Thank you for the opportunity to participate.
The creation of the NRC's Arctic and northern challenge program stemmed from a ministerial direction in 2018 to create a research program on the north.
Through extensive northern engagement, this program has been aligned with the needs of northerners—and endorsed by them—throughout its design, launch and delivery.
Now in year three, the program's vision, guided by northerners, is that the daily lives of Arctic and northern peoples are improved through applied technology and innovation.
Its objectives are that Arctic and northern peoples participate in the design, governance, delivery and dissemination of applied research to address challenges identified by them; and that northern research and development capacity is built and increased to solve pressing issues confronting northerners.
The NRC is investing over $22 million over seven years in its Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program, as part of the Challenge Program. NRC researchers and research facilities will therefore be able to partner with northern territorial and indigenous governments, research institutions and industry. These projects will enable a sustainable economy and support a healthy future for Arctic and northern peoples within thematic research areas of housing, health, food and water.
We recognize that having more diverse teams leads to better research results, with complementary competencies coming together for added value in research. NRC recognized early on that funding alone was not sufficient to enable these research partnerships. Rather, we needed to also consider broad eligibility instead of a narrow definition of who can conduct research; changes to support northerners' participation in research development; flexibility in funding approaches; and adapting to the realities of undertaking research in the north, such as high travel costs, the need for honoraria for elders, translation and Wi-Fi costs, data storage capabilities, and development of local training opportunities.
In addition, in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action 57—