Closed
Source verified August 28, 2026
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition
Supports institutions attracting world-leading researchers
Get notified when Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: August 25, 2026Latest change: The FAQ for the competition now states that eligible Emerging Leaders expenses may be paid retroactively between acceptance and the grant start date, and it notes the program’s new name.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 25, 2026
Latest change: The FAQ for the competition now states that eligible Emerging Leaders expenses may be paid retroactively between acceptance and the grant start date, and it notes the program’s new name.
FAQ updated for program renaming and retroactive expense payment
The Frequently asked questions page now says the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is known as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program, while stating that all other terms and conditions remain unchanged. It also adds that eligible Emerging Leaders expenses incurred between acceptance and the grant start date may be paid retroactively, and that the agencies will not assume responsibility for financial commitments if the grant is not awarded or funding changes.
Funding available
$ 100,000 - $ 8,000,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Overview
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program supports eligible Canadian institutions with $1 million or $500,000 per year to attract world-leading researchers for projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas. It funds chairholder compensation, research activities for the chairholder and the chairholder’s team, indirect costs up to 25% of direct costs of research, and recruitment and relocation costs.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 8,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas.
- Building and maintaining exceptional research teams.
- Knowledge translation, mobilization and commercialization.
- Strategic partnerships across sectors.
Documents Needed
- Quality of nominee; quality of the institutional support; Impact+ recruitment process; publicly advertised job posting; proposed research program.
- Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem; potential for knowledge translation and mobilization.
- Confirmation of partner commitments; letters of support.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (if applicable); STRAC attestation attachment (if applicable); National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships Risk Assessment Form Module (if applicable).
- Budget justification; budget projections; citations; Distinguished Chairs awards justification; Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders justification.
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian degree-granting universities.
Who is not eligible
- Researchers cannot directly apply for this funding opportunity.
- Nominees cannot be nominated in both the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and 2026 CERC competition.
Eligible expenses
- Chairholder compensation.
- Research activities for the chairholder and the chairholder’s team.
- Indirect costs of research up to 25% of the direct costs of research.
- Eligible recruitment and relocation costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Indirect costs above 25% of the direct costs of research.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Research/academic merit and leadership skills of the nominee.
- Nominee’s record of establishing and sustaining an equitable, diverse and inclusive research environment.
- Quality of the institutional support.
- Institution’s ability to sustain the research advantage created by the proposed Chair.
- Institution’s research strengths in the proposed field, assessed against global standards of excellence.
How to apply
- Applications must be submitted electronically through the Convergence Portal.
- Nominating institutions must first conduct an open, transparent and accountable recruitment and nomination process.
- Nominating institutions must submit a registration by the deadline.
- All applicants must submit a registration and full application through the Convergence Portal.
Processing and Agreement
- TIPS undertakes an administrative review of all materials to ensure that submissions meet the program’s eligibility requirements and application guidelines.
- Failure to meet these requirements and guidelines may result in withdrawal from the competition, and content that does not adhere to the instructions may be redacted.
- Chairs are offered to the highest ranked applications recommended for funding by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee, within its available budget per intake.
- Applications that meet the funding requirements and receive a minimum rating of Good on all criteria, but fall below the competition budget line, are placed on a ranked reversion list if awards are declined.
- Institutions and nominees are notified of competition results in the Convergence Portal.
Additional information
- The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is now known as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program.
- All other terms and conditions of the original program remain unchanged.
- The program is a tri-agency initiative of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.
- It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), which is housed within SSHRC.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition Program
What is the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition?
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program supports eligible Canadian institutions with $1 million or $500,000 per year to attract world-leading researchers for projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas. It funds chairholder compensation, research activities for the chairholder and the chairholder’s team, indirect costs up to 25% of direct costs of research, and recruitment and relocation costs.
How much funding can be received?
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $8,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition program?
To be eligible for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition program, you must:
The applicant must be an eligible Canadian institution.
The institution must be registered with the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) by the specific deadline for each intake.
The nominee must be internationally based, both working and residing outside Canada at the time of the intake’s application deadline.
What expenses are eligible under Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition?
Ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas.
Building and maintaining exceptional research teams.
Knowledge translation, mobilization and commercialization.
Strategic partnerships across sectors.
Who can I contact for more information about the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition?
You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at impactplus@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.
Where is the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition available?
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition program is available across Canada.
Is the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders Competition is a Grant and Funding