Canada announced more than C$813 million in research funding Oct. 23, spreading support across research teams, universities and chairholders, with the government saying the package will support more than 450 researchers.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry Karim Bardeesy announced the funding in Hamilton on behalf of Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly. “A world-class research ecosystem is essential to Canada’s future well-being and prosperity,” Joly said.
The 2026 New Frontiers in Research Fund Transformation competition awarded C$120 million to five teams, or C$24 million apiece. The projects span immune therapies, materials for clean-energy technologies, Indigenous research, care related to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, regenerative medicine and blood supply. Grant periods began Sept. 1, 2026.
For fiscal 2026-27, the Research Support Fund provides more than C$369 million to 161 institutions. It helps postsecondary institutions pay for the support systems and operating conditions that make research possible. Incremental Project Grants add nearly C$104 million for 34 institutions. Nearly C$25 million is allocated to 51 institutions to help them spot, assess and respond to risks that could affect research.
The Fall 2026 Canada Research Chairs round, numbered 2025-2, assigns C$187.1 million to 220 chairholders. The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund contributed more than C$7.5 million across 35 projects at 22 institutions. Three researchers will receive C$300,000 in total through the 2025 Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.
A day earlier, the federal government announced a separate C$880 million investment for health research projects and trainees. Neither announcement says whether the two headline totals should be added.
