Newsletter
As 2025 draws to a close, the CCA team is delighted to celebrate a year marked by connection, innovation, and impact across Canada’s science and policy ecosystem. This year, our community came together to advance evidence-informed decision-making, forge new partnerships, and spark national conversations on issues that matter. From memorable report releases and dynamic conferences to the evolution of our leadership and the expansion of our collaborative network, each moment reflects our shared commitment to excellence and progress.
1. Growing our community
Our online community grew by 30% this year. In an environment rife with misinformation, people are seeking out trusted, credible sources. CCA remains committed to engaging with our audience and providing timely, evidence-informed insights across our platforms. You can find us on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
2. Fueling a national conversation on Canada’s lagging science, technology, and innovation performance
The State of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Canada 2025 has sparked a critical conversation about Canada’s scientific and economic future. The latest report in CCA’s flagship series is the most robust yet, incorporating novel measurement approaches, a bibliometric analysis, eight synthesis papers, and insights on the Indigenous dimensions of science, technology, and innovation in Canada. The report series, which began in 2006, sets out the essential context for understanding innovation performance in Canada and how we compare internationally, and identifies barriers and knowledge gaps to improve outcomes.
3. Leading in a time of change
As the CCA entered an exciting new chapter in our evolution, guided by our new strategic plan, we also welcomed new leadership on two important governance committees this year. With the appointments of Dr. Soheil Asgarpour as chair of our Board of Directors and Dr. Maydianne Andrade as chair of our Scientific Advisory Committee, we are embracing new ideas and fresh perspectives to inform the CCA’s next chapter. And we’re not done: Building on this momentum, we have launched a call for two new board directors to further expand the breadth and diversity of our leadership.
4. Bridging evidence for policy
The CCA was intentional about building relationships and fostering important connections in 2025. With support from Braiding Knowledges Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the CCA was honoured to host a workshop on successful braiding knowledges projects to complement the ongoing work of the Expert Panel on Indigenous Science and Food Sovereignty. The workshop engaged experts and knowledge holders to discuss the successful elements of braiding Indigenous and western knowledges and knowledge systems. The workshop proceedings and the expert panel report will be released in 2026.
5. Pressing needs, responsive insight
The Future of Hydrological and Meteorological Services in Canada landed at a time of enormous transformation for public weather services, including the emergence of AI in service delivery and weather forecasting and prediction, as well as the accelerating, unpredictable impacts of climate change. In addition to its timeliness, the CCA’s report on the future of hydro-meteorological services represents a faster, more nimble approach to addressing pressing evidence needs while maintaining the integrity, quality, and independence of our work that decision-makers rely on.
6. Connecting the dots at the Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC)
The Canadian Science Policy Conference is an annual must-attend event for researchers and policy-makers alike—providing a venue for bold ideas, novel connections, and practical plans for collective action. The opening plenary session—moderated by our president and CEO, Tijs Creutzberg, and featuring the release of the State of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Canada 2025 report—drew a packed audience and sparked important conversations throughout the conference, while we were pleased to welcome partners and visitors to our high-traffic booth to learn about our work, current projects, and opportunities for collaboration.
7. Adopting a modern research mindset
In a time of global uncertainty and dynamic geopolitics, the tensions among open science, research security, and sensitive research have never been more apparent. Rapid technological advancement and the potential for actors to misuse or misappropriate Canadian research highlight the need for all research ecosystem participants to adopt a proactive and collaborative approach to research security that addresses current and potential threats while balancing open science and innovation. The release of Balancing Research Security and Open Science garnered 261 media mentions with a reach of more than 76 million people and has spurred an evolving dialogue on research security in Canada and internationally.
8. Strategic Science Fund projects deliver tailored evidence directly to decision-makers
Each year, the Government of Canada invites departments and agencies to identify priority questions that would benefit from independent, expert assessment by the CCA. The 2025 call for proposals was highly successful, attracting strong interest and 18 submissions that reflect the breadth and complexity of today’s policy challenges. These assessments are funded by the federal government through the Strategic Science Fund (SSF), continuing the CCA’s long-standing role in examining issues of national importance identified by the federal government. While the SSF call is a key pathway for launching assessments, it is not the only one: the CCA works with a range of partners in different ways, and our door is always open to explore new opportunities for advancing evidence-informed decision-making in Canada. Do you have an idea and want to explore the opportunities? Get in touch!
9. Team Canada at AAAS
The CCA team was proud to join Canada’s Chief Science Advisor in Boston as part of the “Team Canada” delegation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in February 2025. We were able to strengthen ties with our international partners, and reinforce Canada’s commitment to science and evidence-informed decision-making. We’re looking forward to continuing those conversations and advancing Canada’s leadership on policy issues of global importance.
10. Leveraging the collective power of the science-for-policy ecosystem
This year, the CCA deepened its ongoing partnerships and launched new collaborations with organizations including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR), and Braiding Knowledges Canada. These relationships are helping to shape timely, relevant and evidence-informed insights on emerging issues across Canada’s research and policy landscape. Together, they strengthen our ability to convene expertise, support high-quality assessments, and amplify the impact of our work.
As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited by the possibilities before us and grateful for the continued support and engagement of partners and individuals like you.