Canada strengthens ties to global science with new funds for EU research collaboration

With the launch of a $10-million program to boost research collaboration between Canada and the European Union (EU), the federal government is signalling that it is serious about strengthening Canada's ties to European science and international research more broadly. The new competition, announced January 30, is part of a $50-million commitment over five years through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) to support the participation of Canadian researchers in international teams funded through the EU’s flagship programs, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Canada has a long history of collaboration in science, technology and innovation with Europe, and there are various funding mechanisms researchers can tap into to support bilateral partnerships. But the new program is the first to dedicate funding to Canada-EU partnerships at the federal level. Canadian researchers who are part of an international project funded through Horizon 2020 will be eligible to apply to 2020 Horizon Global Platform Competition, as the new NFRF program is known, for up to $125,000 in funding per year (for a maximum of four years).

The 2020 Horizon Global Platform Competition is part of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC)’s investment in international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and high-risk research. It is also a step toward fulfilling several objectives laid out in the CRCC’s International Framework, specifically: to boost the presence and visibility of Canadian research on the world stage; to support researchers tackling issues of global importance; and, to strengthen Canadian research through global partnerships.

It also comes in the run-up to Horizon Europe, set to launch in January 2021. With a proposed budget of €100 billion over seven years, it will be the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation program. And unlike its predecessor, Horizon 2020, participation in Horizon Europe will be open to non-EU countries—including Canada.

“I'm absolutely thrilled that [the Canadian government is] finally taking this seriously,” said Patrick Leroux, associate dean of research, Faculty of Arts & Science at Concordia University, who moderated an event last December, hosted by Concordia International, on the future of Canada-EU scientific collaboration.

“The EU is positioning itself in an absolutely essential position, committing funds from multiple nations, encouraging collaboration, encouraging the sharing of resources. It's about time that we're part of that exchange,” he said in an interview with RE$EARCH MONEY.

“Much of the science that happens today has to have a global perspective and a global team behind it. This is a very good step in the direction of helping Canadians join these global teams,” said Alex Mihailidis, associate vice-president, international partnerships, University of Toronto, who added that his office is flooded with inquiries from researchers in Canada and abroad who are seeking to establish collaborations.

The road to Horizon Europe

In an email to RE$EARCH MONEY, Luigi Scarpa de Masellis, Economic Advisor on environment, science and technology, transport, energy, for the Delegation of the European Union to Canada, said the EU welcomes “this very significant development” at a time when “our collaboration with Canada’s Government has gained enormous momentum in various policy areas.”

Specifically, Canada and the EU entered into a new Strategic Partnership Agreement as well as the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in 2017, which not only enhance bilateral economic and political relations but also spur cooperation in policy areas including research and innovation.

“EU-Canada science, technology and innovation relations are in very good shape and Canada is jointly with the US, China and Brazil in the leading group of third [non-EU] countries concerning participation in Horizon Europe,” added Scarpa de Masellis.

Unlike Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe will open association to non-EU countries with strong capacity in science, technology and innovation. This means that non-EU countries will be able to participate in EU research under the same conditions as member states and will be required to pay entry fees into the program. Negotiations with Canada over a possible agreement could begin later this year, once Horizon Europe has been approved by the EU Parliament and Member states.

Leroux said Canada would be foolish not to be part of Europe's ambitious research and innovation framework: "I feel that we're entering into a new, fascinating, rich geopolitical context, which allows us to rethink some of the international collaborations we've traditionally had and to allow ourselves to work more efficiently and more openly with different partners."

Mihailidis said the Horizon programs represent a great opportunity for Canada to learn how to be part of global research programs, noting that there are differences in the way scientific research is funded and conducted around the world, as well as how partnerships with industry and other organizations are structured.

"Here at the University of Toronto, we're really working hard to prepare our faculty members so that they can be competitive in these programs and really hit the ground running when they join an EU team, as opposed to having to try to play catch up," he said.

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