Opening remarks for Ted Hewitt, President Social Science and Humanities Research Council

At the House of Commons

SRSR Committee Study on Impact of the Criteria for Awarding Federal Funding on Research Excellence in Canada

October 1, 2025

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• Thank you, Madam Chair, for inviting me to speak on today’s important topic. I’m here on behalf of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC for short). We are the federal agency that funds research and research training in the social sciences and humanities, and advance partnerships and initiatives that help communities, businesses and governments apply research knowledge and insights to innovate and improve the lives of Canadians.
• I’m joined by my colleagues, Dr. Sylvie Lamoureux, SSHRC’s Vice-President, Research, and Dr. Valérie Laflamme, Associate Vice-President of the Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat, which is housed at SSHRC. It is through this Secretariat that we administer several prominent national programs on behalf of Canada’s three federal research funding agencies, such as the Canada Research Chairs program, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund, which supports international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and high-risk research.
• Within the social sciences and humanities specifically, SSHRC invests some $570 million annually in research and research training for students and post-doctoral fellows.
• This research explores all aspects of human thought and behaviour. It builds understanding of people and their past, present and future experiences to strengthen society, build prosperity and improve lives. This research covers a wide array of disciplines, from business, economics and law to philosophy, history and literature, among many others, and contributes to Canada’s economic, cultural, social, technological and environmental well-being.   
• Just like Canadians, the research we support is extremely diverse and reflects the many interests and issues of importance to Canadians in every region, sector and community across the country.  
• In terms of share of investment, management, business, administrative studies and economics, are among the top disciplinary areas where our researchers are generating valuable insights, along with the areas of education and psychology.
• It’s important to stress that SSHRC research grants and fellowships are awarded through an independent merit review process designed to ensure the highest standards of excellence and impartiality. This process is undertaken in accordance with international standards that are globally recognized as the most transparent, in-depth and effective way to allocate public research funds.
• Each year, merit review committees, made up of volunteer experts from Canada and around the world, evaluate thousands of research proposals and make recommendations about which projects to fund.
• Reviews are always assessed against the objectives of the particular funding opportunity, but generally reviewers evaluate the challenge outlined in the application, the plan to achieve excellence, and the expertise to succeed that the applicant has detailed. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the impact for Canadians that the proposed research will have.
• Of course, the concept of research excellence is not static. Over its five decades, SSHRC has recognized and highlighted, often in collaboration with our fellow research funding agencies, components that define research excellence and good research practices. Such guidelines include those on the Responsible Conduct of Research, and on merit review of Indigenous research. Like many agencies worldwide, we also provide guidelines on the use of broadly recognized principles of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to promote research excellence through inclusion of the broadest possible array of human perspectives in research design and practice.
• Further, SSHRC is involved in several international initiatives in adopting best practices in the assessment of scholarly research and seeking ways to modernize and remain at the forefront of applying rigorous scientific methods to improve the way we fund, practice, evaluate, and communicate research.
• As Canada faces many daunting challenges in a rapidly changing world, it’s more important than ever for us to invest in a vibrant research ecosystem that reflects the broad diversity of our country and can offer made-in-Canada solutions for us all. And SSHRC remains steadfast in its commitment to fueling the research excellence across all disciplines needed for Canada to thrive.
  
• Thank you again for your time. I very much look forward answering any questions you may have.