The Canada Research Coordinating Committee: Annual Progress Summary

• Awarded grants in the International Initiative for Research on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (32 international research projects involving 424 team members from 45 countries, $59 million, over a three-year period).
• Awarded the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2023 Exploration grants (133 research projects, $33 million).
• Joined the NordForsk-led international initiative on Sustainable Development of the Arctic. NordForsk is an organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers that provides funding for and facilitates Nordic cooperation on research and research infrastructure. The call will support collaborations between Canadian Arctic researchers and Arctic researchers in Nordic countries and the United States, with benefit to communities in the Arctic.

• Awarded the NFRF 2022 Transformation grants (six research teams, $142 million).
• Awarded the NFRF 2022 Exploration grants (128 research projects, $31 million).
• Launched the 2022 International Horizon Global Platform competition.
• Launched the 2023 International Initiative for Research on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, with a budget of more than C$90 million, including over C$30 million from agencies in seven other countries.

• Awarded the NFRF 2020 Transformation grants (seven research teams, $144 million).
• Awarded the NFRF 2021 Exploration grants (102 research projects, $25 million).
• Since 2018, more than 500 Exploration grants have been awarded―with more than 300 going to early career researchers (ECRs) to help launch their careers. 

• Awarded the NFRF 2020 Exploration grants (117 research projects, $29 million) and the special call addressing COVID-19 challenges (15 research projects, $7 million).
• Launched the 2022 Transformation competition and the Innovative Approaches to Research in the Pandemic Context special call.
• Due to the pandemic, top-up grants and one-year extensions were offered to 2019 Exploration stream projects.
• Launched an interactive dashboard of NFRF competition information, in line with the federal government’s commitment to transparency and active communication.

• Awarded the 2019 Exploration grants: 186 research projects received funding, for an investment of $46.3 million.
• Launched the inaugural, 2020 Transformation competition to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge, with the potential to realize real and lasting change (high-reward).
• Launched the 2020 International stream’s Horizon Global Platform competition to support international collaborations and position Canada-based researchers as strategic partners at the international level.
• Top-up grants and one-year extensions were offered to 2018 Exploration stream grant holders due to the pandemic.

• Launched NFRF to support world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk / high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research through three streams: Exploration, Transformation and International. It also has the flexibility to launch special calls.
• Launched the inaugural 2018 Exploration call for ECRs doing innovative, high-risk / high-reward interdisciplinary research, in December 2018; 157 ECRs received funding, for an investment of $38 million.

• Hosted the South Africa-Canada Councils and Universities Network Summit, co-organized with the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, in April 2023.
• As part of the Summit, CRCC met with senior executives from four South African councils: the NRF, the Agricultural Research Council, the Human Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council.
• As a result, steps are being taken to consolidate a Canada-South Africa universities network and a bilateral working group was established to explore collaborations in support of Indigenous research and knowledge systems.
• Organized a second international roundtable on Open Access publishing with the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) in July 2023.
• Met with the Director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF), in November 2023, identifying avenues and areas for future cooperation.
• Supported Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)-led negotiation of associate country status for Canada in Horizon Europe, concluded in November 2023.
• Provided member organizations’ input for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Science Forum (GSF) project on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the research system and future research workforce, building on Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) contributions to the GSF project on diverse career pathways for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.

• Held a joint CRCC-UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) workshop on EDI in research, engaging over 100 professionals from 17 organizations in Canada and the United Kingdom.
• The CRCC and NRF of South Africa planned a week of meetings in Ottawa and Toronto engaging 27 South African and 39 Canadian organizations to strengthen cooperation in research and higher education.
• With the FRQ, the CRCC organized international discussions with senior executives on open access publishing.

• The CRCC continued its efforts to broaden Canada’s global research and innovation networks by meeting with the chief executives of France’s Centre national de la recherche scientifique, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) and the US NSF.
• Following a meeting between the CRCC and UKRI in 2020, member organizations in both countries joined forces to plan a professional workshop on EDI, to be held in 2022-23.

• Members contributed to the development of the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery.
• Engaged with UKRI to reinforce the longstanding science and technology relationship between Canada and the UK and explore areas of mutual interest for future collaborations, including pandemic preparedness and EDI in research.
• Developed guidelines for a consistent and replicable “Team Canada” approach to the organization of future meetings with international research funding organizations.

• Released the International Framework: Statement of Objectives and Principles to inform agency decisions in areas of mutual interest and help guide the design of interagency initiatives.

• Initiated development of the International Framework: Statement of Objectives and Principles.

• Announced three inaugural recipients of the Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.
• Collaborated on implementation of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) principles—including piloting a narrative-style tri-agency CV.
• Sponsored Council of Canadian Academies’ study Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Practices in the Post-secondary Research System.
• Developed and delivered funding opportunities in support of EDI: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence Early Career Transition Award; and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering.
• Implemented new tri-agency funding to support Black students and postdoctoral researchers.
• Completed EDI pilot programs and initiated evaluation: Dimensions and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Capacity-Building Grants.

• Recognized 10 postsecondary institutions for their work in advancing EDI, through the Dimensions recognition program.
• Embedded EDI as a foundational principle in the Canada Excellence Research Chairs and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
• The CFI introduced a new EDI criterion in the 2023 Innovation Fund competition.
• The three funding agencies published accessibility plans to start identifying and removing systemic barriers to participation for persons with disabilities.
• Expect recipients of grants from the Canada Biomedical Research Fund and the Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund to show leadership in supporting ECRs and promoting EDI.

• Rolled out the revised self-identification questionnaire for agency funding programs.
• Released a revised Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan for 2018-25.
• Seventeen more postsecondary institutions and other research organizations signed the Dimensions Charter.
• Established a requirement for institutions that participate in the Canada Research Chairs Program to set population-based equity targets.
• Launched the Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.

• Awarded second round of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Capacity-Building Grants.
• Added new questions to the self-identification questionnaire about sexual orientation and language, to help each agency monitor additional dimensions of diversity in its programs and design new measures to help achieve greater EDI in the research ecosystem.
• Fifteen more postsecondary institutions and other research organizations signed the Dimensions Charter—bringing the total number of signatories to 125.
• Made progress toward realizing EDI objectives for the Canada Research Chairs Program as set out in the 2019 Addendum to the 2006 Canadian Human Rights settlement agreement.

• Released the Tri-agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and strengthened the Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan.
• Launched the Dimensions: equity, diversity and inclusion Canada program.
• Awarded Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Capacity-Building Grants.
• Adopted a harmonized EDI training plan for agency staff.
• The three funding agencies and the CFI signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

• Harmonized tri-agency collection of self-identification data from all applicants.
• Developed the first iteration of the Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan for fair access, equitable participation and evidence-based decision-making.
• Provided mandatory gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) training for all tri-agency staff and CRCC members.
• Launched the pilot Equity Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Capacity-Building Grant program.
• Minister Duncan launched the draft “Made-in-Canada” Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) Charter, which became the Dimensions Charter—part of the Dimensions program launched in 2019-20).

• The Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research (ILCR) met  on unceded Algonquin territory in October 2023, as part of their ongoing work to advise and monitor implementation of the strategic plan on Indigenous research and research training.
• The three research funding agencies and the Circle launched a call for additional ILCR members.
• The Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration was updated to clarify that, unless explicitly prevented by the funding opportunity or program guidelines, compensation in the form of an eligible expense may be paid to Indigenous Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, or Indigenous people affiliated with not-for-profit organizations who are not already being compensated to conduct research.
• “What We Heard”: A Report from the Three Federal Research Funding Agencies’ Ad Hoc Working Group on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership was released in January 2024. The report reflects dialogues held in 2023 with Indigenous researchers and administrators, as well as institutions’ leaders. It will serve as a basis for moving beyond self-identification in the context of programs, funding opportunities or appointments intended for Indigenous people.
• The Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research drew on definitions of Indigenous research used at CIHR and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support the development of a definition at NSERC that emphasizes the need for meaningful engagement with Indigenous rights holders, to ensure that research activities are relevant to their priorities.
• The CFI launched the Northern Fund to provide infrastructure for research led by Northern institutions and organizations and First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in the North.

• The Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research met virtually with the CRCC in July and held its first in-person gathering at University nuxełhot’įne thaaɁehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills in October.
• The Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research held an in-person gathering in Yellowknife, focused on challenges faced by Indigenous researchers in the North.
• The Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research developed guiding principles for the appropriate review of Indigenous research and recommendations to streamline, within agency application processes, the submission of letters of support from Indigenous organizations.
• All three agencies helped fund the 2023 National Indigenous Citizenship Forum.
• In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategic plan was extended to 2025-26 to ensure full and engaged implementation with Indigenous partners.

• Released the first progress report on implementation of the interagency strategic plan on Indigenous research and research training. 
• Since its inception in 2020, the Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research has held 12 meetings and laid the groundwork for a review of the agencies’ peer assessment models, guided by principles of cultural relevance, cultural safety and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems. It also launched an open call for expressions of interest to engage more closely with Knowledge Keepers and Elders.
• The Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research, composed of individuals from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, was established and will begin its mandate in 2022-23. The Leadership Circle will advise the presidents at the three federal research funding agencies and the CFI on implementation of the Indigenous research strategic plan.

• Moved toward implementing the strategic plan co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada 2019-2022.
• Created the external—exclusively First Nations, Inuit and Métis— Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research to evaluate peer review models across Canada’s federal research funding agencies and make them more culturally appropriate, inclusive and relevant to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
• Initiated the selection process for the establishment of the Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research that will advise CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC and the CFI on implementation of the strategic plan and matters related to Indigenous research.

• Released Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada 2019-2022, a plan co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples to guide the development of research and research training models that contribute to reconciliation and the building of meaningful new relationships with Indigenous Peoples. The strategic plan is the cornerstone of the Strengthening Indigenous Research Capacity initiative.

• Launched Indigenous Research Capacity and Reconciliation (IRCR)—Connection Grants and awarded 116 grants.
• Engaged directly with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, collectives and organizations across Canada.
• Brought together IRCR Connection Grant holders, Indigenous community members and tri-agency representatives for a national dialogue to support the co-development of a strategic plan for an interdisciplinary Indigenous research and research training model geared toward increasing the capacity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples to lead their own research and collaborate better with the broader research community.

The three federal research funding agencies and the CFI continued to do the following:

• Collaborate in the ongoing monitoring of ECRs within the research ecosystem by tracking data, such as participation rates, success rates, and average grant sizes.
• Develop and enhance opportunities for ECRs to participate in the peer review process.
• Foster ECR success and retention in the research enterprise through research funding equalization measures and the continuation of research training through available leave periods.

• All three agencies took steps to ensure that unsuccessful first-time ECR applicants receive enhanced feedback from review committees.
• In its 2023-28 Strategic Plan, the CFI reiterated its commitment to encourage the training, recruitment and retention of new researchers through programs such as the John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

• The three federal research funding agencies and the CFI offered several pathways to provide ECRs with peer review experience.
• The three federal research funding agencies offered mechanisms to extend the eligibility window for individuals to be considered ECRs.

• Recognizing the unique challenges and importance for researchers to establish a strong track record early in their careers, each agency introduced ways to recognize the disruptions caused by the pandemic when determining ECR status—effectively extending ECRs’ access to funding equalization measures in their flagship programs.

• Updated the tri-agency ECR definition to enhance support for ECRs.
• Continued to monitor and report on shared tri-agency performance indicators for ECR initiatives.
• Adopted balanced funding for ECR-led projects in appropriate flagship research programs by dedicating a portion of funding to ECR-led projects, relative to the number of ECR-led applications received.

• Adopted harmonized tri-agency working definition of ECRs.
• Developed the first iteration of the tri-agency ECR Action Plan for fair access, equitable participation and evidence-based decision-making.
• Harmonized tri-agency performance indicators to enable the monitoring of success of ECR initiatives.
• Allocated 250 new Tier 2 chairs for early career / emerging researchers in the Canada Research Chairs Program.
• Added a research stipend of $20,000 per year for first-term Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs.

• Formed an eternal advisory committee that met five times from May-November 2023 to advise the funding agencies on each of the five key themes shaping the Tri-agency Training Strategy. The committee was composed of 17 members, half of whom were students, postdoctoral researchers, or ECRs; members also represented different regions and disciplines with diverse lived experience.
• Advanced development of the Strategy, drawing on recommendations from the External Advisory Committee, formal program evaluations, other advisory bodies, external partners and communities, and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research. The Strategy is expected to be released in fiscal year 2024-25.

• Launched the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative.
• With funding from the 2022 budget, the agencies will increase the number and proportion of Black research trainees supported through scholarship and fellowship programs in 2023-24.

• The CRCC asked the three federal research funding agencies to develop a tri-agency talent strategy, to deliver an equitable, accessible and effective suite of scholarships and fellowships that help support and prepare a diverse population of students and postdoctoral fellows for careers requiring strong research skills in all sectors of society.

Not applicable in 2018 to 2021.

• In support of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, nearly $574 million were awarded to 19 projects through Stage 2 of the integrated Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund competition.

• Awarded the NFRF special call on research for postpandemic recovery (61 research projects, $29 million).
• In support of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, $10 million was awarded to support five research hubs in Stage 1 of the Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) program.

• Awarded the NFRF special call Innovative Approaches to Research in the Pandemic Context (90 research projects, $20 million).
• NFRF issued a special call to support international teams responding to the priorities of the UN’s Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery.

• Launched the Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund in May 2020 to help sustain the research enterprise at Canadian universities and health research institutions that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Through the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat, delivered $416 million to approximately 32,000 individuals engaged in research, and helped ensure the continuity of 22,000 projects.

• Allocated $7 million from NFRF to fund research addressing a wide range of issues related to COVID-19, including diagnostics, disease forecasting, public health, public policy, education, community engagement and global coordination.
• Supported and engaged with the CanCOVID network to enhance evidence-based decision-making on pandemic issues. 

Not applicable in 2018-19.