The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a very prestigious, one-time initiative designed to support universities in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program is aimed at advancing ambitious and transformative projects in areas of strategic importance to Canada, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. The expectation for Impact+ chairholders is to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while training the next generation of highly qualified personnel. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact.
Impact+ Chairs are awarded to address global and domestic challenges, strengthen Canada’s contribution to international research and innovation, and generate lasting social and economic benefits. Impact+ Chairs are expected to build significant new partnerships and collaborations with both Canadian and international entities, as well as by and with Indigenous peoples and communities, where appropriate. A core expectation is that the Chairs will actively translate and mobilize research outcomes into practice, policy and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.
uOttawa is seeking world-leading researchers in the following strategic priority areas established by the Government of Canada:
- 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.
The Impact+ recruitment process consists of two stages. Initially, candidates apply to an open job posting at uOttawa. The successful candidate will then work with the uOttawa to co-develop an application for the federal funding program. Appointment to an Impact+ university position is contingent upon receiving an Impact+ Chair award. Impact+ Chair awardees must begin their appointment within 12 months of accepting the award. The term is for eight years, with funding of either $8 million or $4 million over the duration, with the possibility of a four-year extension at 50% of the initial award value per year.
Note that this recruitment process is also being used to nominate individuals for the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders awards, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) and the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) programs. The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader awards each are $600,000 over six years ($100,000 per year). The CERC program includes two maximum award values of $8M over eight years ($1M per year) and $4M over eight years ($500,000 per year). The Canada Research Chairs Program includes two maximum award values of $1.4M over seven years for Tier 1 chairs ($200,000 per year) and $500,000 over five years for Tier 2 chairs ($100,000 per year) plus $100,000 in research stipend over five years ($20,000 per year).
Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process.