Canadian universities are preparing to move swiftly on international recruitment as the federal government is expected to unveil new funding for scientific research in the upcoming Budget 2025. The initiative comes in response to growing instability in U.S. academic funding and policies under former president Donald Trump that created a void in the global research landscape.

Over the past year, countries including France, Australia, Denmark, Spain, and Norway have introduced incentives to lure top scientific talent. Canada has delayed action so far, but universities are hopeful that the federal government will approve proposals aimed at strengthening the nation’s research ecosystem.

A standout initiative is the Polaris Platform, developed by Quebec’s leading research universities. This plan requests hundreds of millions in funding to hire 25 to 100 international research leaders, support up to 500 PhD students, 300 postdoctoral researchers, and create 150 new faculty positions across Canadian institutions.

Dr. Vincent Poitout, vice-rector for research and innovation at the University of Montreal and an author of the Polaris plan, confirmed that institutions are ready to fast-track hiring once funding is confirmed. He added that the recent surge in applications for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs program shows Canada’s potential to attract world-class talent displaced from the U.S.

The shift follows Trump-led attempts to cut funding for key U.S. agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, alongside political interventions targeting university diversity and foreign enrollment. These moves have fueled uncertainty, making the U.S. a less reliable destination for global scholars.

In the recent federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government pledged to enhance Canadian scientific capacity through the Canadian Sovereignty and Resilience Research Fund. The promise included welcoming international researchers affected by U.S. policy changes to help solve Canadian challenges and contribute to the global market.

Budget 2025, to be tabled on November 4, is expected to shed light on how the government plans to fulfill this promise. Universities across Canada have already shortlisted top candidates and anticipate that recruited scientists could establish labs and relocate within months of approval.

With rising global competition and growing academic tensions in the U.S., Canada is positioning itself as a new hub for scientific innovation and talent retention.