How research partnerships between academia and industry fuel innovation, economic growth, and global
competitiveness in Canada.
Why are research partnerships between post-secondary institutions and industry important for Canada’s economic and social development?
Research partnerships are not just important, they’re imperative for ensuring we, as Canadians, stay adaptable. By pairing researchers and students with businesses looking to stay ahead in a constantly changing world, we are ensuring that Canadian research meets the evolving needs of industry while exposing students to real-world experiences that make them job-ready. Through these partnerships, we are making sure that talent drives innovation and innovation drives economic growth, giving industries the advantage to stay ahead of real-world problems.
We’re proud to support these partnerships with programs such as NSERC’s Lab to Market grants and Alliance grants, the College and Community Innovation program, and Mitacs’ partnership programs.
Are there specific industries or sectors where Canada sees the greatest potential for growth through research partnerships?
Canada is a global leader in quantum technologies with its innovative and growing quantum sector, and to make sure that we’re capitalizing on the economic potential, we launched a National Quantum Strategy, which invests in partnerships between academia, the private and public sectors, and international players.
The same goes for the Canadian Genomics Strategy which we announced in February 2025. Genomics, like AI and quantum, is key to economic and societal transformation—advancing personalized medicine, sustainable agriculture, and bio-based industries. Partnerships between researchers and industry are at the core of its work in strengthening research excellence in genomics towards commercialization and adoption.
What steps is the government taking to ensure funding for research remains competitive with other leading countries?
We’ve always said that ours is a Government that believes in science. And since 2016, we have invested over $22 billion in the advancement of science and research. Recently, we increased university scholarships and fellowships in both value and quantity, bringing award values up to competitive levels with countries like Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. We’re committed to research excellence and the numbers speak for themselves – Canada ranks 2nd in the G7 for higher education research development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.
What are the government’s strategic priorities for research collaborations, and how do these align with Canada’s long-term goals in innovation?
Canada is home to some of the best and most ambitious researchers in the world, and our Government is committed to connecting them with the resources needed to solve global challenges. For example, last year, we signed an agreement with the European Union allowing Canada’s enhanced participation in Horizon Europe, the world’s largest collaborative research and innovation program. This opens a door to Canadian researchers to access new levels of funding and lead on international research initiatives, particularly when it comes to climate change.
