International Funding Sources

Many provincial and federal sponsors fund international research, but some international sponsors provide funding for research involving specific regions or issues. International funding sources include the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other U.S. federal sponsors, while some other major sponsors are listed below. Contact OSR with any questions.


Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The Gates Foundation seeks to drive change on a global scale by providing funding for project activities in areas related to global health, development, education and economic empowerment. Proposal development may involve multiple stages. Consult the Foundation’s list of current grant opportunities.


Grand Challenges Canada

The Grand Challenges family of initiatives fosters innovation to solve key health and development problems. Within this group, Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact®. Funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, Grand Challenges Canada funds innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. They support projects that integrate science and technology, social and business innovation – known as Integrated Innovation®. Consult current grant opportunities offered via Grand Challenges Canada or via the Grand Challenges family more broadly.


Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Canada-Brazil Awards - Joint Research Projects

The Canada-Brazil Awards-Joint Research Projects provide scholarships for exchanges of researchers and graduate students in support of reciprocal, team-based research projects between Canadian and Brazilian universities in key areas of mutual cooperation.

Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program

The Canada-China Scholars Exchange Program provides opportunities to Canadian academics, students and professionals who wish to study and/or do research in subject areas related to China at participating Chinese institutions.

Contact: %20agnes.wong2 [at] mcgill.ca (Agnes Wong), Senior Grants and Agreements Officer, Tel: (514)398-3102


Grand Challenges Canada (GCC)

Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) provides funding for projects to support bold ideas with big impact in global health. The bold ideas supported integrate science/technology, social and business innovation (called Integrated Innovation™). GCC focuses on bringing successful innovation to scale, catalyzing sustainability and impact.

Stars in Global Health: Grand Challenges Canada, which is funded by the Government of Canada, has developed the Stars in Global Health program to support Bold Ideas with Big Impact from the best and brightest talent, both in low- and middle-income countries and in Canada, to use scientific/technical, social and business innovation to address some of the most pressing global health challenges.

Saving Lives at Birth: Grand Challenges Canada, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) have joined together to launch Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development. Together, they call for ground-breaking prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the time of childbirth.


International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) funds projects that aim to bring employment, food security, health, peace, and prosperity to developing regions of the world. Some IDRC proposals can be led by Canadian applicants, while in other cases, Canadian applicants can only be involved as third parties. The IDRC also lists recent funding opportunities on their website.

Contact: %20agnes.wong2 [at] mcgill.ca (Agnes Wong), Senior Grants and Agreements Officer, Tel: (514) 398-3102

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