FRI Funding Recipients

Focused Research Investments (FRI) is a unique funding program designed to advance research that tackles Nova Scotia’s salient issues, pursing discoveries that are timely, relevant, and actionable for those who need it.

FRI supports researchers, partners, and beneficiaries to work together to define a societal challenge and focus their research efforts to solve it.

Research Nova Scotia (RNS) awarded $27 million to four projects through it’s new Focused Research Investments (FRI) initiative. This is RNS’s largest investment to date and its most significant in community-engaged, outcomes-driven research.

KEY ELEMENTS OF EACH FRI

1. Outcome-focused: Beneficiaries are engaged in defining the problem and designing the research projects to achieve specified outcomes.
2. Research-driven: Solving the challenge requires research – discovery that produce knowledge. A logical set of research activities are identified.
3. Coordination: The work requires coordination across groups, disciplines, or sectors.
4. Broad societal value: Outputs are applicable in different ways and for different end users.
5. Need: The issue is relevant and urgent for Nova Scotia.
6. Capacity to Deliver: The team has the expertise, passion, and ambition to do the job.

FUNDED PROJECTS

Etuaptmu’k W’loti: Using Mi’kmaw Knowledge to Create Health & Wellness Solutions

RNS funding contribution: $7 million
Host institution: IWK Health and Tajikeimɨk

Expected outcome: Improve access to culturally safe health and healing experiences for Mi’kmaw children and youth across Mi’kma’ki.

Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotians

RNS funding contribution: $12.4 million
Host institution: Cape Breton University

Expected outcome: Enable aging rural Nova Scotians to stay in the home they choose through coordinated healthcare, housing, and social supports.

Unifying Networks to Innovate (UNITE): A Whole Systems Approach for Youth Mental Health

RNS funding contributions: $6.5 million
Host institution: Dalhousie University

Expected outcome: Advance system-wide innovations for more supportive, effective, and equitable approaches to youth mental health and addictions care in Nova Scotia.

Creating Integrated Restorative Communities for Locally Engaged Solutions (CIRCLES-NS)

RNS funding contributions: $1 million
Host institution: Restorative Lab, Dalhousie/C.I.C

Create pathways to healthier communities and better quality of life for Nova Scotians by generating the resources and support needed to address local issues together.