Federal research funding agencies engage partners on capstone research funding organization

The Government of Canada announced in Budget 2024 its intention to create a new capstone research funding organization. In a statement and letter addressed to the presidents of Canada’s federal research funding agencies on June 17, 2024, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Health asked the tri-agency to engage with organizations in all fields to bring together diverse, cross-disciplinary perspectives from researchers at all stages of their careers. This is to ensure the research community has an opportunity to:

• inform details in design of the new organization within the parameters set out in Budget 2024;
• provide input into the implementation plan for the new organization to advance internationally collaborative, multidisciplinary and mission-driven research; and
• identify any risks, to mitigate or avoid, related to its implementation.

The ministers have asked the tri-agency to submit a summary report by July, so community perspectives can meaningfully influence decision-making related to the new organization. The government has committed to providing further details in the Fall Economic Statement.

The agencies have reached out to tri-agency community organizations, as well as organizations from their own research communities, asking them to consult their membership and prepare a summary response to the questions posed in the appendix to the ministers’ letter (“Modernizing the Federal Research Support System for Future Success: Engagement Parameters”). The organizations are asked to submit their response to the agencies via the Canada Research Coordinating Committee secretariat by Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Members of the research community and other stakeholders who have questions or comments about the engagement process should contact the CRCC secretariat at Secretariat.CRCC-CCRC@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.