Queen's Impact+ Research Chairs

Description

Queen’s University welcomes applications from outstanding established scholars with a demonstrated record of or potential for knowledge translation and mobilization in targeted areas or research excellence.

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs competition is a one-time initiative to support Canadian institutions in attracting world-leading researchers from abroad. The program aims to address pressing global and domestic challenges, strengthening Canada’s contribution to international research and innovation, and generating lasting social and economic benefits. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact.

Impact+ Research Chairs are expected to build significant new partnerships and collaborations with both Canadian and international entities (industry, health systems, government and not-for-profit organizations). Queen’s encourages applications from individuals whose work advances knowledge translation and mobilization and whose careers may reflect diverse pathways, experiences, and perspectives. Where appropriate, Chairs are also expected to engage by and with Indigenous Peoples and communities in ways that respect Indigenous rights and knowledges.

A core expectation is that Impact+ Chairs, and their research teams, will actively translate and mobilize research outcomes into practice, policy, and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world. Hence, the program requires that the scholarship can be translated and that it is mission driven.

The Impact+ Research Chairs program includes two maximum award values of $8 million over eight years ($1 million per year), and $4 million over eight years ($500,000 per year), to lead ambitious research programs in one of the following priority areas identified by the Government of Canada:

• advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and 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; and/or
• defence and dual-use technologies

Impact+ Research Chair recruitment is a multi-stage process. Applicants first apply to a nomination posting at the institution. Selected nominees will then work in close partnership with Queen’s to apply to the 2026 Impact+ Research Chairs competition. Queen’s University will provide substantial institutional support throughout the co-preparation and co-development of the application and will ensure institutional alignment. Queen’s strives to recruit numerous Canada Impact+ Research Chairs.

To support the research programs of Impact+ Chairs, Queen’s will strategically leverage the broader Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative’s suite of funding opportunities. This includes the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund, to provide researchers with leading-edge research equipment and facilities, and the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders and Research Training Awards, to recruit scholars across career stages to address the same strategic priorities.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are embedded as foundational principles in Impact+ objectives, expected outcomes and reporting requirements of the competition. The three agencies expect that institutions and chair holders will demonstrate and implement the highest EDI standards for the duration of their award. Sound EDI principles must be applied to the research design, methods, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of research findings, where applicable, to ensure the results are impactful and relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population.

Chairs and host institutions are expected to implement measures that specifically support a diverse cohort of early career researchers within the research programs of chair holders.

A successful nominee will be an outstanding scholar with a world-class reputation and must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed1 at the rank of tenured Professor in accordance with institutional policies and Collective Agreement.

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