All About Research Opportunities in Canada

There are numerous research opportunities in Canada offered by the top Canadian universities. Moreover, these universities support students who come up with excellent research ideas. Students are also offered monetary rewards in the form of scholarships for their research work. 

In Canada, students are encouraged to generate research ideas and are provided assistance by lecturers in the institutions. If any student comes up with some extraordinary research idea, he/she is also supported by the government and the corresponding industries to further pursue their research.

Research Funding Contributors in Canada

Mentioned below are the various funds and awards available in Canada for scientific research/research infrastructure/research networks:

Federal Funding Programs

• Canada’s 3 Research Councils – NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR
• Canada First Research Excellence Fund
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Banting Post-Doctoral Fellowships
• International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS) Awards
• Canada Foundation for Innovation
• Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships
• Canada Research Chairs and Canada Excellence Research Chairs

Other Organizations

• Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
• Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarships
• Sauvé Public Leadership Program

Research Opportunities in Canada for International Students

Research is one of the most important aspects when it comes to pursuing post-secondary education in Canada. No matter what field one is interested in, there are plenty of opportunities for research. Various industries and government institutions like the National Research Council (NRC) are available in the country to support research in different fields like medicine, computer science, agriculture, environmental science, and telecommunication. There are a number of fields in which Canada is highly specialized and has a significant impact, including:

• Clinical Medicine
• Biology
• Businesses
• IT
• Agriculture
• Environmental Sciences
• Economics
• Fisheries and Forestry

Investment in Research and Development

In order to help international students succeed academically and personally, Canada invests plenty of resources in the form of ELP and FLP, workshops, support services, etc. Here are some facts related to investment in R&D in Canada:

• It is estimated that universities in Canada performed CAD 13 billion worth of research and development in 2014, which represents 40 percent of the total amount spent on research and development by the country.
• Universities in Canada invest CAD 1 billion in research to help businesses gain a competitive advantage.
• Over the last decade, Canadian universities have conducted 1.2 billion CAD in research for the non-profit sector.

Top Universities in Canada For Research

Top universities in Canada like the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia are known for their state-of-art education system. These universities are global leaders in terms of research and innovation. According to Research Infosource Inc., Canada’s top 5 research universities for 2021 are as follows: 

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• McGill University
• University of Montreal
• University of Calgary

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is one of the most renowned research-intensive universities in Canada. For the academic session 2017-2018, the university had been awarded research funds worth $1.27 billion CAD. 

U of T allows students to learn from top researchers by engaging them in seminars, internships, courses, volunteer work, etc. Moreover, students can apply for various research opportunity programs offered by the university.

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University of British Columbia

A research powerhouse, the University of British Columbia consistently ranks among the top research universities in the world. UBC's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses attract more than $750 million in research funding every year.

Due to its partnerships with industries, universities, and communities worldwide, UBC’s research has global reach and impact. The innovations and discoveries by the university are advancing knowledge and transforming lives.

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McGill University

McGill University is home to more than fifty research institutes and centres. Students can benefit from research opportunities provided by McGill in terms of industry experience, funding support, or the opportunity to pursue a project in a new country. Moreover, the university offers Schull Yang International Experience Awards to fund summer UG research opportunities abroad.

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University of Montreal

The University of Montreal is one of the leading research institutions in Canada. At UdeM, students get access to world-class research facilities and cutting-edge equipment. Based on the volume of its research activities, the university ranks fourth in Canada. Moreover, it has received over $500 million in funding for carrying out research activities.

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University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is one of the comprehensive research universities in Canada. It offers several research opportunities to students like BME Summer Research Studentships, IICD Summer Studentships, etc. Additionally, the university has designed a research plan that focuses on three major aspects:

• Matching strengths with opportunities
• Increasing research capacity
• Driving innovation

Read More: University of Calgary

Canada’s Worldwide Ranking for Scientific Research

Canada ranks 4th worldwide for the quality of its scientific research, as per an in-depth report. The in-depth report was evaluated by 5,000 scientists and authors of the most highly cited research papers in the world. The top three countries in terms of scientific research quality are the US, the UK, and Germany.

Exceptional Researches and Researchers in Canada

There have been incredible advances in the past in the field of science and technology, such as the development of vaccines, lasers, and drugs. A number of Canadian scientists are engaged in research related to food security, artificial intelligence, and life-threatening diseases. Shown below are a few important researches made by scientists in Canada that have helped improve lives:

• Developing energy-efficient computer memory
• Food prevention - green roofs
• Clean water for rural areas
• Tobacco helps to fight cancer
• The “Canadian vaccine” against Ebola
• Big data to battle traffic
• Preserving indigenous languages
• Artificial Intelligence
• Stem cell research

Let us now take a look at some of the well-known researchers in Canada:

• Gary Kobinger – Eradicating Ebola virus
• Xiangguo Qiu – Preventing Ebola virus
• Tom Chau – Giving voice to voiceless
• Kamran Khan – Big data to uncover outbreaks of infectious diseases
• Louis Taillefer – Making waves in the quantum physics

Top 5 Scientific Achievements in Canada

Canada has made significant advancements in the research field over the years. Following are the major scientific achievements in Canada:

S.No.	Achievement	Discovered By
1	Development of computerized weather forecasting systems	Roger Daley in Montreal and Boulder Colorado
2	Discovery of stem cells	James Till and Ernest McCulloch
3	Theory of plate tectonics	John Tuzo Wilson
4	Discovery of Insulin	Frederick Banting and Charles Best
5	Mapping the Visual Cortex	David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel

Artificial Intelligence in Canada

In recent years, artificial intelligence has been gathering most of the attention of researchers. Canada has been a leader in varying fields of AI for more than 30 years. Moreover, companies are highly investing in AI advancement in Canada, demonstrating the industry's keen interest in improving AI in the country.

A number of businesses are developing and commercializing artificial intelligence these days. In addition, companies such as Google Brain and Uber are expanding their AI research operation in Canada. Furthermore, several professors and researchers are deriving more and more talent from cities like Toronto and Montreal.