Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund

The Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF) is part of the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, which is designed to attract globally recognized researchers, strengthen Canada’s innovation leadership, and enhance its competitiveness on the world stage. Its core objective is to transform groundbreaking discoveries into innovative products, policies and solutions that benefit Canadians.

Status: Launched December 9, 2025 (read the news release)

Key links: Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative

What are the details of the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund?

How does CIRIF contribute to the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative?

As part of the Government of Canada’s International Talent Attraction Strategy and Action Plan to attract talented individuals currently living abroad to Canada, Canada’s 2025 federal budget introduced funding for the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative. This initiative includes: 

  • $1 billion for a program administered by the Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) called Canada Impact+ Research Chairs to recruit international researchers
  • $120 million for a program to attract international early career researchers, also administered by TIPS, called Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders
  • $400 million for the CFI to establish the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF) to provide funding for research infrastructure to support the work of newly recruited research chairs, as well as early career researchers, if applicable. 

What are the strategic priority areas targeted by the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative?

The Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative is intended to target researchers from eight strategic priority areas identified by the Government of Canada. They are:

  • Advanced digital technologies (including AI, quantum and cybersecurity)   
  • Health and biotechnology   
  • Clean technology and resource value chains   
  • Environment, climate resilience and the Arctic   
  • Food and water security
  • Democratic and community resilience
  • Manufacturing and advanced materials
  • Defence and dual-use technologies.

By building and sustaining expertise in these areas, the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative will foster high-impact research teams and incentivize strategic partnerships across sectors — including industry, health systems, government and non-profit organizations — to accelerate research translation and maximize long-term impact. 

How do researchers access funding for research infrastructure?

Institutions will apply to the CFI for funding through CIRIF on behalf of researchers they recruit through the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. The CFI is a separate organization dedicated to providing researchers with leading-edge research equipment and facilities. The CFI does not fund individual researchers directly. Research institutions, including universities, colleges and research hospitals, submit funding proposals to the CFI in support of researchers.

Learn more about the CFI’s mandate

Find out more about the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program

What are the key features of the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund? 

Key features of CIRIF include:

  • Eligible projects: Research infrastructure projects must support the needs of the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and should build on existing institutional capacity. Institutions could include research infrastructure funding to support the research of an early career researcher working in the same priority area as the chairholder.
  • Funding coverage: The CFI will fund up to 100 percent of total eligible project costs and up to $6 million per project.
  • Infrastructure and operating costs: There will be flexibility in the expenditure ratio between infrastructure and operating and maintenance costs.
  • Timelines: The application process will follow short timelines aligned with TIPS, so early preparation is essential.
  • Process to apply: Institutions will be invited to submit proposals to CIRIF for research infrastructure funding for Canada Impact+ Research Chairs nominees who have formally accepted the recruiting institution’s offer. CIRIF proposals must be submitted within three months of the nominee accepting their offer.   

 

For questions or clarifications on the information provided to date, please contact:  

impactplus [at] innovation.ca (impactplus[at]innovation[dot]ca) for the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund 

impactplus [at] chairs-chaires.gc.ca (impactplus[at]chairs-chaires[dot]gc[dot]ca) for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders programs