Brain Canada and CQDM are joining forces to support interprovincial collaborative biopharmaceutical research and development (R&D) projects on the brain. This partnership creates a unique funding opportunity that brings together experts from academia and industry to support the development of platforms, tools and biopharmaceuticals that will pave the way for new advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. This initiative is focused on brain research relevant to biopharmaceutical applications. The aim of the initiative is to increase research collaborations, foster technological maturation, and to promote the knowledge, capabilities and new technologies developed in public institutions.  

Investigators must be affiliated with and conduct research at an eligible Canadian institution, as defined by CIHR, for the full duration of the grant.
 
The principal investigator must be based at a research institution in Quebec (university and affiliated hospital, research institute, public research center). They must work in close collaboration with at least one other independent researcher working in a research institution in another Canadian province or territory, as well as with at least one Quebec company.

As part of its efforts to foster the next generation of defence and security scholars, MINDS has established a grant category – the Young MINDS Initiative – to support undergraduate and master’s students interested in defence and security. These grants are valued at $10,000 and must be linked to the MINDS Defence Policy Challenges.

The Targeted Engagement Grant program aims to drive innovation in defence policy thinking and to foster the next generation of defence and security experts. We are proud to support the exchange of ideas and a diversity of researchers in the domain of security and defence. New forward thinking research and activities are extremely valuable for National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces in the development of evidence-based policy.

INTERNAL DEADLINE:  March 9, 2026.  Extended to March 13, 2026.

Global Affairs Canada has opened its international scholarship programs for applications for the 2026-27 academic year.  Faculty members may be contacted by students from these countries seeking a supervisor for a research stay.  

There are scholarships for STUDY (usually undergrads) and RESEARCH (usually graduate students). Students cannot apply directly, applications are submitted by Lakehead University, with final decisions made by Global Affairs Canada.  The program is quite competitive for undergraduate study scholarships, but we have had a lot of success with the graduate/research applications.  Research stays range from 4-8 months for undergraduate students, and 4 to 6 months for graduate students.  

If faculty members have research collaborators in any of the eligible countries and are interested in hosting a fully funded visiting research student, they are encouraged to reach out and invite applications from their students. Faculty would be expected to provide a letter of invitation for all research students, including undergraduates. Please note that research students are expected to work on their research full-time for 4-6 months under the faculty member's supervision - please screen applicants carefully, and agree on a research plan BEFORE agreeing to provide a letter of invitation.  If a faculty member is not comfortable with the student or proposal, they should decline. If faculty have questions, contact Jill Sherman at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca

IMPORTANT - The students' home institutions may have internal selection processes/competitions and earlier deadlines as well.

Research nominations initially go through Jill Sherman's office; faculty should let Jill know if they are planning to support a student application to one of these programs.  As well, If a faculty member is contacted by a student but are not interested or able to support their application, please forward to Jill Sherman.

The Government of Canada is offering scholarship opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region through the Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) program. This program is an expansion of the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED). SEED-2 is a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The program provides opportunities for students from Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Pacific Island Countries and Mongolia to conduct short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions in areas that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .

•  Call opens: Friday, March 6, 2026 
•  Call closes: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 
•  Travel must be completed by: Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026 

Mitacs has opened the call for the 2nd round of Horizon Europe International Mobility Awards (IMA).  The IMA is intended to facilitate Canadian faculty members' participation in Horizon Europe calls, for the purpose of:

• Identifying and meeting potential partners
• Participating in consortium-building workshops
• Developing proposals and aligning R&D priorities
• Visiting institutions, research centres, or sites related to Horizon calls

All applications now require two participants - either two faculty researchers from two different Canadian universities, or one faculty+ one industry collaborator, with funding at $5,000 per traveler (10K award total).  

Funds can be used for:

• Round-trip airfare to European Union host countries
• Accommodation during engagement activities
• Per diem and ground transportation
• Participation in key events organized by Horizon Europe National Contact Points (NCPs), the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), and EU research institutions

Selection criteria include:

• Excellence of the applicants
• Strength of existing ties to consortia
• Impact of proposed activities
• Budget justification

Applications are being evaluated and awarded on a rolling basis; travel may begin as soon as awarded.  The eligible application/travel period is  March 6 to April 8, and travel must be completed by September 30, 2026.

There is an application form attached (one for Faculty-Faculty collaborations, and one for Faculty-Industry, choose the correct form).  The form is submitted online using the provided link to a simple survey.    PRIOR TO SUBMITTING the form, please send to me at intl.research for review and approval (with RPAF).  

You will need to indicate a Horizon Europe Pillar II Cluster, Destination, and Action that is aligned with your expertise and work programme (attached).  If you would like assistance in identifying events, consortia, or where your interests fit in the HE Scheme, please don't hesitate to ask (intl.research@lakeheadu.ca)for assistance.

These grants provide short-term and timely support for partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector. The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. In addressing an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity, these partnerships let non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities on topics of mutual interest.

Mitacs has launched the Accelerate Global Excellence Award, a new postdoctoral fellowship designed to attract exceptional international research talent — including Canadians abroad — to undertake applied, industry‑focused research in Canada. This initiative strengthens Canada’s innovation capacity by supporting top researchers working in priority sectors such as AI, quantum, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, defence, cybersecurity, agri‑tech, and health and life sciences.

Key Highlights

• 50 competitive awards available for 2026–27.
• Each two‑year fellowship is valued at $170,000, including:
• $85,000 per year, with $42,500 contributed annually by the partner organization.
• At least $70,000 per year allocated to the researcher’s stipend.
• Up to $15,000 annually for research and relocation costs.
• Eligibility:
• Applicants must be within five years of PhD completion.
• Must currently reside outside Canada (including Canadians trained abroad).
• Must be willing to relocate to Canada for the fellowship.
• Host organizations may include companies, non-profits, hospitals, and municipalities.
• Application window: March 2 –May 1, 2026.

This award aligns with the Government of Canada’s national talent strategy and advances commercialization of cutting‑edge technologies through strong partnerships between researchers and industry.

Additional Domestic Opportunity

For researchers already residing in Canada, Mitacs is offering the Accelerate postdoc funding program, providing up to $60,000 per year for three years to support applied research with industry and community organizations.

The Laura Bassi Scholarship was established in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed, within their disciplines. The scholarships are open to every discipline and are awarded three times per year: December, April, and August. The value of the scholarship is remitted solely through editorial assistance as follows:

Master’s candidates: $750
Doctoral candidates: $2,500
Junior academics: $500

The specific objective of this funding opportunity is to:

• Advance knowledge in human development, child and youth health through the analysis of existing Canadian-based cohorts, data platforms and/or administrative datasets, and in turn, improve health outcomes and inform population and public health decision-making.

INTRODUCTION

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation inaugurated a new Fellowship Program for the nomination of 2026 Fellows in September 2025. Canadian universities expressed to us clearly their preference for a Spring nomination process instead. Therefore, and starting in Spring 2026, the Foundation will move the nomination process for 2027 Fellows to Spring 2026 with a nomination deadline of May 15, 2026. The 2027 Fellows will start their mandate in January 2027. The Fellowship is a central tool in the Foundation’s 2025–2028 mission to support academic excellence, societal engagement, and increased intellectual outreach. The award is a public recognition of the Fellows’ outstanding academic achievements and a promise of future transformative contributions. Beyond the active three-year phase, the Foundation’s Fellowship remains an honorary lifetime appointment, encouraging ongoing ties between the Foundation and its alumni.

MAIN POINTS

The Foundation nominates up to four (4) Fellows per year, chosen among full professors at Canadian universities, for a mandate of three (3) years.

The Fellowship is of a total value of $300,000 per Fellow:

ô $70,000 as prize;

ô $50,000 as research grant; 

ô Up to $100,000 as possible additional research grant;

ô Up to one (1) year of teaching buy-out, with $80,000 in compensation paid to the university. 

The use of the research grant is governed by guidelines established by the Foundation, while ensuring a flexible program that stimulates and supports intellectual innovation. The Fellow’s home university has the option of retaining up to 10% for administrative costs on research grants, which will be paid directly to the Fellow’s home university. Annual reports on expenditures will be required. Candidates’ research must be linked to one or several of the four Foundation themes (Human Rights and Dignity; Responsible Citizenship; Canada and the world; People and their natural environment) and must integrate itself in the general field of humanities and social sciences.

For more information, please click here.

If you are interested in being nominated for one of these fellowships, please contact the Office of Research Services (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) by April 1, 2026.