Program objectives

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) is a unique institutional program to support large-scale research programs focusing on an existing institutional thematic area aligned with the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation (ST&I) priorities for the CFREF and Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) programs.

CFREF aims to boost the strengths of Canadian postsecondary institutions so that they can achieve global success in research areas that create long-term social and economic advantages for Canada.

CFREF invests approximately $200 million per year through a highly competitive peer review process to support the selected Canadian postsecondary institutions in turning their key strengths into world-leading capabilities.

CFREF objectives are to support the full range of research—from fundamental to applied—and to give institutions the ability to:
- pursue the best in the world for talent and partnership opportunities to enable breakthrough discoveries;
- seize emerging opportunities and strategically advance their greatest strengths on the global stage; and
- implement large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies.

Challenge

The Government of Canada’s investments in research and development have made a major contribution to Canada’s strong performance in science, technology and innovation (ST&I). However, our post-secondary institutions face significant competition from their international counterparts in the search for the best minds and partnership opportunities that enable breakthrough discoveries. Canada’s ability to attract top talent, innovators and research partners requires its world-class institutions to be among the best on the global stage.

To meet these objectives, the Government of Canada in Economic Action Plan 2014 announced the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). The Fund is a $1.5 billion legacy investment to enable Canadian post-secondary institutions to excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic advantages for Canada. Available to all post-secondary institutions on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis, the Fund will position Canada’s post-secondary institutions to compete with the best in the world for talent and breakthrough discoveries. CFREF is governed by a Steering Committee comprised of the presidents of the three granting agencies – the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – and the deputy ministers of Health and Industry Canada. SSHRC administers CFREF on behalf of all three granting agencies.