$1.7 billion announced to attract international researchers to Canada

The three federal research funding agencies and the Canada Foundation for Innovation have launched the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative—a suite of programs that will attract leading international researchers to Canada, as outlined in Budget 2025. Divided across four streams, the initiative will help drive Canadian innovation, growth and prosperity.

The SSHRC Impact Awards shine a spotlight on research that enhances our understanding of individuals and communities, informs effective policies and practices, and helps build a more just and inclusive society. This year’s winners, who receive a combined total of $300,000, were recently honoured at a prestigious ceremony in Ottawa for their groundbreaking work on the effects of war on children, the complex relationship between biotechnology and the labour market, the strengths and challenges of using Big Data and digital tools in human rights law and advocacy, accessible wildfire evacuation recommendations, and helping Indigenous communities envision their futures. 

On November 25, a group of representatives from Canadian postsecondary institutions gathered in Ottawa to address the challenges and opportunities being faced by the higher education community. By exchanging information with SSHRC senior leadership and each other, the SSHRC Leaders network continues to strengthen research connections and explore ways to advance the value and resonance of world-leading social sciences and humanities research. 

As the registration deadline approaches for the next Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) competition, current chairholders and administrators got a chance to connect with each other and several Canada 150 Research Chairs (C150s) at Memorial University this past October at the CERC/C150 Symposium. The group of administrators and world-renowned researchers discussed many topics, including research security, the impact of artificial intelligence on the research community, best practices to enhance the management and impact of the CERCs, and ways to strengthen Canada's ability to attract more top researchers. 

On November 18, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) released a new report on the state of science, technology and innovation in Canada. SSHRC supported the report's development by providing the CCA with a Strategic Initiatives Fund grant, which allowed for commissioned papers and a virtual event on Indigenous science to take place, all of which helped inform the findings.

Set to launch in 2026, the International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges will be funded through the New Frontiers in Research Fund and several international partners. Proposed research projects should offer solutions to global challenges and accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

SSHRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council have been engaging the research community in a review of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. To allow time to incorporate feedback received from the community and to finalize implementation planning, the release date for the revised policy has been moved from the end of 2025 to an anticipated release in 2026. An adequate transition period will also be applied before new requirements come into effect.