Funding for Applied Research

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The Harris Centre provides funding for applied research in all areas related to public policy and regional development. For the purposes of our funding programs:

  • "Public policy" is defined as any activity which aims to influence the decisions of government departments and agencies.
  • "Regional development" is defined as any activity which aims to improve the social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions within Newfoundland and Labrador.

Of course, there is a great deal of overlap between these two areas, and applicants are not required to specify whether their research project is intended for one or the other definition. The common theme, though, is that research projects funded by the Harris Centre must have some practical application to Newfoundland and Labrador.

For all of the Harris Centre's funding programs, the principal investigator must be from Memorial University. As conditions dictate, partners may be from other universities, from stakeholder organizations within the province, or from elsewhere. Some funding programs may be open to faculty and students, while some may be limited to one or the other.

As much as possible, the Harris Centre attempts to limit the paperwork involved in applying for research funding and attempts to speed up the approval process.

Current Harris Centre funds include:

  • The Harris Centre Thriving Regions Applied Research Fund provides up to $15,000 per project for community-prioritized research that impacts sustainability in specific regions of the province. 

  • The Community Scholars fund provides $10000 for up to 10 projects annually for faculty and post-doctoral fellows to reconnect with our province and spend time face-to-face in the small towns that make Newfoundland and Labrador unique.  

The Harris Centre is always seeking new sources of funding for applied research projects. If you have any suggestions for a new research fund, please let us know (harriscentre@mun.ca).