1805 Transport processes
1806 Separation processes
1807 Combustion processes
1808 Rheology and processing
1900 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
1901 Biomedical technology
1902 Biomedical materials
1903 Biomechanics
2000 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2001 Materials structure, properties and testing
2002 Materials processing/fabrication
2003 Metallurgy/metals/alloys
2004 Polymers and coatings
2005 Ceramics
2006 Biomaterials
2007 Composites
2008 Other materials
2009 Semiconductors
2010 Thin films/interfaces
2011 Optical materials
2012 Magnetic materials
2013 Superconductors
2014 Crystals
2015 Concrete
2016 Minerals
2017 Theoretical studies
2018 Synthesis
2100 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
2101 Solid mechanics
2102 Dynamics
2103 Plasticity, creep
2104 Vibrations
2105 Hydraulics
2106 Stress analysis
2107 Modelling, simulation and finite element methods
2108 Aerospace, aeronautical and automotive engineering
2109 Mechanical systems and instrumentation
2110 Combustion
2200 FLUID MECHANICS
2201 Turbulence
2202 Multi-phase systems
2203 Modelling, simulation
2300 FUEL AND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
(Economic Geology, use 4003)
2301 Petroleum-based and fossil fuels
2302 Petroleum engineering, oil and gas recovery
2303 Other sources of energy (solar, wind, etc.)
2400 NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
2401 Reactor design and operation
2402 Radioactive materials
2500 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
2501 Power systems
2502 Electromagnetics, compatibility and interference
2503 Circuit theory
2504 Integrated circuits
2505 Photonic devices and networks
2506 Electronic circuits and devices
2507 Communications systems
2508 Communications networks
2509 Control systems
2510 Adaptive, learning and evolutionary systems
2511 Antennas and propagation
2512 Broadcasting
2513 Data communications
2514 Digital signal processing
2515 Electronic materials and components
2516 Energy conversion and distribution
2517 Industrial and power electronics
2518 Instrumentation and measurements
2519 Microelectronics
2520 Microwave and millimeter-wave devices, circuits and technologies
2521 Mobile and personal communication
2522 Radar and navigation
2523 Semiconductor fabrication and packaging
2524 Ultrasonic/ferroelectric devices and applications
2525 Wireless communication systems
2600 ROBOTICS
2601 Robotic control and automation
2602 Flexible robots
2603 Computer vision
2604 Intelligent systems applications
2605 Pattern analysis and machine intelligence
2606 Systems, man and cybernetics
2700 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
2701 Computer hardware
2702 Computer systems organization
2703 Complexity
2704 Distributed and parallel processing
2705 Software and development
2706 Software engineering
2707 Graphics
2708 Image and video processing
2709 Other computing methods
2710 Information systems design
2711 Database management
2712 Theory of computation
2713 Algorithms
2714 Mathematics of computing
2715 Optimization
2716 Virtual reality and related simulations
2717 Modelling and simulation studies
2718 Communication and information theory
2719 Computer architecture and design
2720 Computer systems software
2721 Multimedia systems and networks
2722 VLSI systems
2800 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
(Computer Vision, use 2603)
2801 Natural language and speech understanding
2802 Logic programming
2803 Knowledge representation
2804 Expert systems
2805 Learning and inference theories
2900 PURE MATHEMATICS
2901 Classical analysis
2902 Complex and harmonic analysis
2903 Functional analysis and operator theory
2904 Operator algebra
2905 Non-linear and global analysis
2906 Differential geometry
2907 Lie theory
2908 Algebra
2909 Algebraic geometry
2910 Algebraic topology
2911 Set theory and general topology
2912 Logic
2913 Number theory
2914 Combinatorics
2950 APPLIED MATHEMATICS
2951 Continuum mechanics
2952 Linear and non-linear systems
2953 Wave propagation
2954 Asymptotics and applied classical analysis
2955 Numerical analysis
2956 Optimization and optimal control theory
2957 Mathematical biology and physiology
2958 Mathematical physics
2959 Mathematics of communications
2960 Mathematical modelling
3000 STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY
3001 Statistical theory
3002 Time series analysis
3003 Survey methodology
3004 Applied statistics
3005 Biostatistics
3006 Probability theory
3007 Stochastic processes
3008 Applied probability
3009 Parametric inference
3010 Nonparametric inference
3011 Multivariate analysis
3100 PHYSICS
3101 Atomic and molecular studies
3102 Nuclear physics
3103 Nuclear reactions and scattering
3104 Particle physics
3105 Intermediate energy reactions
3106 Weak interactions
3107 Plasma physics
3108 Experimental methods and instrumentation
3109 Acoustics
3110 Optics (see also photon devices 2505)
3111 Lasers
3112 Photonics
3113 Biophysics
3150 THEORETICAL PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
3151 Kinetic and transport theory of fluids, physical properties of gases
3152 Theory of elementary particles and fields
3153 Classical and quantum physics
3154 Relativity and gravitation
3155 Statistical mechanics and thermodynamics
3156 Quantum and/or computational chemistry
3200 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
3201 Planetary and solar system
3202 Stellar
3203 Galactic
3204 Extra galactic and cosmology
3205 Instrumentation
3250 SPACE SCIENCE
3251 Planetary
3252 Upper atmosphere
3253 Space plasmas
3300 CONDENSED MATTERPHYSICS
3301 Superconductivity
3302 Electronic properties of solids
3303 Surfaces, interfaces and thin films
3304 Semiconductors
3305 Magnetic properties and magnetic materials
3306 Optical properties
3307 Transport properties
3308 Superfluids
3309 Low temperature physics
3310 Statistical mechanics and phase transitions
3311 Soft condensed matter
3312 Mesoscopic physics
3400 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
3401 Electrochemistry
3402 Surface and interfacial chemistry
3403 Spectroscopy
3404 Biophysical chemistry
3405 Catalysis, kinetics
3406 Photochemistry and photophysics
3407 Crystallography — physical chemistry
3500 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
3501 Inorganic analytical chemistry
3502 Organic analytical chemistry
3503 Separation methods
3504 Bioanalytical chemistry
3505 Analytical spectroscopy
3600 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
3601 Inorganic non-metal chemistry
3602 Metal and organometallic chemistry
3603 Bio-inorganic chemistry
3604 Solid state inorganic chemistry
3605 Inorganic photochemistry
3606 Kinetics and mechanisms of reactions
3607 Catalysis
3700 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
3701 Natural products
3702 Carbohydrates
3703 Organic syntheses
3704 Synthetic methodology
3705 Bio-organic chemistry
3706 Organic photochemistry
3707 Kinetics, reactive intermediaries and mechanisms of reactions
3750 POLYMER CHEMISTRY
3751 Polymer synthesis
3752 Polymer characterization
3753 Properties of polymers
3754 Biopolymers
4000 EARTH SCIENCE (Also see Marine Geology 4604)
4001 Mineralogy, crystal chemistry and crystallography
4002 Petrology, igneous and metamorphic geology
4003 Economic geology
4004 Petroleum geology
4005 Structural geology and tectonics
4006 Stratigraphy
4007 Sedimentology
4008 Sedimentary petrology, diagenesis
4009 Surficial quaternary
4010 Paleontology, paleobiology
4011 Paleoclimatology
4012 Environmental geology
4013 Earth-systems science
4014 Planetary geology
4015 Geomorphology
4016 Mathematical geology
4100 GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
4101 Cartography and geomatics
4102 Remote sensing
4103 Geographic information systems, global positioning systems
4150 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
4200 GEOCHEMISTRY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY
4201 Environmental geochemistry
4202 Trace element geochemistry
4203 Organic geochemistry
4204 Geochronology
4205 Stable isotopes
4206 Aqueous (low temperature) geochemistry
4300 GEOPHYSICS
4301 Structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior
4302 Seismology
4303 Paleomagnetism, rock and mineral magnetism
4304 Applied geophysics
4305 Geodesy
4306 Mineral physics
4307 Environmental geophysics
4400 ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
4401 Dynamic meteorology
4402 Boundary layer
4403 Biometeorology
4404 Climatology
4405 Atmospheric chemistry (including air pollution)
4500 HYDROLOGY
4501 Hydrogeochemistry
4502 Physical hydrology
4503 Surface water
4504 Groundwater
4505 Glaciology
4600 OCEANOGRAPHY
4601 Physical oceanography
4602 Biological oceanography
4603 Chemical oceanography
4604 Marine geology
4700 EVOLUTION AND ECOLOGY
4701 Animal ecology
4702 Aquatic ecology and limnology
4703 Behaviour
4704 Biogeography and landscape ecology
4705 Ecotoxicology
4706 Evolutionary theory
4707 Plant ecology
4708 Sociobiology and behavioural ecology
4709 Taxonomy, systematics and phylogenetics
4710 Terrestrial ecology
4711 Wildlife management
4712 Plant-animal interaction
4713 Chemical ecology
4714 Microbial ecology
4800 SOIL SCIENCE
4801 Soil physics
4802 Biology and microbiology
4803 Chemistry and mineralogy
4804 Fertility of soils
4900 PLANT AND TREE BIOLOGY
4901 Nutrition and metabolism, photosynthesis
4902 Stress physiology
4903 Plant growth and development
4904 Plant reproduction
4905 Silviculture
4906 Plant pathology
4907 Water and minerals in plants
4908 Crop and pasture production, breeding
4909 Plant morphology
5000 GENETICS
5001 Transmissional genetics
5002 Molecular genetics
5003 Developmental genetics
5004 Genome analysis
5005 Evolutionary genetics
5006 Cytogenetics
5007 Biochemical genetics
5008 Population genetics
5009 Genetic engineering
5100 CELL BIOLOGY
5101 Absorption and transport
5102 Intercellular communication
5103 Cell membranes
5104 Cell division
5105 Cell differentiation
5106 Extracellular matrix
5107 Cell secretion
5108 Cell movement
5109 Intracellular targeting
5110 Cytoskeleton
5111 Signal transduction
5112 Electrophysiology
5113 Chromosomes
5200 MICROBIOLOGY
5201 Bacteriology
5202 Virology
5203 Protozoology
5204 Immunology
5205 Mycology
5206 Bioremediation
5300 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
5301 Gene structure
5302 Gene expression
5303 Gene regulation
5304 Molecular evolution
5305 Protein manipulation and expression
5400 BIOCHEMISTRY
5401 Immunochemistry
5402 Nucleic acids
5403 Proteins and peptides, amino acids
5404 Enzymes
5405 Lipids
5406 Carbohydrates
5407 Receptors
5408 Metabolism
5500 ANIMAL BIOLOGY
5501 Neurophysiology
5502 Kinesiology
5503 Endocrinology
5504 Animal physiology and metabolism
5505 Animal reproduction
5506 Animal circulation
5507 Animal respiration
5508 Parasitology
5509 Animal morphology
5510 Animal production and breeding
5511 Animal nutrition and husbandry
5512 Veterinary sciences
6100 FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
6101 Food chemistry and analysis
6102 Food microbiology
6103 Food processing, packaging, preservation and storage
6300 PSYCHOLOGY
6301 Sensory systems and perception
6302 Sensory systems – visual
6303 Sensory systems – auditory
6304 Cognitive science – fundamental
6305 Cognitive science – development
6306 Cognitive science – language
6307 Cognitive science – other
6308 Behavioural neuroscience
6309 Behavioural neuroscience – learning
6310 Behavioural neuroscience – reward, motivation
6311 Motor systems and performance
6400 LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH RELATED TO HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE
6401 Pathology
6402 Etiology
6403 Toxicology
6404 Pharmacology
6405 Ontogeny
6406 Epidemiology
6407 Nutrition
7000 OTHER STUDIES IN NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
7001 Management science and technology
7002 Science policy studies
7003 Renewable and non-renewable resources management
8000 SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
9000 HEALTH SCIENCES

Area of Application Codes

Select a "primary" and "secondary" area from the codes listed below. Insert the code numbers in the spaces indicated on the form.

100 AGRICULTURE AND PRIMARY FOOD PRODUCTION
101 Animal production and animal primary products
102 Animal management (animal diseases, breeding)
103 Plant production and plant primary products
104 Crop management (pest, disease control and breeding)
105 Farming: soil and water resources
106 Aquaculture
200 NATURAL RESOURCES (Economic Aspects)
201 Forestry (silviculture, forest management)
202 Mineral resources (prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
203 Commercial fisheries
204 Oceans and inland waters
300 ENERGY RESOURCES (Including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
301 Oil, gas and coal
302 Nuclear energy
303 Alternative energy resources
304 Electrical energy
305 Energy storage and conversion
306 Energy efficiency
400 ENVIRONMENT
401 Climate and atmosphere
402 Oceans, seas and estuaries
403 Inland waters
404 Land, solid earth, seabeds and ocean floors
405 Modelling and mathematical simulation of natural processes
406 Pollutants and toxic agents (Waste, use 902)
407 Conservation and preservation
408 Wildlife management
409 Environmental impact of economic activities (including agriculture)
500 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS
501 Processed food products and beverages
502 Fibres and textiles
503 Wood, wood products and paper
504 Human pharmaceuticals
505 Veterinary pharmaceuticals
506 Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides)
507 Industrial chemicals (solvents, resins)
508 Polymers, rubber and plastics
509 Primary metal products (ferrous and non-ferrous)
510 Fabricated metal products
511 Ceramic, glass and industrial mineral products
512 Transport equipment
513 Electrical and electronic machinery and equipment (including computer hardware)
514 Communications equipment
515 Instrumentation technology
516 Mechanical machinery, heavy equipment (including farm, forestry, and construction equipment)
517 Consumer goods
518 Medical equipment and apparatus
519 Other manufactured products and processes
520 Production and operations management
600 CONSTRUCTION, URBAN AND RURAL PLANNING
601 Structural engineering
602 Materials performance
603 Construction methods
604 Surveying and photogrammetry
605 Land development
700 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND SERVICES
701 Ground (road and rail)
702 Water
703 Aerospace
800 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES
801 Computer software
802 Information systems and technology
803 Computer communications
804 Communication systems and services (planning, organization, services)
805 Communications technologies (satellites, radar, etc.)
900 COMMERCIAL SERVICES
901 Sanitary engineering
902 Waste, waste management and recycling
1000 NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT
1001 Construction, transportation and communications
1002 Environment
1100 HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
1101 Human health (including medically related psychological research)
1102 Biomedical engineering
1103 Learning and education
1104 Social development and community services
1200 ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE
1201 Life sciences (including biotechnology)
1202 Physical sciences
1203 Earth sciences
1204 Space and astronomy
1205 Mathematical sciences
1206 Engineering
1207 Information, computer and communication technologies
1208 Materials sciences
1209 Agriculture
1210 Psychology
1211 Medical and health sciences
1212 Social sciences

Industry/Products and Services Codes

To help NSERC assess various industrial sectors’ participation in university-industry programs, each private sector organization is asked to choose the most appropriate code from the following list. If the collaborating company has diversified activities, choose the code for the main line of business for the operating division supporting this proposal.

1000 FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
1001 Animals and animal products
1002 Plant and plant products
1003 Aquaculture
1100 FISHING AND RELATED INDUSTRIES
1200 FORESTRY INDUSTRIES
1201 Forestry products
1202 Pulp and paper
1203 Other wood products
1300 PRINTING AND PUBLISHING
1400 MINING AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES
1402 Aggregates
1403 Metal and coal mines
1500 PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRIES
1600 NUCLEAR INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTS
1700 FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES
1701 Food processing and packaging
1702 Beverages
1703 Animal feed
2000 ADVANCED MATERIALS MANUFACTURING
2100 POLYMERIC MANUFACTURING
2101 Rubber
2102 Plastics
2200 TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTS
2400 PRIMARY METALS INDUSTRY
2401 Iron and steel
2402 Non-ferrous metals
2500 FABRICATED METALS INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTS
2501 Heat exchangers
2502 Structural metals
2503 Stamped and pressed products
2600 MACHINERY (NON-ELECTRICAL)
2601 Farm machinery and equipment
2602 Engines, generators, turbines and reactors
2603 Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment
2604 Hydraulic and pneumatic equipment
2605 Construction, forestry and mining machinery
2606 Mechanical power transmission equipment
2700 TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY
2701 Motor vehicles and parts
2702 Aerospace
2703 Shipbuilding and submersibles
2704 Train locomotives and cars
2800 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
2801 Communications equipment
2802 Electrical industrial equipment
2803 Electronic parts and components
2804 Appliances and consumer electronics
2900 COMPUTING INDUSTRIES
2901 Computer hardware
2902 Software and related services
3000 NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS
3001 Cement and concrete
3002 Glass
3003 Abrasives
3004 Asphalt
3100 PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
3101 Inorganic chemicals
3102 Organic chemicals and products
3103 Petroleum products
3104 Biotechnology
3300 PHARMACEUTICALS AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS
3400 SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT
3401 Laboratory equipment
3402 Medical equipment
3500 OPTICAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
3600 CONSUMER PRODUCTS INDUSTRY (NON-ELECTRONIC)
4000 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL CONTRACTING
4100 INDUSTRIAL AND HEAVY ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION
4101 Bridges and roads
4102 Waterworks, sewage and pipelines
4103 Power plants
4300 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
4500 COMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING SERVICES
4600 UTILITIES
4601 Electricity
4602 Gas supply
4603 Water supply
4700 WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
5000 BUSINESS SERVICES
5500 CONSULTING SERVICES
5700 ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
6000 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
6001 Federal government departments and agencies
6002 Provincial, territorial and local governments
6003 International and extraterritorial governments
7000 EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
8000 HEALTH SERVICES
9000 BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, AND LABOUR ORGANIZATIONS
9999 ALL OTHER INDUSTRIES