International joint initiatives
In addition to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s (SSHRC) main funding programs, the agency facilitates international research collaboration through bilateral and multilateral joint initiatives with other research funders. These often take the form of a special funding opportunity for international teams of researchers, focusing on research, research training, or knowledge mobilization. SSHRC will continue to invest in these initiatives like those below as an opportunity to advance strategic partnerships or research areas.
If you are part of an organization that would like to partner with SSHRC to offer an international joint initiative, contact Z-S-International@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.
Canada-France Call on Artificial Intelligence
In partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and France’s Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR, France), and in collaboration with IVADO (a research, training, and knowledge mobilization consortium in artificial intelligence [AI]), this initiative supports AI interdisciplinary research with a particular focus on generative AI and the safety of embedded AI.
Horizon Europe
Canada now holds associate country status in Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation funding program, which involves countries around the globe. Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada manages Canada’s participation in Horizon Europe. SSHRC has run several funding opportunities, some on behalf of the tri-agency through New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) and others directly, to support Canadian researchers participating in European consortia.
- Destination Horizon Grants: 2025 Competitions
- Horizon Global Platform 2022 Competition
- Horizon Global Platform 2020 Competition
Knowledge Synthesis Grants—Envisioning Governance Systems that Work
In partnership with CIHR, United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI)-Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), SSHRC hosted a Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSG) competition to mobilize and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on Envisioning Governance Systems that Work.
2024 NordForsk-led International Joint Initiative on Sustainable Development in the Arctic
The 2024 NordForsk-led International Joint Initiative on Sustainable Development of the Arctic represents a collaboration among research funders from Canada, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States. Canadian participation is managed by NFRF, on behalf of the Canada’s three federal research funding agencies. The initiative leverages international expertise to contribute to new knowledge for sustainable development of the Arctic. It also addresses needs unique to this region, which has undergone rapid changes with far-reaching consequences.
Knowledge Synthesis Grants—Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories
In partnership with Canadian Heritage, Genome Canada, and UKRI-AHRC, SSHRC hosted a KSG competition to mobilize and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories.
National Science Foundation—Global Centres
The United States’ National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centres is an initiative led by the NSF with key research funders from around the world. It is, designed to encourage and support international collaborative research that tackles serious global challenges. SSHRC has participated in Global Centres funding opportunities, promoting the importance of social sciences and humanities research perspectives in addressing global challenges.
- Global Centres—Bioeconomy (2024) —United States, Canada, Finland, Japan, Korea, and UK.
- Global Centres—Climate change and clean energy (2023) —NSF, NSERC, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and UKRI
Open Research Area
Created in 2010 to strengthen international cooperation in the social sciences, the Open Research Area (ORA) initiative supports international teams undertaking high-quality research projects in any social science discipline, on any topic (hence “Open”), supported by participating funders.
Trans-Atlantic Platform
The Trans-Atlantic Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities (T-AP) is a collaboration between humanities and social science research funders from South America, North America, Europe and Africa. As an inaugural member, SSHRC has worked with T-AP partners to launch various international calls addressing significant societal issues.
- Democracy, Governance and Trust (2023)
- Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World (2021)
- Social Innovation (2019)
- Digging into Data (2016)
2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Led by NFRF on behalf of Canada’s three federal research funding agencies, the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition is a collaboration among research funders from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and the US to leverage international expertise to tackle the global challenges caused by climate change.