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58 awards to connect college expertise with community research needs
General news Professors
September 13, 2024
Today, the Honourable Marie‑Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable François‑Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced funding for 58 awards towards colleges, CEGEPs and polytechnics, totaling an investment of $29.05 million through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.
The CCI program is the primary federal vehicle for funding applied research at colleges across Canada. CCI funding strengthens research links and collaborations between Canadian colleges and partners from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with a common goal of creating economic, social, health and environmental benefits for Canada. The tri-agency program is administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The awards announced today are being funded through two CCI grant types:
- $11.75 million over five years for 8 awards through the Mobilize grants, providing flexible, long-term funding for college applied research programs to maximize student training and community innovation impacts.
- $17.3 million over three years for 50 awards through the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), fostering community innovation by connecting the talent, facilities and capabilities of Canada’s colleges and polytechnics with the research needs of community organizations.
Research funding announced today will advance areas such as innovative technologies in agriculture, culturally sensitive policing and paramedic practices, and integrating Traditional Indigenous Medicines into mainstream healthcare systems. The active participation of partners is essential in these research projects and programs to ensure the transfer of knowledge and the application of results for the benefit of Canadians.
Quick facts
- The CCI program has five distinct grant types to support colleges, CEGEPs and polytechnics across Canada in building strong foundations for applied research, specialized centres in areas of identified need, and research projects driven by partner and societal needs: Applied Research and Development grants; Applied Research Tools and Instruments grants; College and Community Social Innovation Fund grants; Mobilize grants and Technology Access Centre grants.
- As announced in the 2023 federal budget, the CCI program received an investment of $108.6 million over three years, starting in 2023-24, to help more Canadian businesses access the expertise and research and development facilities they need. A portion of this funding was allocated to the CCSIF awards announced today, to enable colleges to increase their capacity to work with communities.
