Rahatul Amin Ananto, Gauri Sharma, and Lixiao Zhu in the Responsible Autonomous & Intelligent System Ethics (RAISE) lab, directed by Prof. AJung Moon, Electrical & Computer Engineering. Image by Alex Tran
Our Strategic Research Plan charts a bold course for McGill’s research over the next five years. Our scale fosters agility. Our depth sustains excellence. We lead in ideas, talent and transformative research, and we will continue to pursue our ambition to set a national standard of excellence.
For more than two centuries, McGill researchers have created knowledge, challenged convention, and advanced society. Their work has driven medical and scientific breakthroughs, reshaped cultural and intellectual landscapes, and positioned Quebec and Canada as global research leaders.
Local relevance meets global ambition at McGill. Rooted in Montreal—known as Tiohtià:ke in Kanien’kéha and Mooniyang in Anishinaabemowin—on the unceded territory of the Haudenosaunee and Algonquin peoples, the university is deeply connected to dynamic regional and international networks. The cultural and linguistic richness of Quebec enables us to collaborate broadly and train researchers for diverse leadership roles. We strive for broad impact by forging bold partnerships across disciplines, sectors, and geographies to tackle complex and urgent challenges, whether fundamental or applied.
Our research culture is grounded in the university’s mission and our commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
We are guided by shared principles: curiosity and inspiration in the pursuit of discovery; dialogue and collaboration in how we work together; and a commitment to transformation and impact.
This Strategic Research Plan responds to a rapidly changing world that demands adaptation to climate change, action to reduce global inequities, and innovation to navigate technological and geopolitical shifts. Developed through broad consultation, it sets out our institutional objectives, maps our strengths and excellence across six themes, and identifies some of the strategic areas where we can maximize impact going forward.
Through the convergence of diverse disciplines and collaborative efforts, this plan charts a path for McGill to lead transformational research and develop solutions for the future benefit of Quebec, Canada, and the world.
Commitment to Indigenous Research
Tsi Non:we Onkwatonhnhets, or “The Place Where Our Life Force Emerges from the Earth." The redesigned Y-intersection celebrates Indigenous presence, collaboration and reconciliation on McGill’s downtown campus.Image by Jeremy Glenn
There are ten First Nations and one Inuit nation in Quebec, each with their own distinct history, language, and culture.
Additionally, urban Indigenous communities in the province comprise many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples whose homelands stretch across Canada. This diversity creates a unique context for Indigenous engagement related to research and scholarship. To be meaningful, Indigenous research must be advanced in a transformative way that involves Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes.
It is essential to consider how knowledge is generated in ways that empower Indigenous communities, leading to research outcomes that are generative and restorative rather than extractive.
Our commitment to Indigenous research is not confined to a single research theme or area of focus. Rather, it is a cross-cutting priority that informs all aspects of the Strategic Research Plan.
The importance of Indigenous researchers and research is recognized across all research excellence themes. Building authentic relationships with Indigenous communities takes time. That is why our Action Plan includes a sustained and dedicated effort to engage with Indigenous researchers and communities.