The Government of Canada has announced a significant investment of over $1.3 billion to support more than 9,700 researchers and research projects across the country. The announcement was made by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. This funding reflects Canada’s commitment to advancing scientific excellence and building a more innovative, inclusive, and resilient future.
As global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, public health crises, and social inequality grow increasingly complex, this funding aims to equip Canadian researchers with the tools and resources needed to deliver meaningful solutions. The support will foster cutting-edge scientific and technological advancements, improve public health outcomes, promote clean technologies, and guide evidence-based policymaking.
The funding will be allocated across various major research programs and initiatives in the 2024–2025 period. Key distributions include $365.6 million for 4,761 recipients of scholarships and fellowships through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The NSERC Discovery Research Program will receive $589 million to support 2,950 awardees.
Additional funding includes $29.8 million through the NSERC College and Community Innovation Program for 51 recipients, and $26.4 million through the NSERC CREATE Grants for 16 projects. SSHRC will allocate $127 million to 693 researchers through its 2024 Insight Grants and $55 million to 897 researchers through Insight Development Grants.
The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) will provide $25.1 million to 586 researchers across 101 innovative projects. Further, SSHRC will grant $42 million to 17 researchers under the Partnership Grants program and $18 million to 90 researchers through Partnership Development Grants. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships will distribute $24.9 million to 166 researchers, while the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships will support 70 researchers with a total of $9.8 million.
These strategic investments reinforce Canada’s position as a global leader in research and innovation, while supporting the nation’s researchers in driving progress across diverse fields that directly impact Canadian society and the global community.
