OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Government of Canada today announced nearly $11 million in research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support the work of 43 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) at 27 universities across the country.
These contributions made through CFI John R. Evans Leadership Foundation (JELF)will help universities attract and retain top researchers, and the partnership with the CRC program will maximize the return on the Government of Canada's investment by supporting both research and the equipment to conduct it.
Projects funded through this joint program range from developing more reliable and safer artificial intelligence models to finding ways to recycle mining waste for greater benefits and reduced environmental impact. Some highlights include:
- Stronger, more durable materials for the aerospace industry (Quebec): The aerospace and marine industries require durable materials that can withstand extreme conditions such as heat, pressure and friction. Researchers at the University of Sherbrooke are studying new metal alloys that combine the strengths of several elements to create protective coatings for components such as engines, propellers and landing gear. Using CFI-funded equipment, they will test these coatings to ensure they extend the life of conventional materials under repeated hot-cold cycles or in salty ocean conditions.
- Thin, flexible and affordable solar panels (British Columbia): Solar technology with a crystal structure derived from the mineral perovskite is more flexible, customizable and potentially more affordable to manufacture than traditional silicon-based panels. To take this technology forward, researchers at the University of Victoria will use CFI-funded equipment to precisely cut and join these solar cells so they work together as one large unit for commercial-scale projects. Focusing on perovskite solar modules, the research team is developing solutions that could reduce Canada's dependence on imported solar technology and strengthen the country's position in the fast-growing clean technology market.
- Modern Soil Testing for Sustainable Agriculture (Nova Scotia): Traditional soil testing is slow and expensive, making regular soil health monitoring difficult for farmers and governments. Dalhousie University researchers are using CFI-funded light technology to quickly and affordably analyze soil properties, including nutrient content and carbon storage, a key driver of climate change. They are leading a national initiative to create the Canadian Soil Spectral Library, which will modernize Canada's soil data infrastructure, improving our ability to monitor this limited resource, support precision agriculture, and contribute to global soil science.
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“Our partnership with the Canada Research Chairs program ensures that the Government of Canada's investments have the greatest impact possible. By attracting and retaining top researchers and providing them with the cutting-edge tools and infrastructure they need to pursue bold ideas and advance innovation in the areas that matter most, we are working together to build a more resilient Canada.”
– Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO, Canadian Foundation for Innovation.
Quick Facts
- This investment in research infrastructure is part of $690 million in Government of Canada funding announced today to support science, researchers and students. Read about other announced research initiatives Here.
- Projects supported through John R. Evans Leadership Foundation (JELF) will also receive additional funding through CFI Infrastructure Operations Fund (IOF) to cover the costs of operating and maintaining research infrastructure. The total investment of $10,979,852 includes $2,533,812 from IOF.
- CFI typically covers up to 40 percent of a project's research infrastructure costs. Research institutions provide the remaining 60 percent through partnerships with provincial and territorial governments, industry and other public, private and non-profit organizations.
- By leveraging co-funding from strategic partners, this unique funding model optimizes the Government of Canada's investment in research infrastructure.
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About the Canada Foundation for Innovation
With a bold and forward-looking mandate, the Canada Foundation for Innovation empowers researchers to become global leaders in their field and respond to emerging challenges. Our investments in state-of-the-art tools, instrumentation and equipment at universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions underpin research driven by both curiosity and purpose that spans all disciplines and connects all sectors. The research infrastructure we fund mobilizes knowledge, stimulates innovation and commercialization, and empowers the next generation of talented minds.
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A full list of projects we fund, as well as stories about the properties we fund, is available at: Innovation.ca. To stay updated, subscribe to us bluesky, LinkedIn their @InnovationCA and subscribe to our YouTube channel find videos about CFI and its transformative research projects.
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