Throughout Canada, universities spur innovation, support scientific discoveries and train tomorrow’s researchers and workers. To ensure Canada remains at the forefront of research, innovation and wealth generation, the Government of Canada is investing in the success of the country’s researchers.

“Today’s research is tomorrow’s economy. Since the start, our government has re-established the fundamental role of science and scientists in our society. The funded initiatives, including the one here at Dalhousie University, will lead to breakthrough discoveries that will improve people’s lives, nourish Canada’s innovation ecosystems, and shape our prosperity for years to come. Such is the value of universities and of our Canadian researchers who think outside the box to tackle the greatest challenges of our time.” 

– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“The Government of Canada is proud to help post-secondary institutions and their researchers making breakthrough discoveries. The team here at Dalhousie is undertaking important work to advance our understanding of oceans and their role as carbon pumps. The results of this initiative will help inform Canada’s climate action to build a cleaner and greener future.” 

– Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Halifax

“As an alumnus, I know well that Dalhousie and its partner institutions are a prime example of how our post‑secondary institutions are powering innovation that will cement Nova Scotia and Canada’s position as a leader in science on the global stage. This initiative will have major impacts in our fight against climate change and help ensure the health and prosperity of our communities for generations.”

– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“Canada’s post-secondary institutions are rich in talent and ideas and are committed to building healthier, more sustainable, more inclusive and prosperous communities. With support from the federal government’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund, they are able to build on these foundations to develop advanced research programs that showcase Canadian talent and lead the world in developing solutions to the critical challenges facing our planet, from environmental sustainability to advanced biotherapeutics, child health and population migration.”

– Ted Hewitt, Chair, Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat Steering Committee; President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; and Chair, Canada Research Coordinating Committee

“I want to thank the federal government for this significant investment, the largest ever made in research at Dalhousie. As Canada’s leading ocean research university, with a team of more than 100 ocean-focused researchers and world-leading ocean research centres, we’re thrilled to partner with Laval, UQAR and Memorial to address the challenge of transforming climate action and to undertake this critically important research.”

– Dr. Frank Harvey, President and Vice-Chancellor (acting), Dalhousie University

• Created in 2014, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) supports Canadian post-secondary institutions in their efforts to become global research leaders. The program helps Canadian universities, colleges and polytechnics compete with the best in the world for talent and partnership opportunities. It also supports them in making breakthrough discoveries; seizing emerging opportunities and strategically advancing their greatest strengths on the global stage; and implementing large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies.

• The investment of close to $1.4 billion will also support the following 10 initiatives:

  • McGill University: $165 million for DNA to RNA: An Inclusive Canadian Approach to Genomic-based RNA Therapeutics (D2R)
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland: $91 million for Qanittaq Clean Arctic Shipping Initiative
  • University of Ottawa: $109 million for Brain-Heart InterConnectome
  • University of Toronto: $199 million for Acceleration Consortium: Self-Driving Labs for Molecular and Materials Discovery
  • University of Victoria: $83 million for Accelerating Community Energy Transformation
  • Université de Montréal: $124 million for R3AI: Shifting Paradigms for a Robust, Reasoning, and Responsible Artificial Intelligence and its Adoption
  • York University: $105 million for Connected Minds: Neural and Machine Systems for a Healthy, Just Society
  • Concordia University: $123 million for Electrifying Society: Towards Decarbonized Resilient Communities
  • University of Calgary: $125 million for One Child Every Child: A Transformational Child Health Research Initiative
  • Toronto Metropolitan University: $98 million for Migrant Integration in the mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides

• CFREF invests approximately $200 million per year through a highly competitive peer review process, held every seven years, to support selected Canadian post-secondary institutions in turning their key strengths into world-leading capabilities.

• CFREF is a tri-agency institutional program administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), housed at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), on behalf of the three federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and SSHRC.

• Initiatives funded by CFREF are selected through an independent, multidisciplinary and international competitive peer review process. 

Associated links

• About the Canada First Research Excellence Fund
• 2022 CFREF competition results
• 2016 CFREF Competition 2 results
• 2015 CFREF Competition 1 results

Laurie Bouchard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
laurie.bouchard@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca

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