This communication provides guidance to faculty and researchers on how to navigate the Government of Canada’s January 2024 policy on research security.
University of Waterloo faculty and graduate student researchers will continue to be fully supported by the Office of Research and the Safeguarding Research team on all areas of this federal policy.
Overview
In January 2024, the Government of Canada announced the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy). This policy is designed to protect Canada’s research ecosystem from foreign influence by research institutions connected to military, national defence, or state security entities who pose a risk to Canada’s national security. This policy was effective May 1, 2024, and applies to all grant applications submitted to federal funding agencies (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) and to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for research that will advance one or more sensitive technology research areas.
The policy is based on two lists which operate in conjunction:
- Named Research Organizations (NRO) – list of 103 foreign research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security due to their direct, or indirect connections with military, national defence, and state security entities.
- Sensitive Technology Research Areas (STRA) – list of 11 high-level sensitive technology research areas, each with sub-categories indicating the sensitive technology research area.
Grant applications involving research that aims to advance a sub-category as listed in the STRA list will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are currently affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support, from an NRO.
Grant applications involving research that aims to advance a sub-category as listed in the STRA list will not be funded if any of the researchers involved in activities supported by the grant are currently affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support, from an NRO.
This policy applies to current and ongoing affiliations with listed institutions. Past affiliations, such as a researcher who previously obtained an undergraduate degree from an NRO but is no longer affiliated with it, fall outside the scope of the policy.
Responsibilities of Researchers
Researchers must familiarize themselves with the STRAC policy prior to applying for a Tri-Agency or CFI research grant.
Grant applicants must undertake a two-step process to determine what requirements apply.
Safeguarding Research Team Support
While researchers are individually responsible for complying with the STRAC policy, the Safeguarding Research team will support researchers in navigating the requirements of this policy. We will work closely with you on applying this two-step process in your grant applications. If you have any immediate concerns or questions about this policy or its implementation, please contact the Safeguarding Research team.
Charmaine B. Dean
Vice-President, Research and International
Office of the Vice-President, Research and International
