Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF)

CIRIF Intake 2

Funds institutions hosting Canada Impact Chairs through major infrastructure support.

CIRIF Intake 2 is the second submission window of the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund, a $400 million CAD CFI program established under the 2025 federal budget as part of the $1.7 billion Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative. The Initiative links $1 billion in Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (TIPS), $120 million for Emerging Leaders (TIPS), $133.6 million in Training Awards (NSERC), and $400 million in infrastructure support (CFI/CIRIF). The eight strategic priority areas eligible for infrastructure funding span advanced digital technologies, health and biotechnology, clean technology, environmental and climate resilience, food and water security, democratic resilience, advanced manufacturing and materials, and defence and dual-use technologies.

Intake 2 is triggered by the September 2026 TIPS results round — institutions that accept a Canada Impact+ Research Chair from that cohort become eligible. The CIRIF allocation model is the same as Intake 1: $4 million per accepted Chair, with a per-proposal ceiling of $6 million CAD covering both infrastructure and operations and maintenance. Allocations from Intake 1 do not carry over, so only Chairs accepted from the September 2026 cohort unlock Intake 2 access. Infrastructure expenditures must be completed by September 30, 2032, and O&M by March 31, 2035.

Intake 2 CIRIF proposals are due in February 2027, with CFI Board decisions expected in June 2027. As with Intake 1, individual researchers cannot apply directly — the host institution submits the infrastructure proposal on behalf of the Chair holder. Institutions that miss the Intake 1 window due to Chair timing should plan specifically for the February 2027 submission. Contact for CIRIF questions is impactplus@innovation.ca; Chair and Emerging Leaders questions route through impactplus@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.