UCalgary to lead national research partnership to improve Canada’s productivity with historic grant

Calgary, AB – The University of Calgary will lead a national effort to strengthen Canada’s economic productivity and enhance the country’s long-term resilience and prosperity through a 15-year investment from the Government of Canada.

Recognizing the urgent need to address Canada’s declining productivity relative to our major trading partners, UCalgary’s School of Public Policy hosted Canada’s Productivity Summit in Fall 2024 and followed it up with a series of sessions in cities across the country over the last year.

Now, through a $6-million investment from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), UCalgary economics professor Trevor Tombe will direct 30 researchers across 15 organizations in a new national research partnership in an expanded Canada’s Productivity Initiative to develop policy recommendations to boost productivity nationally.

The 15-year grant is the first bestowed by SSHRC through its new Policy Innovation Partnership Grants program. The program was developed to fund long-term research programs that have a sustained focus and flexibility to tackle enduring policy challenges. Canada’s Productivity Initiative will leverage high-impact research in the social sciences and humanities to develop and enact transformative economic policy.

“Boosting Canada’s productivity requires bold ideas, strong partnerships and research that drives real‑world impact. This investment brings together leading experts from across the country and will generate the evidence and insight needed to shape smarter economic policy for the long term. The Government of Canada is proud to support this innovative, collaborative work that strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and builds a more prosperous future for all Canadians.”
 
The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Following the national summit in Calgary in Fall 2024, Canada’s Productivity Initiative held follow up events across Canada to address specific aspects of productivity. Sessions were in Ottawa (tax, competition policy), Halifax (interprovincial trade), Vancouver (infrastructure, transportation), Montreal (talent, immigration), Saskatoon (agriculture, natural resources) and will conclude in Toronto (innovation, technology) on February 12, 2026.

“This investment recognizes the University of Calgary as the leading national research institution on addressing the challenges of Canada’s flagging productivity. We didn’t wait to be asked to take this on, we put our considerable research excellence on the table and began asking the tough questions that will lead to solutions. I’m thrilled the School of Public Policy has been tasked by the federal government to get this important work done.
 
Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary

Under the leadership of Professor Tombe, Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy at the School of Public Policy, this partnership brings together more than 30 team members, six federal government partners and university partners in four provinces. 

Through working groups, embedded researcher programs and joint conferences, Canada’s Productivity Initiative will support lasting collaboration between researchers and policymakers, producing knowledge and evidence that can be applied to long-term decision-making.

“Productivity has been an issue for Canada for a long time and it’s getting worse. We can’t just talk about it. We are focused on the actionable things we can finally do to turn our productivity challenges around. For the School of Public Policy, this is an incredible opportunity to build on the great work we did in the last year, now with others across the country.”
 
Martha Hall Findlay, director, School of Public Policy and James S. and Barbara A. Palmer Chair in Public Policy

“Productivity is at the heart of nearly every economic challenge Canada faces today — from affordability and trade competitiveness to the sustainability of our public finances. This partnership is about turning world-class research into practical insight for decision-makers on a national scale. The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy is bringing together a broad network of researchers and policy partners and creating a long-lasting platform whose impact can compound over time — strengthening prosperity in Canada not just next year, but for decades to come.”
 
Dr. Trevor Tombe, economics professor in the Faculty of Arts, director of Economic and Fiscal Policy with the School of Public Policy, lead on Canada’s Productivity Initiative

With the inaugural competition launched in September 2025, SSHRC’s Policy Innovation Partnership Grants is a pilot program designed to support partnerships between postsecondary institutions and at least one federal government department and establish long-term research programs focusing on areas of importance to Canada’s future.

Canada’s Productivity Initiative includes federal government partners (Bank of Canada; Finance Canada; Global Affairs Canada; Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; and Statistics Canada), university partners (HEC Montréal, Memorial University, Western University, McMaster University and the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto) and non-governmental partners (the Centre for the Study of Living Standards, the Alberta Centre for Labour Market Research and the Canadian AI Adoption Initiative).

Media inquiries

Sean Myers
Interim Manager, Media Relations
University of Calgary
403.561.7405
sean.myers2@ucalgary.ca

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university in this country’s most enterprising city. The youngest top five research university in Canada, UCalgary is a leader in startup creation and research innovation. With groundbreaking discoveries in child health, quantum computing and water sustainability, we’re transforming bold ideas into real-world impact. Curious and determined, our 38,000 students are using hands-on learning to forge bright futures for all. Ready to take the leap? Start something at UCalgary.

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