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.
Society Driving Research.
Research in service of Society.
FRI Two-Pager
background
Released in January 2024, the consultation paper describes the motivation and model for Focused Research Investments.
The position paper builds on the concept paper and the extensive engagement with the research community in January and February 2024, and provides context for research teams developing FRI proposals.
FRI in the news
Nova Scotia launches program to fund interdisciplinary research driven by societal outcomes (Mark Lowey, Research Money)
Research NS awarding $27 million to community-based research projects (Global News Halifax)
NS spends $27M on health-care projects (CTV News)
Four Nova Scotia community-focused research projects receive $27 million (Madiha Mughees, Halifax Examiner)
Nova Scotia sets sail on a new course to support research that benefits communities (Mark Lowey, Research Money)
aNNOUNCEMENT OF THE FIRST COHORT OF FRI RECIPIENTS
interview with stefan leslie & melissa flagg
Focused Research Investments: What, Why, How, The Response, and Next Steps
BEYOND RESEARCH PODCAST
Addressing the Gaps: Focused Research Investments
Season 3, Episode 7, Published March 6, 2024
In this episode, we continue our thought-provoking conversation with Stefan Leslie and Dr. Melissa Flagg. If you missed the last episode, Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System, you might want to listen to it first. It set the context for this discussion on a new initiative in Nova Scotia: Focused Research Investments (FRI).
Listen as we discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in reshaping the research landscape, with a particular emphasis on salient, collaborative research, community engagement, and the pursuit of impactful solutions for society – solutions that address immediate problems but also have applicability in other ways and areas. We hope you enjoy the conclusion of this insightful discussion.
Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System
Season 3, Episode 6, Published February 28, 2024
This episode is a conversation between Dr. Melissa Flagg and Stefan Leslie that explores the challenges of tackling wicked and super wicked problems at both global and local scales, and the importance of understanding problems and the environments in which they exist.
They talk about gaps in the current research system, and how to experiment with different ways to support research. Melissa will talk about how important it is to understand the constraints that conditions what research should be done – and how that makes the research better. Stefan will explore the value of supporting research that solves problems but creates knowledge that is valuable in other circumstances or situations.
The Beyond Research Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.