Calling all CFI stakeholders: We want your input on the future of research infrastructure in Canada

In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $763 million over five years for research infrastructure. In addition, it proposed to establish permanent funding for the CFI at an ongoing level of $462 million per year starting in 2023–24.

This presents the CFI with a tremendous opportunity to consider the future of research infrastructure as a strategic platform to fuel the ambitions of Canada’s research community and strengthen its long-term capacity to think big and innovate.

Following the CFI’s long-established practice of consulting broadly with the research community and our key stakeholders, the CFI has launched a pan-Canadian conversation that will shape how we respond to new permanent funding and to the evolving needs of Canada’s research community. In addition to written comments on the questions posed in our discussion paper, due December 14, we will also be looking for input through a series of town hall meetings.

Read our discussion paper: Conversation on the future of Research and Research Infrastructure in Canada: role of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (PDF)

Town hall presentation: The future of research and research infrastructure in Canada (PDF)

Town hall meetings

Our pan-Canadian town hall meetings, in January and early February, have concluded. For those of you who wish to engage in the discussion and were unable to attend a town hall meeting, the CFI will hold two webinar meetings:

Monday, February 25, 2019 at 1:00 to 3:00pm EST (English)

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 from 1:00 to 3:00pm EST (French)

Please note that registration is limited to 60 participants on a first come, first served basis.
To register, complete this form ; sign in details will be provided a few days prior to the webinar.

This will be the last of our conversation meetings.We thank the many participants who attended the town hall meetings and those who submitted a written submission in December, for sharing your thoughtful comments and ideas on the future of research and research infrastructure in Canada.

Starting January 11, 2019, we will be holding town hall meetings across Canada to get feedback on the questions posed in the discussion paper on the subjects of convergence; international collaboration; core facilities; support for smaller universities, colleges and cégeps; and equity, diversity and inclusion in research.

We encourage administrators (vice-presidents of research, deans, department heads and research office staff), researchers (including CFI-funded project leaders) and key partners to join us to have their voices heard.

Space is limited for each venue, so please select the town hall meeting you wish to attend no later than one week prior to the session by completing the registration form , and provide your email address so that we may contact you with any updates.

Sessions

Date	Time	City, Province	Location
Jan. 11, 2019	1-3 p.m. (English)	Calgary, AB	University of Calgary Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) / Gallery Hall, Room 126 Capacity: 75
Jan. 14, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	Edmonton, AB	University of Alberta Oborowsky Degner Seminar Hall, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation 1-040 LKS ADI Seminar Hall Capacity: 75
Jan. 14, 2019	2:30-4:30 p.m. (English)	Vancouver, BC	Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre 1088 Burrard St., Port McNeill Room Capacity: 100
Jan. 15, 2019	2:30-4:30 p.m. (English)	Victoria, BC	University of Victoria MacLaurin D116 Capacity: 50
Jan. 15, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	Winnipeg, MB	University of Winnipeg Convocation Hall Capacity: 75
Jan. 22, 2019	1-3 p.m. (Bilingual)	Fredericton, NB	Fredericton Crowne Plaza-Lord Beaverbrook 659 Queen Street, St. John Room Capacity: 50
Jan. 24, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	St. John's, NL	Memorial University of Newfoundland S.J. Carew (Engineering) Building, Room EN-4002 Capacity: 50
Jan. 23, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	Halifax, NS	Delta Hotels Barrington 1875 Barrington St., Sackville Room Capacity: 50
Jan. 22, 2019	1-3 p.m. (Bilingual)	Ottawa, ON	Lord Elgin Hotel 100 Elgin St., Lady Elgin Room Capacity: 90
Jan. 31, 2019	2-4 p.m. (English)	Toronto, ON	Chelsea Hotel 33 Gerrard St. W, Wren Room Capacity: 130
Jan. 28, 2019	1-3 p.m. (English)	Kitchener-Waterloo, ON	Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo 105 King St. East, Kitchener Suite #1 Capacity: 75
Jan. 29, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	London, ON	Western University Conron Hall, UC 3110 Capacity: 75
Feb. 6, 2019	1-3 p.m. (Bilingual)	Sudbury, ON	Laurentian University Executive Learning Centre FA-386 Capacity: 50
Jan. 30, 2019	9-11 a.m. (French)	Québec, QC	Hôtel Plaza Québec 3031 Boulevard Laurier, Salle Ravel Capacity: 100
Jan. 31, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	Montréal, QC	Delta Hotels Montreal 475, av. du Président-Kennedy, Opus 2 Capacity: 100
Jan. 31, 2019	1-3 p.m. (French)	Montréal, QC	Delta Hotels Montreal 475, av. du Président-Kennedy, Opus 2 Capacity: 100
Jan. 18, 2019	9-11 a.m. (English)	Saskatoon, SK	University of Saskatchewan Edwards School of Business, room 103 Capacity: 75