Canada Invests Over $552M in Research Infrastructure to Boost Innovation

Recently, The Government of Canada is investing more than $552 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support 92 research infrastructure projects at 32 universities and colleges across the country. Among them, the University of British Columbia and McGill University received the most funding, with 14 and 10 projects respectively.

The funding, announced by Parliamentary Secretary Karim Bardeesy on behalf of Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, comes from the CFI’s Innovation Fund. It will provide researchers with cutting-edge tools and labs to accelerate discoveries in healthcare, energy, food security, quantum technology and AI.

The investment supports new facilities, upgrades existing equipment, and strengthens specialized research hubs known as core facilities. These hubs help attract top researchers, maximize equipment use, and support private-sector collaboration.

Projects being funded through the Innovation Fund include:

• Building Canada’s quantum ecosystem (British Columbia)
• Powering microelectronics innovation from lab to market (Quebec)
• Evolving sustainable poultry farming (Saskatchewan)
• Securing and shaping Canada’s ocean resources (Nova Scotia)
• Enabling advanced materials breakthroughs with real-world impact (Ontario)

The CFI typically covers up to 40% of project infrastructure costs. Institutions secure the remaining 60% through provincial and private partnerships. An additional $127 million from the CFI’s Infrastructure Operating Fund will help cover operational expenses.