Government of Canada in Economic Action Plan 2014 announces First Research Excellence Fund

Toronto:  Prime Minister Stephen Harper today officially launched the Canada First Research Excellence Fund during a tour of the IBM facility in Markham. He was joined by Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, Joe Daniel, Member of Parliament for Don Valley East, and John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West.

The Government of Canada’s significant investments in research and development have already made a major contribution to Canada’s strong performance in science, technology and innovation (ST&I). The Fund, which was announced in Economic Action Plan 2014, is a legacy investment to help position Canada’s post-secondary institutions among the best in the world for talent and breakthrough discoveries, and to excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic benefits for Canada.

The inaugural competition will see Canadian post-secondary institutions vying for research funding over seven years. Grants will be awarded on the basis of scientific merit, strategic relevance to Canada (including the potential for the research area to create long-term economic advantages for Canada), and quality of implementation plan. Submissions will be reviewed by independent panels of international scientific experts as well as an arms-length selection board composed of leaders from the academic, public and private sectors. Applications for this first competition will be due in March 2015. A second competition will be launched by 2016 at the latest.

The Government of Canada’s investments in research and development have made a major contribution to Canada’s strong performance in science, technology and innovation (ST&I). However, our post-secondary institutions face significant competition from their international counterparts in the search for the best minds and partnership opportunities that enable breakthrough discoveries. Canada’s ability to attract top talent, innovators and research partners requires its world-class institutions to be among the best on the global stage.To meet these objectives, the Government of Canada in Economic Action Plan 2014 announced the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). The Fund is a $1.5 billion legacy investment to enable Canadian post-secondary institutions to excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic advantages for Canada. Available to all post-secondary institutions on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis, the Fund will position Canada’s post-secondary institutions to compete with the best in the world for talent and breakthrough discoveries.

CFREF is governed by a Steering Committee comprised of the presidents of the three granting agencies – the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – and the deputy ministers of Health and Industry Canada.  SSHRC administers CFREF on behalf of all three granting agencies.

First and second competitions

The inaugural competition will see Canadian post-secondary institutions vying for a total of up to $350 million in awards over seven years. Applications for this first competition will be due in March 2015. A second competition will be launched by 2016 at the latest. Grants will be awarded on the basis of scientific merit, strategic relevance to Canada (including the potential for the research area to create long-term economic advantages for Canada), and quality of implementation plan.

Submissions will be reviewed by arms-length panels of international scientific experts as well as an arms-length selection board composed of leaders from the academic, private and other relevant sectors.

Institutions will have the freedom to determine the scope and scale of their proposals. The Fund will consider large, potentially multi-institutional initiatives as well as smaller, single-institution proposals.

Proposals will be required to align with the Government of Canada’s updated ST&I priority research areas, released as part of its renewed ST&I Strategy: environment and agriculture; health and life sciences; natural resources and energy; information and communications technologies; and advanced manufacturing.