The Universities South Africa (USAf) has announced a groundbreaking SA-Canada Joint Research Funding Initiative in partnership with Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF). This collaborative funding call, launched under the South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN), aims to foster innovative research partnerships between South African and Canadian universities. With seed grants available up to ZAR 900,000 from the NRF and CAD 100,000 from SSHRC per project, the initiative targets areas of mutual interest such as just societies, environmental stewardship, health, education, and innovation. This move comes at a critical time for South African higher education, where international collaborations can bridge funding gaps and elevate global research impact.
South African universities have long grappled with domestic funding constraints, with foreign sources contributing about 17% of the nation's R&D expenditure—ZAR 7 billion in 2022 alone. The SA-Canada Joint Research Funding Initiative represents a strategic step to leverage these opportunities, enabling joint projects that address shared global challenges while building capacity in both nations' academic sectors.
Background on SACUN and Bilateral Ties
The South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN) formalizes decades of collaboration dating back to the 1920s, when joint efforts on zoonotic diseases began at the University of Pretoria's Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. Recent momentum built from a 2023 South African delegation visit to Canada, involving vice-chancellors and funding agencies, leading to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NRF and SSHRC in November 2025. Coordinated by USAf's Research and Innovation Strategy Group, SACUN promotes multilateral partnerships beyond bilateral ties, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, indigenous knowledge systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and vaccine development.
Past engagements include webinars, matchmaking events, and research missions. Between 2019 and 2021, SA-Canada co-authored 3,884 publications, underscoring a robust foundation. The network's inaugural framework, approved in 2024, emphasizes inclusivity, student mobility, and grassroots participation, positioning South African universities like the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Stellenbosch University as key players.
Details of the NRF-SSHRC Seed Grants
The core of the USAf-led initiative is the NRF-SSHRC Seed Grants 2026, designed to seed collaborative projects lasting 24 to 36 months starting October 2026. Up to 8 projects will be funded, with South African Principal Investigators (PIs) submitting via the NRF Connect system by May 28, 2026. Each project features a SA PI and Canadian PI, both requiring a PhD and affiliation with eligible public universities or universities of technology in SA, or SSHRC-eligible postsecondary institutions in Canada.
Funding supports joint publications, workshops, mobility, capacity-building (e.g., master classes), and stakeholder engagement. Excluded are salaries, equipment, scholarships, or consultant fees. Leveraged funds from universities are encouraged. For full guidelines, refer to the official funding framework.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process
To qualify, teams must nominate one SA PI and one Canadian PI, with co-applicants from postsecondary institutions, NGOs, or governments. Private sector experts can participate but self-fund. Applications require CVs, project description (max 10 pages), detailed budgets, letters of intent from partners, and budget division highlighting support for historically disadvantaged SA institutions.
- Project description: Objectives, methodology, timeline, impact, capacity building.
- Budget: Research costs, travel, dissemination; NRF max ZAR 300,000/year x3.
- SSHRC: CAD 100,000 over 2 years + no-cost extension.
SA PIs submit by May 28, 2026, via NRF Connect, using the General Application Guide. Evaluation prioritizes innovation, feasibility, mutual benefit, and equity. Successful teams sign Conditions of Grant by September 2026. For details, see the NRF announcement here.
Priority Themes and Potential Research Areas
SACUN identifies six priority themes aligned with SDGs:
- Just and Resilient Societies (reconciliation, equity).
- Environmental Stewardship (climate adaptation, biodiversity).
- Health and Well-being (virology, pandemics).
- Education and Skills Development (AI literacy, indigenous knowledge).
- Innovation and Technology (astronomy, sustainable tech).
- Arts, Culture, and Heritage.
While SSHRC emphasizes social sciences and humanities, projects can span STEM if mutually beneficial. Examples include joint vaccine research or AI for sustainable development, building on SA-Canada strengths like the Square Kilometre Array project.
Benefits for South African Higher Education
This funding addresses SA's research challenges amid declining domestic support. Foreign funding constitutes 17% of R&D (ZAR 7bn, 2022), boosting publications by 13% for NRF-supported researchers (2022-2023). Collaborations enhance capacity, with SA universities gaining access to Canadian expertise, infrastructure, and networks.
Historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) like University of Limpopo or Walter Sisulu University benefit from equity focus. Impacts include increased PhD training, student exchanges, and global visibility—SA ranks high in Africa for international co-publications.
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Foreign R&D Funding Share | 17% (ZAR 7bn, 2022) |
| SA-Canada Co-Publications (2019-2021) | 3,884 |
| NRF-Supported Publication Growth | 13% (2022-2023) |
Such partnerships mitigate brain drain, foster innovation ecosystems, and align with SA's National Development Plan.
Stakeholder Perspectives and USAf's Role
USAf CEO Dr. Phethiwe Matutu emphasized, "This call strengthens purpose-driven collaborations addressing grand challenges." NRF CEO Dr. Nithaya Chetty noted SACUN's foundation for impactful research. Canadian partners highlight shared SDG goals.
USAf coordinates SA side, promoting inclusivity via RISG. Universities like UCT (air pollution studies with Canadian links) and Wits (genomics) exemplify potential.
Challenges and Opportunities in SA-Canada Partnerships
Challenges include visa issues, IP sharing, and equity in HDIs. Opportunities: Multilateral expansion, student mobility, leveraged funding. Past SA-EU calls funded 100+ projects; similar success expected.
Photo by Sergio Rios on Unsplash
- Step 1: Identify Canadian partner via SACUN networks.
- Step 2: Develop proposal aligning themes.
- Step 3: Submit by deadline, secure institutional support.
Future Outlook and Call to Action
This initiative signals growing SA-Canada ties, potentially unlocking more funding. SA universities should prioritize applications, especially HDIs. Track NRF for updates; contact USAf for matchmaking.
As SA research navigates funding pressures, international partnerships like this NRF-SSHRC call are vital for innovation and global standing. Researchers: Act now to shape collaborative futures.