Polar Knowledge Canada · Contribution program
Northern Science and Technology Program
The program aims to create a strong research presence in Canada’s Arctic through POLAR. The program builds a knowledge base to support effective solutions to Arctic issues, northern policy and research development, and advances Canada’s position as a leading Arctic nation.
- Total value
- $24.9M
- Agreements
- 56
- Jul 2017 to Jul 2023
- Median agreement
- $397K
- Typical range
- $248K–$450K
- the middle half of agreements
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026.
See every record for this program on the government’s search. How to apply: look up the program on Polar Knowledge Canada’s website.
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program.
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 11 | $4.6M |
| 2018 | 2 | $4M |
| 2020 | 1 | $448K |
| 2021 | 17 | $6.9M |
| 2022 | 14 | $4.6M |
| 2023 | 11 | $4.4M |
By province
| Province or territory | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 13 | $8.6M |
| Quebec | 13 | $5M |
| Northwest Territories | 7 | $4.9M |
| Yukon | 7 | $1.7M |
| Alberta | 5 | $1.7M |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3 | $1.1M |
| Nunavut | 4 | $1M |
| British Columbia | 3 | $523K |
| Saskatchewan | 1 | $440K |
By type of recipient
As the department classified the recipient.
| Recipient type | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Academia | 28 | $13.5M |
| Indigenous recipients | 13 | $6.6M |
| Government | 7 | $3.4M |
| Not-for-profit organizations and charities | 5 | $875K |
| Other organizations | 3 | $536K |
Industries funded
Where the department recorded an industry code (NAICS). Most agreements have none.
| Industry group | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Universities | 8 | $4.1M |
| Scientific research and development services | 1 | $352K |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2023 | Yukon Government, Department of Environment | Livelihoods and the changing ecology of wolves and moose in the Porcupine Caribou rangeContribution | $301,035 |
| Jun 2023 | Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation | North Yukon Climate Solutions Circle of Experts (NYCS)Contribution | $272,608 |
| Jun 2023 | Government of Northwest Territories | Collaborative Barren-Ground Caribou Initiative: Understanding drivers of population trendsContribution | $1,950,000 |
| Jun 2023 | Teslin Tlingit Council | Win:win solutions for climate change adaptation in YukonContribution | $378,156 |
| Jun 2023 | First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun | Monitoring and mapping the cumulative impacts of land use and climate change on surface water quality in the Stewart River watershed and southern traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk DunContribution | $331,300 |
| May 2023 | Université de Montréal | Building Climate Capacity: Supporting Adaptation in Kluane First Nation Traditional TerritoryContribution | $431,020 |
| Apr 2023 | Queen's University | Impacts of cryosphere-hydrosphere change on ecosystems and livelihoods in northern Nunatsiavut, CanadaContribution | $449,500 |
| Mar 2023 | Live It Earth Productions Inc. | Barren-ground caribou education programContribution | $48,000 |
| Feb 2023 | Yukon University | Training opportunity in the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and east of Old Crow, YukonGrant | $15,000 |
| Feb 2023 | Aurora College | Training in techniques for mapping permafrost affected watershedsGrant | $13,697 |
| Feb 2023 | Eagle Hill Energy Limited Partnership (EHELP) | Mount Sumanik wind resource assessment projectContribution | $170,000 |
| Dec 2022 | Students on Ice (SOI) Foundation | 2022 SOI Youth Delegation to AntarcticaGrant | $59,756 |
| Sep 2022 | Université Laval | Arctic Char Migrations in a Changing Arctic (ACMCA)Contribution | $449,777 |
| May 2022 | The Governors of the University of Calgary | Emerging Zoonoses in Wildlife: Understanding the Ecology, Transmission and Impacts of Brucella and Erysipelothrix for Conservation and Food Security in the Changing ArcticContribution | $450,000 |
| May 2022 | York University | Inuksiutit: Food Sovereignty in Nunavut and the co-production of country food knowledgeContribution | $300,000 |
| Apr 2022 | University of Ottawa | Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit on Arctic Shipping Risks in Inuit NunangatContribution | $448,620 |
| Apr 2022 | Wilfrid Laurier University | Beavers and Socio-ecological Resilience in Inuit NunangatContribution | $450,000 |
| Apr 2022 | University of Saskatchewan | Carving out Climate Testimony: Inuit Youth, Wellness & Environmental StewardshipContribution | $440,316 |
| Apr 2022 | Makivik Corporation | Community-led wildlife health monitoring for a resilient and healthy NunavikContribution | $450,000 |
| Mar 2022 | Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami | Supporting Inuit Self-Determination in Research and Data with the National Inuit Data Management CommitteeContribution | $500,000 |
| Mar 2022 | Wilfrid Laurier University | Building capacity in forest monitoring and fire ecologyGrant | $54,000 |
| Mar 2022 | Nunavut Arctic College | Enhancing Course Content with Virtual Reality TechnologyGrant | $60,000 |
| Mar 2022 | Yukon University | STEM educational program supportGrant | $131,814 |
| Feb 2022 | Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources, Lands, Municipal and Community Affairs, Youth and Seniors | NWT Science Program Development and Engagement WorkshopsContribution | $35,000 |
| Jan 2022 | Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami | Enhancing ITK Research and Collaboration of NISR ImplementationContribution | $795,000 |