Ottawa – Interdisciplinary research collaboration helps address Canadian and international challenges, both present and future. It brings new perspectives and innovative solutions for the benefit of society, while cementing Canada’s position as a leader in interdisciplinary science and innovation.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced more than $92 million in funding through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) to support 165 Canadian-led research projects through two initiatives: the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and the 2023 Exploration competition.
Canada led the international joint initiative with an investment of $60 million to support 32 international interdisciplinary research projects, involving 424 researchers from 45 countries. These three-year projects focus on designing and implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable groups. These groups are currently the most impacted by climate change effects, because of their physical and socio-economic vulnerability. The initiative is also the result of a collaboration with research funders from Brazil, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, who together contributed a total of more than $30 million in additional funding to the research projects.
Each year, the NFRF Exploration competition supports research that brings various disciplines together in new ways and from bold, innovative perspectives. Exploration grants support research with a range of impacts—economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, environmental or health-related. This year, $33 million was awarded to 133 research projects that focus on topics such as exploring the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere and the cosmos from a high-Arctic perspective, transforming AI software concepts into smart mechanical systems, and using liquid biopsies to better detect breast cancer.
“Science and research are essential to combating climate change, one of the most significant threats to the future well-being and prosperity of our planet. The investments announced today help bring world-leading researchers together to work on innovative research projects that could have significant impacts. By bringing disciplines together in unexpected ways, we are responding to the challenges Canada and the world are facing.” – François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Climate change and the disasters it causes, like wildfires which produce toxic smoke, pose significant challenges to public health. The research we are investing in today will examine the urgent action required to mitigate climate change and protect the health and well-being of people living in Canada.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health