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Global Research Excellence (GRE) Seed Fund


York’s Global Research Excellence (GRE) Seed Fund aims to supercharge the efforts of York’s emerging and established research leaders to collaboratively build and lead impactful global research networks. Being one of Canada’s largest research-intensive universities, York operates on a global scale by serving as an international hub for many critical areas of inquiry.

York’s Global Research Excellence (GRE) Seed Fund fulfills the University’s commitment, in Engaging the World: York University’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy launched in 2023, to strengthen international research engagement by investing in a seed fund to catalyze such collaborations. The Research & Innovation pillar of York’s Global Engagement Strategy focuses on

  1. Cluster Development & Team Science: Strengthening and scaling the development of internationally networked research clusters at York
  2. Talent: Attracting and retaining emerging talent (PhD, PDFs, ECRs, MCR etc.) and research leaders from around the world
  3. Global Reach: Enable results and impact-driven research

GRE program will initially start with supporting investigator-driven collaborations (where PIs select global partners) and in the coming years, we will explore the possibility of supporting targeted calls with select international partners based on complementary strengths and external funding opportunities (e.g. Horizon).

GRE aims to advance priorities established in York’s Strategic Research Plan (SRP). The SRP has prioritized York researchers address the following pressing issues of our time:

  • Digital Cultures and Disruptive Technologies
  • Healthy Communities, Equity and Global Well-Being
  • Indigenous Futurities
  • Climate Action for a Sustainable Planet
  • Social Justice, Peace and Equitable Relations

Building international, values-driven partnerships underscores York University’s dedication to working together cross-culturally to address critical world issues. The GRE Fund is an investment in the transformative work of the York community and will provide mutually beneficial opportunities for our researchers, students and partners to continue to translate research outcomes into social and economic benefits in Canada and beyond.

Rhonda Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor
York University