Brock University is among Canadian post-secondary institutions to welcome federal government funding aimed at attracting top international research talent.

The Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative allocates $1.7 billion over 12 years for a suite of programs to support more than 1,000 international and expatriate researchers.

St. Catharines Member of Parliament Chris Bittle calls the new funding, announced in last month’s federal budget, a “strong vote of confidence” in institutions such as Brock University and others comprising the country’s research ecosystem.

“By attracting world-leading researchers and emerging scholars, this initiative strengthens local research capacity, creates new opportunities for collaboration and ensures students and communities in Niagara benefit from cutting-edge research,” says Bittle. “This is how we build a stronger, more innovative Canada.”

Brock University President Lesley Rigg says there are strong synergies between the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative and Brock’s objectives and priorities as outlined in its strategic plan, Transforming People, Reimagining the Future.

“At Brock University, we’re deeply committed to providing opportunities for everyone to reach their full potential,” Rigg says. “Embracing new talent from all corners of the globe enables such growth to occur through the enrichment of our vibrant research community.”

She says action items within Brock’s Institutional Strategic Plan include attracting and retaining top talent from across Canada and around the world, increasing global awareness of Brock’s research breakthroughs and enhancing Brock’s impact and connections globally through research collaborations and partnerships.

The Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative consists of four streams.

One stream is the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program, a competition offering institutions up to $1 million annually for eight years, with the possibility of a four-year extension, for each leading global researcher they attract to Canada.

Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon says Brock researchers are doing cutting-edge work in the program’s eight research priority areas, with transformative research on issues such as food and water security, health, biotechnology, climate resilience, advanced digital technologies, democratic and community resilience, clean technology, and advanced materials.

“By attracting Canadian and international talent, we have built a strong knowledge base at Brock resulting in innovations that are improving lives and livelihoods, here and abroad,” says Kenyon. “Our research will advance to new levels with support from the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program and others under the federal government initiative.”

Funds in this and other streams are channeled through the federal government’s three major granting agencies, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

The other streams are:

• The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program, which provides $120 million over 12 years to recruit international early career researchers.
• The Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund, which earmarks $400 million for the research infrastructure needed to support the recruited researchers.
• The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards, which invests $133.6 million over three years to enable top international doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers to relocate to Canada.

“As other countries constrain academic freedoms and undermine cutting-edge research, Canada is investing in — and doubling down on — science. By attracting the top minds from around the world to work alongside exceptional Canadian researchers, the Government of Canada is building the kind of scientific and academic powerhouse that drives the strongest economy in the G7,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, in last month’s announcement. “Today’s investment is about securing Canada’s place at the forefront of discovery and innovation and leveraging our strength in science to support our future well-being and prosperity for generations to come.”