2021-22 Departmental Plan: Operating context
Health research plays an important role in improving health outcomes for Canadians and people around the world, as well as in contributing to the overall societal and economic prosperity of Canada. With the changing health research landscape and COVID-19 pressures, CIHR seeks to ensure that its approach to health research in Canada supports rigorous scientific methods to advance knowledge and provide solutions to Canada’s health challenges.
As part of this commitment, CIHR will launch its new Strategic Plan to guide organizational operations and investments from 2021 to 2031. The Strategic Plan development entailed a comprehensive consultation process with key stakeholders from all levels of government, the research community (both domestic and international), Indigenous organizations, health care and charitable sectors, as well as representatives from the Canadian public. With this new Strategic Plan, CIHR is seeking to lay the foundation for the future of Canada’s health research ecosystem.
In 2021–22, CIHR will implement a new approach to planning and prioritization in order to support operationalization of the Strategic Plan, as well as the government of Canada’s response to COVID-19. This prioritization process will be the first component of a multi-phased integrated planning and investment approach, through an iterative process, to enhance the way CIHR establishes its priorities and allocates its resources. To this end, CIHR is developing a Year 1 Strategic Plan Action Plan aimed at monitoring performance of key commitments identified as part of the implementation of the Strategic Plan priorities and strategies. The outcome of the action plan will support CIHR’s efforts in advancing knowledge in the evolving research landscape.
More broadly, CIHR is part of the Health Portfolio, which supports the Minister of Health in maintaining and improving the health of Canadians. CIHR also works closely with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the two granting councils of the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio, to share information and coordinate efforts, harmonize practices, avoid duplication and foster multidisciplinary research. CIHR will continue to collaborate with its Tri-Agency partners to invest in talented people and research, while facilitating knowledge translation through collaborations with stakeholders to help foster a culture of health research innovation. As a member of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee, CIHR will also continue to engage with its Tri-Agency partners and the Canada Foundation for Innovation in order to advance federal research priorities and the coordination of policies and programs.
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