Canada hires US researchers
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The gist
Canada hired 64 researchers, 48 from U.S. schools like Harvard and MIT. The $1.7B initiative aims to counter U.S. research instability.
Background
The Canadian government launched a $1.7 billion initiative to attract world-leading researchers, partly in response to funding instability and policy changes in the U.S. under the Trump administration. The first cohort of 64 researchers, mostly from American universities, was announced on August 27, 2026, with a second round of 63 early-career researchers planned for next year.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2025Canada announced the program as part of a broader $1.2 billion investment in innovation projects.
- May 2026The government offered 659 research training awards to candidates from 72 countries.
- Aug 27, 2026Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the first cohort of 64 researchers, including 48 from U.S. institutions, at UBC in Vancouver.
- Aug 28, 2026Universities celebrated the hires, with UBC welcoming nine researchers and the University of Toronto six.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said 'Canada is doubling down' on science at a time when others were turning away from it.
- Support
- University leaders like UBC's Benoit-Antoine Bacon expressed delight, saying the researchers' work will have 'important and meaningful impact.'
- Caution
- Some commenters on Global News dismissed the announcement as 'anonymous fluff' and questioned trust in the program.
Still unverified
The exact number of researchers from each U.S. institution is not fully specified; some sources list Harvard, Yale, MIT, and others, but the full list is not provided.