Skip to Main Content
You are now in the main content area

Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) invites outstanding researchers based outside of Canada to apply for nomination to the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program (external link, opens in new window) .

Launched in December 2025, the Impact+ program is a one-time national initiative to support Canadian institutions in recruiting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. 

Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding, with maximum award values of $1 million or $500,000 per year, and institutional supports to advance transformative projects, build exceptional research teams and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders.

About the Impact+ Program

Impact+ Chairs are awarded in strategic priority areas established by the Government of Canada to address pressing global and domestic challenges, strengthen Canada’s contribution to international research and innovation and generate lasting social and economic benefits. These priority areas include:

  • Advanced digital technologies (including AI, quantum, 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
  • Defence and dual-use technologies

The nominee’s research area must demonstrably align with one or more of the categories listed above.  

Full program details can be found on the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders competition website (external link, opens in new window) . 

2026 Competition

TMU invites Canadians living and working abroad as well as international applicants to the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program for an eight-year term with the possibility for renewal.

The  (PDF file) formal Chair position advertisements (opens in new window)  are now available.

If you require additional information or have any questions, please reach out to Dayle Levine (dayle.levine@torontomu.ca), Director, Institutional Programs, the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI).

Apply to the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program

Applications must be submitted through the online portal by February 21, 2026.
Submit an application

 (PDF file) Canada Impact+ Research Chair in the Governance and Design of Data-Driven Urban Systems in the School of Urban and Regional Planning (opens in new window) 

 (PDF file) Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Law in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law (opens in new window) 

 (PDF file) Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Disinformation, AI Public Trust in the School of Journalism (opens in new window) 

 

All funded Impact+ Research Chairs must adhere to the Tri-Agency guidance on research security, which focuses on safeguarding research integrity and national/economic security. In accordance with the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) (external link, opens in new window) , the nominee must indicate whether research and related activities proposed in the Impact+ nomination will aim to advance any of the areas in the Sensitive Technology Research Areas (STRA) (external link, opens in new window)  list. If the nominee will aim to advance a STRA, they must complete an attestation form certifying that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are they in receipt of, funding or in-kind support from a Named Research Organization (NRO) (external link, opens in new window) . Additional attestations may be required after the formation of the chairholder’s team following the notice of the award. STRAC requirements associated with your proposed research activities may also apply to prospective members of your team.   

Please also be advised that nominee engagement with entities connected to adversarial foreign military, state security and/or intelligence agencies beyond the NRO List can also raise research security concerns, and nominees with these types of connections may experience difficulty attracting grant support from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (i.e., the Ontario Research Fund suite of programs and the Early Researcher Award program). In addition, these nominees may experience added scrutiny during the immigration process. 

For any questions regarding compliance with these research security requirements, please contact researchsecurity@torontomu.ca.