Cooperation between Italy and Canada in science and technology is strong and longstanding, based on the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation signed in Ottawa in 1984 and on the Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation Programme signed in 2000. Both the former and the latter promote, inter alia, researcher exchanges and joint research projects. The subsequent Action Plan Italy-Canada concerning Science, Technology and Innovation signed in 2015 is focused exclusively on Science and Technology and the recent Italy-Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation includes several branches of Research and Development.
The Office of Scientific Attaché at the Embassy of Italy coordinates and supervises science and technology cooperation between the two countries. It facilitates the internationalization of Italy’s research system and contributes to the development of bilateral relations.
To contact the Office of Scientific Attaché, click here.
An Institutional Overview
The Canadian federal department responsible for research and development is:
supported by the Chief Science Advisor with regards to science policy.
The main federal agencies and institutions at the national level that conduct and finance Canadian research and development are:
- Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
- GenomeCanada
- Geological Survey of Canada
- Mitacs
- National Research Council Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
- Statistics Canada
The most important Canadian Research Facilities are:
- Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS)
- André E. Lalonde Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility
- Canada’s National Platform for Genome Sequencing and Analysis
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group
- Canadian Light Source
- Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN)
- CCGS Amundsen
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
- Coalition Publica
- Global Water Futures Observatories
- GlycoNet Integrated Services Facility
- IISD Experimental Lakes Area
- Ocean Tracking Network
- SNOLAB
- The Metabolomics Innovation Centre
- The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN)
- TRIUMF | Canada’s Particle Accelerator Centre
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
- WindEEE Research Facility
The main Universities and Research Centres in Canada are:
- Universities
- U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
- Research centers affiliated with federal Departments
- Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence
- Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)
- CRIM | Computer Research Institute of Montreal
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
- Perimeter Institute (Institute for Theoretical Physics)
- Polytechnics Canada
The main agencies promoting and funding research and development at the provincial level are:
- Ontario Research Funds
- Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ)
- B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF)
Geoscience BC
Innovate BC - Alberta Research Network
Alberta Innovates - Research Manitoba
In Canada, Provincial authority is responsible for higher education. In Ontario, Québec, British Columbia and Alberta, the following Ministries are in charge:
- Ontario: Ministry of Colleges and Universities (Min. Nolan Quinn)
- Québec: Ministry of Higher Education (Min. Pascale Déry)
- British Columbia: Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (Min. Anne Kang)
- Alberta: Ministry of Advanced Education (Min. Rajan Sawhney)
Canada is home to numerous Italian researchers (around 500 according to the Office of Scientific Attaché) working in both universities and research centers in several fields of knowledge. Although Italian researchers are present all over the country, they are mainly concentrated in the provinces of Québec, Ontario e British Columbia, where two research associations operate: AIRIcerca Toronto Chapter, ARPICO. Their representatives are, respectively: Emilia Luca e Valentina Marchetti. In the area of Québec, the CSIC organization is now operational. ISSNAF is an organization whose mission is to connect young Italian researchers with the scholars’ network in North America. The organization is currently presided over Cinzia Zuffada.
Some of the Cooperation Agreements with Canada
Cooperation Agreements currently into force:
- Action Plan Italy-Canada 2015
- Italy-Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation 2024
- Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation Programme 2000
- Agreements between universities in Italy and Canada – a databank supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), and by the Conference of Presidents of Italian Universities (CRUI)
- Italy-Canada Cooperation on Critical Minerals 2024
- Memorandum of Understanding between Italian Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency regarding cooperation in the exploration and use of space for peaceful purpose ASI – Italian Space Agency
- Italian National Research Council and Interuniversity Research Center on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation Memorandum of Understanding
The Embassy of Canada in Italy aims to strengthen the links between the two Countries concerning innovation through the assignment of Canada-Italy Innovation Award. The initiative is addressed to Italian applicants who are interested in partnership with Canada for an innovative, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.
Likewise, every year the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa assigns Ingegno Italiano Award to Italian researchers in Canada who distinguish themselves for outstanding scientific results and for keeping scientific connection with Italy.