Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a one-time only initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Impact+ Chairholders are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

The Impact+ program is a tri-agency initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The key objectives of the Impact+ program are to support institutions to: • attract world-leading researchers to strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness and innovation leadership; • transform bold discoveries into innovative products, ideas, policies and solutions that benefit Canadians and the world; • help Canada grow and sustain a critical mass of expertise in priority areas identified by the Government of Canada through the development of high-impact research teams, and; • incentivize strategic partnerships across sectors, such as industry, health systems, government and not-for-profit organizations, to accelerate the translation of research into practice and enhance long-term adoption and impact.

These objectives will guide the initial multidisciplinary review when awarding Chairs, as well as the subsequent external review of a potential funding extension of four additional years.

Registration deadlines

• Intake one: March 10, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (eastern)

• Intake two: June 15, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (eastern)

Application deadlines

• Intake one: March 24, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (eastern)

• Intake two: June 29, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (eastern)

For this competition, Memorial’s maximum dollar value per year is $4M per year for a total of $32M over 8 years. Academic units are invited to submit proposals from a broad range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities; natural sciences and engineering; and health and related sciences. Applications must explain how the Chair will advance one or more of the following Canada Impact+ Strategic Priority Areas:

• • advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity);

• • health, including biotechnology;

• • clean technology and resource value chains;

• • environment, climate resilience and the Arctic;

• • food and water security;

• • democratic and community resilience;

• • manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or

• • defence and dual-use technologies.

Internal Memorial Process:  This competition involves a Memorial institutional internal adjudication or nomination process prior to submission to the external agency or sponsor. This process first requires Departmental and HSS Faculty approval and endorsement. See HSS submission procedures below. See MUN instructions in attachment, below, for details.

Faculty of HSS Submission Procedures (mandatory): This opportunity must be submitted for Departmental and HSS Faculty approvals prior to proceeding for institutional adjudication and submission. To obtain Departmental and HSS Faculty approvals, please email a complete application package to an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca), by the internal HSS deadline listed below.

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols a complete application package includes a final copy of the application, the internal, Memorial signature pageI, as well as all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support as required. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.

• 2026-Canada-Impact_Internal-Call-for-Proposals_December-2025.pdf