Government of Canada leads international research initiative on disruptive technologies

The Government of Canada is leading the International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges. In partnership with research funders from the Åland Islands, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, this call will support international, interdisciplinary and transformative research aimed at harnessing disruptive technology to address major global societal challenges.

Launching in January 2026, the initiative will fund transformative research with the goal of improving both the planet and the lives of the people on it. This call aims to harness the potential of disruptive technology to offer novel solutions to global challenges and accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This funding opportunity will require that projects address at least one of the 17 SDGs.

Research harnessing disruptive technologies to address global challenges requires an interdisciplinary approach—and should involve expertise from the natural sciences, engineering, health sciences, social sciences and humanities. Working across sectors, including academia, government, not-for-profit organizations, community organizations, and private industry, can help ensure implementation and impact.

The Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) has committed $60 million for this call, which will be administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). International partners in the consortium will contribute more than C$40 million, for a total competition budget of more than C$100 million.

NFRF, launched in 2018, seeks to inspire innovative, high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research projects that push boundaries into exciting new areas and have the potential to enhance Canada’s competitiveness and expertise in the global, knowledge-based economy. NFRF’s innovative design includes novel merit review processes that reflect the objectives of each funding opportunity, and flexibility to support international collaboration.

Research funding organizations are invited to join this multilateral research initiative as international partners by reaching out to NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.