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New US-Canada partnership announced for collaboration in research and innovation

General news Professors

June 15, 2021

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the first formal partnership between the agencies, which support fundamental discovery research in the US and Canada. The partnership paves the way for new collaborations between members of the research community in both countries to build inclusive partnerships at the frontiers of science and emerging technologies. NSERC and the NSF will provide a flexible, streamlined application and funding process with further details to be released in the months ahead.

This partnership also fosters a shared commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the research enterprise. In 2020 and 2021, NSERC and NSF delivered a series of joint workshops that focused on inclusive and intersectional engineering and computer science research. Building on this experience, both organizations recognize that inclusivity is essential for innovative and impactful research and training in all scientific disciplines.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed today at the virtual meeting of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC), a strategic forum of Canada’s federal research funding agencies that works to strengthen Canada’s research enterprise, foster world-leading research and advance the social and economic well-being of Canadians.

Quotes

“Canada is pleased to be partnering with the United States to expand and accelerate opportunities for researchers which foster equity, diversity and inclusion. This important research partnership will enhance excellence, innovation and creativity in research. I look forward to seeing the positive results this will bring to key areas of science and technology, including artificial intelligence and quantum.”

“NSF values partnerships for accessing a broader network of ideas, innovations and experiences to address and solve real-world problems. This partnership with our counterpart Canadian funding agency opens doorways to new possibilities for international collaboration between US and Canadian researchers in areas of mutual interest and national investment, such as AI and quantum.”

“This new partnership exemplifies a shared vision and values that are embodied by our two organizations and builds on the extensive research ties between Canada and the United States. We look forward to creating new opportunities that will push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, enrich training experiences for early-career researchers and broaden participation in research through inclusive and intersectional approaches.”