Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF)

CIRIF Intake 1

Funds institutions hosting Canada Impact Chairs through major infrastructure support.

The Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF) is a $400 million CAD CFI program created under the 2025 federal budget as part of the broader $1.7 billion Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative. The Initiative also includes $1 billion for Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (administered by TIPS), $120 million for Emerging Leaders (TIPS), and $133.6 million for Research Training Awards (NSERC). CIRIF funds the physical and digital research infrastructure needed to support internationally recognized researchers who accept Canada Impact+ Research Chair positions at Canadian institutions. The CFP was published in March 2026 across eight strategic priority areas: advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity), health and biotechnology, clean technology and resource value chains, environment and climate resilience, food and water security, democratic and community resilience, advanced manufacturing and materials, and defence and dual-use technologies.

Intake 1 is available to CFI-eligible Canadian institutions that receive and accept a Canada Impact+ Research Chair award in the June 2026 TIPS results round. The institution has one month after receiving Chair results to accept. The standard CIRIF allocation is $4 million per accepted Chair; the per-proposal ceiling is $6 million CAD (covering infrastructure and operations and maintenance combined). Allocations do not carry over between intakes — unused Intake 1 allocation cannot be applied in Intake 2. All infrastructure expenditures must be completed by September 30, 2032, and all O&M expenditures by March 31, 2035.

CIRIF Intake 1 proposals are due in October 2026, with CFI Board decisions expected in March 2027. Researchers cannot apply to CIRIF directly — only the host institution submits the infrastructure proposal, and only after confirming Chair acceptance. The program's tight coupling to the TIPS Chair competition means the pathway to win begins with a successful Chair recruitment, making CIRIF a downstream infrastructure enabler rather than a standalone research grant. Institutions planning to bid for Chairs should engage CFI early to understand eligible infrastructure categories and cost templates before the October submission deadline.