Canada commits more than $813m to research, universities and scientific infrastructure
Federal funding will support more than 450 researchers across Canada, including projects in artificial intelligence, clean energy, precision medicine and engineering
Canada's federal government has announced more than $813 million to support researchers, research institutions, scientific infrastructure and projects spanning AI, engineering and health
The Canadian government has announced more than $813 million in research funding, supporting over 450 researchers and providing universities and research institutions with funding for scientific projects, infrastructure and research security.
The investment includes $120 million for five interdisciplinary research teams, more than $187 million for 220 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs, and funding to help 161 institutions cover the costs of maintaining their research operations.
The investment spans natural sciences, engineering, health, social sciences and the humanities, with artificial intelligence, machine learning, regenerative medicine and clean energy among the research areas identified for support.
Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, announced the funding on behalf of Mélanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Five research teams to receive $120m for large-scale projects
One of the largest individual research allocations is $120 million through the 2026 New Frontiers in Research Fund Transformation competition.
The funding will support five Canadian-led teams working on major interdisciplinary research challenges, with individual grants of up to $24 million available over six years.
The Transformation program supports projects that bring together researchers from different disciplines to investigate complex problems requiring expertise across several fields. Its focus includes research with potentially significant scientific, economic or societal outcomes.
The Canada Research Chairs Program will receive more than $187 million for 220 new and renewed research chairs.
The program provides funding to Canadian institutions to recruit and retain researchers working across disciplines, including health, engineering, science, social sciences and the humanities.
Bardeesy says the investment will support work across emerging technologies and established research fields:
"This funding will allow researchers to pursue bold ideas and make breakthrough discoveries in key areas such as artificial intelligence, precision medicine and public policy."
Universities receive funding for research costs and security
A substantial share of the investment will go toward the institutional infrastructure needed to support research, rather than directly funding individual scientific projects.
More than $369 million has been allocated through the 2026-27 Research Support Fund to 161 institutions.
The fund helps Canadian postsecondary institutions cover indirect research costs, including the expenses associated with operating and maintaining research facilities and administering research activities.
An additional allocation of nearly $104 million through the Research Support Fund's Incremental Project Grants will support 34 institutions.
This funding covers four priority areas: innovation and commercialization, facilities renewal, information resources, and equity, diversity and faculty renewal.
Information resources include digital research infrastructure, open-access systems and databases used by researchers.
Research security will receive a separate allocation of nearly $25 million across 51 institutions.
The funding is intended to help eligible postsecondary institutions develop the capacity to identify, assess and mitigate risks to their research activities.
These allocations address different aspects of institutional research capacity, from maintaining facilities and information systems to managing security risks associated with scientific work.
New equipment funding to support 35 research projects
The Canada Foundation for Innovation will distribute nearly $8 million through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund, supporting 35 projects at 22 institutions.
The program helps universities, colleges, research hospitals and nonprofit research institutions acquire equipment and infrastructure for scientific work.
It also provides research infrastructure for recipients of Canada Research Chairs funding.
Sylvain Charbonneau, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, says:
"These research infrastructure investments mean we can build the capabilities to advance bleeding-edge research, develop state-of-the-art facilities and respond to national priorities across a variety of key sectors."
A further $300,000 will be awarded to three researchers through the 2025 Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.
The award supports projects addressing persistent systemic barriers within academic research and aims to strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion across the research sector.
The funding is being administered through several federal research programs, with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada overseeing the relevant programs through the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat.
The Secretariat administers funding on behalf of Canada's three federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2027 open for entries
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2027 are now open for entries, with 26 categories recognising companies, institutions, projects and individuals making a measurable impact across education technology. The global awards span AI in education, digital learning, higher education, skills and workforce, inclusion, education operations, evidence and impact, with entries managed through ETIH’s new online awards platform.
Entries are open worldwide, with the early-bird deadline on Friday 18 December 2026 and the final entry deadline on Friday 26 February 2027 at 23:59 UK time.
Explore the 2027 categories and judging criteria, read the How to Enter guide or start an entry through the ETIH Innovation Awards 2027 platform.
