Canadian Standards Association Group: Explore Research Program
In a world that increasingly demands rapid adaptation and forward-thinking solutions, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Explore Research Program aims to anticipate and address complex societal challenges.
Each research initiative within the CSA Explore Research Program comprises a collection of projects that directly contribute to advancing research on a given topic and identify how we can better prepare for emerging challenges.
CSA Group funding supports individual research projects within an initiative. Within these initiatives, recipients convene virtually several times over the project lifespan to share knowledge, discuss new ideas and initiate new research directions.
Within the Explore Research Program, the CSA Group provides strategic leadership and support, addressing common barriers associated with interdisciplinary research initiatives, including alignment, integration, funding and knowledge mobilization.
Findings from projects are integrated and informed by strategic guidance and foresight techniques to help promote standards readiness, to identify emerging areas of importance and to inform a broad range of parties from government to industry and beyond.
Protecting Canada’s Freshwater
Canada’s freshwater abundance is no guarantee. A shifting climate, aging infrastructure, growing industrial demands, governance challenges and persistent inequities are converging and accelerating to create new risks. This research initiative brings together projects that examine vulnerabilities and solutions across ecosystems, infrastructure, technology, governance and community priorities. How do we protect and manage our freshwater sources and the people and environments that depend on them?
Securing Canada’s Communications Future
Canada’s communications networks are essential to daily life; even a short disruption can significantly impact healthcare, finance, transportation and other critical systems. As climate hazards intensify and cyber threats evolve, communications systems must be resilient across physical assets, digital layers, governance and community needs. How do we strengthen the networks that keep Canadians connected and help ensure they remain dependable in the face of emerging risks?
Information Sessions
- Monday, April 20th at 3 p.m. EDT (register here)
- Thursday, April 23rd at 12 p.m. EDT (register here)
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for proposals open | March 31, 2026 |
| Application deadline | June 1, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. (PDT) |
| Notice of award | Mid-August 2026 |
| Research start date | Mid-September 2026 |
Value and Duration
Up to $150,000 CAD for a two-year project.
Eligibility Requirements
- Proposals must directly address one of the listed topics.
- Principal Investigator and co-applicants must be based at a Canadian publicly-funded academic institution, not-for-profit and/or public research organization.
Submitting Your Application
- Review the CSA Application Guide.
- Log in to cuResearch and submit an internal Carleton Approval Form. Review the cuResearch user’s manual.
- Submit an external application using the CSA Group Application Portal.