SSHRC Partners with NordForsk for Groundbreaking Knowledge Synthesis on Security and Conflict
Canadian researchers in the social sciences and humanities now have a timely opportunity to contribute to global understanding of evolving security challenges. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) has teamed up with NordForsk to launch a dedicated Knowledge Synthesis Grants competition focused on the changing nature of security and conflict. This initiative supports the creation of comprehensive syntheses that draw together existing research to inform policy, practice, and innovation across academic, public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
The call emphasizes inclusive approaches, including strong encouragement for Indigenous-led projects and those rooted in Inuit Nunangat perspectives. By fostering collaboration between Canadian and Nordic scholars, the grants aim to build robust evidence bases that address contemporary threats while promoting equitable societies.
Understanding the Scope of the New Funding Opportunity
Knowledge Synthesis Grants are designed to mobilize, examine, and integrate research findings rather than generate entirely new primary data. Recipients will produce accessible reports or resources that highlight gaps, emerging trends, and actionable recommendations. The competition is structured around two distinct streams to accommodate different levels of international partnership.
Stream 1 focuses on domestic Canadian projects, with funding ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 for one-year initiatives. Stream 2 supports international teams that include at least one Canadian principal investigator and Nordic partners from two different countries, with awards up to $78,000 to reflect additional cross-border costs. Up to 15 or 16 projects may receive support in total, drawing from a combined pool that includes contributions equivalent to approximately 6 million Norwegian kroner.
Why Security and Conflict Research Matters for Canadian Higher Education
Universities across Canada play a central role in training the next generation of policymakers, analysts, and community leaders who confront complex global issues. This SSHRC-NordForsk partnership directly supports faculty and graduate researchers by providing dedicated resources for synthesis work that can shape curricula, inform public discourse, and strengthen institutional research profiles.
Canadian institutions such as the University of Guelph, Carleton University, and Memorial University have already highlighted the call in their research offices, signaling strong interest from the higher-education community. The emphasis on Indigenous knowledge systems aligns with ongoing efforts at universities to decolonize research practices and honour land-based expertise.
Key Eligibility and Application Details for Researchers
Eligible applicants must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or meet SSHRC’s standard criteria for principal investigators. Students enrolled in degree programs are not eligible to lead projects. International stream proposals require clear binational leadership and additional Nordic co-applicants.
The deadline is December 3, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Interested teams can access full guidelines and submit applications through the SSHRC portal. NordForsk is also organizing webinars to assist Nordic participants in connecting with Canadian counterparts.
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Potential Impacts on Policy, Practice, and Society
Syntheses produced under this program are expected to identify practical roles for various sectors in building more inclusive responses to security challenges. Outcomes may include toolkits for policymakers, frameworks for ethical technology development, and strategies that incorporate diverse cultural perspectives on conflict resolution.
By bridging Canadian and Nordic expertise, the grants support comparative analysis of issues such as Arctic security, hybrid threats, and community resilience—areas where both regions share strategic interests and complementary strengths.
Indigenous and Northern Priorities in the Call
SSHRC explicitly welcomes proposals co-developed with Indigenous Peoples and Northern communities. This focus reflects broader commitments within Canadian higher education to support self-determination in research and to integrate traditional knowledge alongside academic scholarship.
Projects grounded in Inuit Nunangat or other Northern contexts can explore how security is understood through land-based lenses, sovereignty considerations, and intergenerational perspectives—contributions that enrich the overall synthesis of knowledge on conflict dynamics.
Building International Research Networks Through Stream 2
The international stream encourages genuine collaboration rather than token partnerships. Teams must demonstrate meaningful involvement from multiple Nordic countries, fostering sustained networks that can extend beyond the one-year grant period.
Networking tools provided by SSHRC allow researchers to identify potential partners, facilitating the formation of diverse teams that combine Canadian strengths in areas such as Indigenous studies or conflict resolution with Nordic expertise in societal security and welfare-state approaches.
Broader Context of SSHRC Funding in Canadian Universities
SSHRC remains one of Canada’s primary federal funders for social sciences and humanities research, supporting thousands of projects annually at institutions nationwide. This targeted partnership with NordForsk represents an expansion of international opportunities, complementing existing programs that help Canadian scholars engage globally.
Universities benefit through enhanced research capacity, increased visibility in international rankings, and the ability to attract and retain talent interested in timely, policy-relevant work.
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Future Outlook and Opportunities for Canadian Scholars
With the deadline approaching in December 2026, Canadian researchers are encouraged to begin forming teams and scoping synthesis projects now. Successful grants will position participating universities as leaders in addressing one of the defining challenges of the decade.
The resulting knowledge products are anticipated to influence teaching, public engagement, and cross-sector partnerships for years to come, reinforcing the vital role of higher education in navigating an increasingly complex security landscape.
