Major Research Facilities: Canada’s innovation edge

Canada’s Major Research Facilities are engines of innovation, performing at the highest levels of science, accelerating discovery and technology development and delivering results for Canadians.

Sustaining the country’s portfolio of Major Research Facilities (MRFs) over the long-term represents a significant shift in Canada’s approach to funding research facilities, and a major step forward in growing our capacity to lead on the global stage.

Dedicated funding for future success

Far-reaching benefits to Canada in key economic sectors including health, defence and energy

Helping Canada navigate future risks, build resilience and support our global innovation leadership

Attracting highly skilled talent, creating jobs and training the next generation of innovators

Keeping Canada at the leading edge of research and technology development through sustained investment

Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization

One of the most advanced containment facilities in the world for human and animal vaccine development and biomanufacturing

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SNOLAB

A unique astroparticle research facility exploring questions about the evolution of the universe, including the role of neutrinos and dark matter

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Canadian Light Source

Canada’s synchrotron provides detailed information about the structural and chemical properties of materials at the molecular level for advancements in multiple fields

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Ocean Networks Canada

Collects data from more than 12,000 sensors in the deep ocean and coastal waters and on land along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Canada

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CCGS Amundsen

Provides unprecedented access to the Arctic to enable research that assesses the Arctic environment and the impacts of climate change on ocean ecosystems

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Ocean Tracking Network

Deploys acoustic and satellite tracking systems, oceanographic monitoring equipment and marine autonomous vehicles in freshwater and marine environments to inform the sustainable management of aquatic animals

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What makes MRFs unique?

Large and complex

They require significant, sustained investment to build, operate and modernize.

A long lifespan

They operate on a decades-long lifecycle and require support from start to finish to realize their full potential.

A broad scope

They are national in scope and international in reach, addressing questions that are a priority for the whole country, and serving researchers from across Canada and around the world.

Unique capabilities

Their capabilities are unique in Canada; no other research facility can do what they do.

Providing value to Canada

Their broad scope and capability means they can readily respond to mission-driven priorities.
They serve as hubs for multiple disciplines to converge around problems that require many lenses of knowledge to solve.
They generate spin-off companies and new technologies and provide research services to businesses.
They are powerful tools to attract international collaborators.
They are unparalleled training centres for a new generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs.
They produce and store enormous amounts of data, a valuable asset for the country.

MRFs from coast to coast to coast: Explore their achievements

“MRFs play a key enabling role within the Canadian and international Science, Technology, and Innovation ecosystems by concentrating major equipment and instrumentation for leading-edge research.”

John Barrett, Board Chair at Neutrons Canada, President of Portolan Global, past President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association. Read the op-ed called “Towards a new paradigm in Canadian Major Research Facilities Decision Making and Governance.”

How will the CFI support Major Research Facilities?

The unique value, capabilities and needs of the MRFs require a unique approach to funding them. The CFI is working in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the research community to implement a new decision-making framework that:

Coordinates capital and operating and maintenance funding to keep the facilities at the cutting edge and running smoothly
Takes a life cycle view to ensure they realize their full potential from start to finish
Adopts a portfolio-based approach for investment decisions to make sure Canada has what it takes to remain a research leader on multiple fronts.