Agency funds innovative knowledge networks, and boosts graduate
research and training
(Ottawa, June 1, 2007) – Chad Gaffield, president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), today announced a $119.7-million, two-front investment in Canadian research. Of the total, $105 million will go to developing the next generation of research talent through master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships and fellowships, while $14.7 million will fund seven new national networks, known as strategic knowledge clusters, to coordinate and synthesize research on a diversity of issues that address Canadians’ quality of life.
“The strategic knowledge clusters are innovative networks that will create synergies among researchers in many of the 30 disciplines that we support,” stated President Gaffield. “The seven clusters announced today will bring the new knowledge they develop to thousands of decision-makers in government, business and communities across Canada.”
Strategic knowledge clusters will broaden and intensify the impact of social sciences and humanities research, which is a key priority for SSHRC.
The seven networks were selected from among 57 applicants in a rigorous peer-reviewed competition. Each network will work with partners in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to coordinate and focus existing and ongoing research in the social sciences and humanities.
The scholarships and fellowships, meanwhile, will be granted this year to close to 2,400 researchers. As with the clusters, applications are subject to an exacting review process: juries select only those applicants who meet the highest academic standards.
Award holders come from every province and territory in the country. For many of them, SSHRC funding offers the opportunity to attend leading institutions in other parts of the country or abroad, and to study with the best researchers in their fields.
“With the scholarship and fellowship awards,” stated Gaffield, “SSHRC is developing the very best of Canada’s next generation of talented individuals to lead the country in the 21st century. They will develop new knowledge on issues of importance to this country, and their expertise in their research disciplines will benefit Canadians by contributing innovative and creative solutions in business, politics, education, the professions, and many other fields.”
For details on this announcement, please see our backgrounders on SSHRC scholarships and fellowships and Strategic Knowledge Clusters.
For details of successful candidates and their projects, please see our list of scholarships and fellowships recipients (pdf document 439 KB), and list of Clusters award holders.
For additional information on this release and other SSHRC research projects, please contact:
Julia Gualteri
Media Relations Advisor
Tel.: 613-944-4347
E-mail: julia.gualtieri@sshrc.ca