Introduction
The pursuit of high-calibre research depends on our university welcoming, including and retaining high-calibre faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, research associates, postdoctoral researchers, other research trainees and research support staff. Moreover, by integrating research into our teaching and training, we will also develop the leaders and innovators of tomorrow. Together, we will cultivate a research and innovation ecosystem that is more equitable and better positioned to explore issues through a broad range of lenses.
Explore the plan
We are supporting exceptional researchers and innovators
The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) tracks applications for select national and international awards and honours across the university and provides dedicated support to researchers applying for these prestigious recognitions. This support includes identifying relevant opportunities, navigating award processes, and reviewing nominations. In 2023, U of A researchers submitted 60 nominations to 18 selected awards, with 14 of those nominations resulting in successful awards.
“The VPRI office has declared its commitment to focus on people and to nurture researchers, and the work of the OVPRI to support not only my various applications this year, but to support me as a person and as a researcher has made me feel that not only is my research making a contribution to the overall research ecology, but that I am a valued member of our vibrant research community at the 黑料不打烊.” Sheena Wilson, Campus Saint-Jean
We are building capacity to nurture Indigenous research
The offices of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research) are working together to address our past with Indigenous research and implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. With humility, we acknowledge the need to improve upon past practices and are committed to fostering meaningful change.
We are building an integrated network to support Indigenous initiatives in research. Recent efforts include welcoming Marek Tyler as the first Program Officer for Indigenous Initiatives, co-hosting the annual Indigenous Research Symposium to enhance collaboration, and co-sponsoring the Partnerships for Research with Indigenous and Northern Communities Symposium (PRINC) 2024. PRINC welcomed community-led research presentations and community members to highlight the value of Indigenous knowledges to mutually beneficial partnerships for impactful research with Northern communities.
Looking forward, we are committed to working together to show our commitment to advancing Indigenous research. We are reviewing and revising policies and practices across the university, including data sovereignty policies regarding Indigenous data and requirements for Centres and Institutes for Indigenous engagement, and reporting on our progress with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. By working together, we aim to build trust, accountability, and a foundation for lasting, positive change.
Objective 1.1
Attract, support and retain exceptional researchers to build on the research strengths of the university and contribute to an ecosystem that leads with purpose.
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Strategically orient the Canada Research Chair (CRC), Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) and other chair programs to retain and attract world-class emerging and established researchers in targeted areas of strength. |
Developed to orient chair programs the research areas of strength and growth identified in Forward with Purpose |
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Encourage and enhance the inclusion of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and other trainees into the research ecosystem and learning environments and within local, national and international communities to develop exceptional researchers of tomorrow. |
The offers research internships to First Nations, Métis and Inuit undergraduate students in environmental projects. Since its launch in 2020, the program has placed 73 students into mentored research projects. Of these students, 10 have co-authored peer-reviewed publications and a federal report, and 21 have been inspired to pursue graduate studies. In 2023 the I-STEAM Pathways Program partnered with the National Research Council Canada to enhance and expand this program. The Sustainability Council’s Sustainability Scholars program offers graduate students opportunities to conduct applied research projects as part of a work placement with over 20 local corporate, institutional, non-profit, and government partners. In 2023-24, 12 students were placed with 4 partner organizations. supports students in gaining experience in communicating with entrepreneurs and startups and in conducting due diligence on companies. In 2023-24, over 30 students from across 6 faculties were part of the initiative. The Lab2Market Validate program, a national multi-institution network, launched in 2024. The program offers graduate students and postdoctoral fellows opportunities to directly engage with industry and to learn to assess the commercial potential of new technologies. The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) engages undergraduate students in research and creative activities. URI offers supports, including advising, funding opportunities, a research opportunities directory, and the Roadmap for Research, a non-credit pathway to develop research knowledge, skills, and confidence. The 黑料不打烊 Library offers and tutorials to support undergraduate students participating in the Undergraduate Research Initiative. |
Objective 1.2
Enhance our research ecosystem to support researchers from equity-denied groups including women, visible minorities, researchers from Indigenous Peoples, Black, 2SLGBTQ+, francophone and diasporic communities, and persons with disabilities or who identify as disabled.
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Create new, and engage existing, programs to expand research and training opportunities and communities for equity-denied groups. |
The Black-led Research Network Initiative (BRNI) aims to build capacity for Black researchers and support all research stages to enhance Black research excellence at the 黑料不打烊. BRNI researchers have developed programs to engage Black youth in research and innovation, including the Black Youth Social Innovation (BYSI) program which was launched in Spring 2024. The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) and the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) worked with the to support 18 Black student researchers in applying to the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award program in 2023 and 2024. |
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Through collaborations among the faculties, colleges and centres and institutes, increase the number of university researchers from equity-denied groups who lead or co-lead large-scale, collaborative, funded, interdisciplinary research initiatives. |
The Canada-wide 2SLGBTQI+ Knowledge Hub (also known as the Rainbow Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, or REKH), launched in 2024 by the eHUB Entrepreneurship Centre and the Firefly Institute, is conducting research on the challenges faced by 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, and to enable new pathways via emancipatory entrepreneurship. |
Objective 1.3
Engage and support diverse researchers and teams from broad research areas and demographic groups to apply for internal and external research awards and expand their national and international research profiles.
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Recognize, support and celebrate research that is community-engaged, community-led, intersectional, francophone and partnered with Indigenous communities. |
In 2023, the Community-University Partnership (CUP) for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families’ Annual Celebration Event featured a panel discussion exploring what systems shifts are needed to best support community-engaged research and innovation. Speakers explored questions around supporting community-engaged research and innovation in Edmonton and the conditions needed for community-university relationships to be successful and sustainable. Dr. Cindy Gaudet of Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ) was recognized as an outstanding scholar in 2023-2024. Her community-engaged Indigenous research examines how kinship and land-based practices promote family and community wellness. CSJ strongly supported the renewal of her Tier 2 Canada Research Chair, as her work prioritizes decolonizing methodologies and the reclamation of Indigenous sovereignty. |
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Strengthen capacity related to national and international research awards, ensuring that engagement and nomination processes are attentive to principles of Indigenous-led and Indigenous-engaged research and EDI. |
The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) provides application support for select national and international award nominations, including support in integrating EDI principles. |
Objective 1.4
Establish an integrated network of research support for Indigenous initiatives and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research and creative activities and in multidisciplinary research initiatives.
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Create an EDI research centre of expertise in the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation). |
An EDI Program Officer was hired by the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) in 2024 to support the development of an EDI research centre of expertise. |
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Create an Indigenous research and innovation centre of expertise in the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation). |
An Indigenous Research Program Officer was hired by the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) in 2024 to support the development of an Indigenous research and innovation centre of expertise. |
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In collaboration with the Offices of the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming & Research) and the Vice-Provost (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), develop and provide training and web-based tools on Indigenous initiatives and EDI to researchers as an integral element of research grant and ethics applications, including multidisciplinary research initiatives. |
The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and the Office of the Vice-Provost, Access Community and Belonging co-developed the EDI in Research video series to promote the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in research design and collaboration. The video series was launched in January 2024. The Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) updated the EDI Framework for Research Excellence: Guidance on Principles and Practices in November 2024 to support researchers in the creation of EDI action plans for their research environments and projects. |
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Formally engage researchers in integrating Indigenous-engaged scholarship, research and relationships in relevant research grant and award applications. |
A Research Partner for Indigenous-focused research across all three campuses was hired by the Office of the Vice-President (Research and Innovation) in 2025 to join the Research Partner Network. |
Explore the data
Focus on People and Nurturing Talented Researchers
| FWP Key Indicators | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2028 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Research Chair allocations to U of A | 115 | [1] | 132 |
| External Awards | |||
| Number of Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation-supported applications for national and international awards | 74 | 60 | 78 |
| Number of successful applications for Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation-supported national and international research awards | 13 | 14 | 16 |
Footnotes
1. Next CRC allocation anticipated in fiscal year 2026-27.