Knowledge Synthesis Grants
The Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) offers Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSG) funding opportunities to address global challenges identified through the Imagining Canada’s Future initiative. All of these global challenges have the potential to have a major impact on Canada and the world in the next decade and to shape society in significant ways. KSGs are not intended to support original research. Rather, they are intended to support the synthesis of existing research knowledge and to identify knowledge gaps.
Competitions
2025
The Arts Transformed
These grants aim to mobilize, examine and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on The Arts Transformed with the objective to identify the roles the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors could play in promoting more inclusive and equitable societies.
- Application deadline: December 2, 2025 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
Instructions
2024
Envisioning Governance Systems that Work
SSHRC, in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and UK Research and Innovation Arts and Humanities Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council, is pleased to launch a Knowledge Synthesis Grants competition to mobilize, examine and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on Envisioning Governance Systems that Work. The themes of this funding opportunity complement those of the three next upcoming Knowledge Synthesis Grants: The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict, The Arts Transformed, and Truth Under Fire in a Postfact World.
- Application deadline: December 12, 2024 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
2023
Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories
SSHRC in partnership with Canadian Heritage, Genome Canada, and UK Research and Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI-AHRC): Resulting syntheses will identify roles that the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors could play in promoting more inclusive and equitable societies. They may also inform the development of effective tools and technologies, robust policies and sustainable practices required to support the path toward a diverse and inclusive future for all.
- Application deadline: December 14, 2023 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
2022
Shifting Dynamics of Privilege and Marginalization
SSHRC in partnership with Genome Canada: Resulting syntheses will identify roles the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors could play in promoting a more cohesive and equitable environment, and could inform the development of effective tools and technologies, robust policies, and sustainable practices required to support the path toward a prosperous and equitable future for all Canadians.
- Application deadline: December 15, 2022 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
Gender-Based Violence
SSHRC in partnership with Women and Gender Equality Canada: Resulting syntheses will identify roles that the academic, public, private, and not-for-profit sectors can play in preventing gender-based violence and improving the availability and efficacy of justice and services for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
- Application deadline:
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
2021
Emerging Asocial Society
SSHRC in partnership with Employment and Social Development Canada: Resulting syntheses will identify roles that the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors can play in promoting more connected and resilient communities, and inform the development of effective tools, robust policies and sustainable practices required to support the transition to a more equitable, healthy and prosperous future.
- Application deadline: December 17, 2021 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
2020
Mobility and Public Transit
SSHRC in partnership with Infrastructure Canada: Resulting syntheses may inform the development of effective tools, robust policies and sustainable practices that support the transit needs of urban and rural communities.
- Application deadline: December 17, 2020 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
Skills and Work in the Digital Economy
SSHRC in collaboration with the Future Skills Centre: Resulting synthesis reports will identify how academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors can support workers in response to the new challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies and the COVID-19 crisis. The reports will also suggest ways that educators, employers and policy-makers can encourage lifelong learning and create effective, resilient and inclusive workplaces in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
- Application deadline: September 3, 2020 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
Living Within the Earth’s Carrying Capacity
SSHRC with support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Resulting syntheses will identify roles that the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors, as well as Indigenous rights-holders, may play in advancing and supporting mitigation and adaptation responses, and may inform the development of effective tools, robust policies and sustainable practices required to support the transition to an equitable, prosperous, healthy and sustainable future.
- Application deadline: January 7, 2020 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $50,000 for one year
2019
Informing Best Practices in Environmental and Impact Assessments
SSHRC in collaboration the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency: Resulting syntheses will increase understanding of existing knowledge in the social sciences and humanities and its application to environmental and impact assessments by identifying lessons learned, best practices and critical gaps that may be addressed through future research.
- Application deadline: July 10, 2019 (8 p.m. eastern)
- Value and duration: $30,000 for one year
More information
Contact information
For more information, contact:
- Email: KSG-SSC@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Evidence briefs
KSG grant holders produce evidence briefs to summarize their findings and highlight the policy relevance of their research.
Imagining Canada’s Future: 16 global challenges
SSHRC offers KSGs to address global challenges identified through the Imagining Canada’s Future initiative.