Policy on Sensitive Technology Research & Affiliations of Concern (STRAC)

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 is effective May 1, 2024, and applies to 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.

This policy applies to current and ongoing affiliations with the listed institutions. Past affiliations, for example, a researcher who previously obtained an undergraduate degree from an NRO but is no longer affiliated with it, will fall outside the scope of the policy.

Responsibilities of Researchers

Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the STRAC policy prior to applying for a Tri-Agency or CFI research grant.

Researchers must undertake a two-step process to determine what requirements apply:

Two-step process to determine what requirements apply to researchers when applying for a Tri-Agency or CFI research grant

Step 1: Will your research advance any Sensitive Technology Research Areas?

Determine if the proposed research advances at least one of the sub-categories listed in the STRA. To “advance” research means that the research supported during the course of the grant will aim to support the generation or discovery of knowledge that contributes to progress in the development of a technology described in the sub-categories of the list of STRAs.

IF the research grant WILL NOT advance any sub-category listed in the STRA, then no further action is required under this policy.

Step 2: Verify researchers' affiliations and complete attestation requirements.

For grant applications that WILL advance a STRA, applicants need to determine if any of the researchers with named roles in the grant application are affiliated with, or receiving funding or in-kind support from, an NRO.

If no affiliations exist, ALL researchers with named roles on the grant application must fill out and submit an Attestation Form certifying their compliance with the STRAC policy. Attestations cannot be provided on behalf of others. The primary applicant is responsible for collecting and submitting all individual attestation forms.

For the duration of the grant, all researchers with named roles, including all HQP and collaborators involved in research activities supported by the grant, must comply with the policy.

Internal deadlines for safeguarding research assessments for federal applications with STRAC.

Safeguarding Research Team Support

While researchers are individually responsible for ensuring compliance with the STRAC policy, the Safeguarding Research team is committed to supporting 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.

Further information on the impact of this policy on our internal Office of Research procedures will be addressed in a forthcoming communication.

Other Resources

Government of Canada - Research Security

Mitigating economic and/or geopolitical risks in sensitive research projects: A tool for university researchers

Safeguarding Your Research portal (ISED - best practices to guarding your data, expertise and knowledge)

Guide to Research Partnerships with Canada’s Universities