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Governor General's Innovation Award
This pre-call framework is based on previous Governor General’s Innovation Awards competitions and is subject to change based on updates from the Governor General of Canada.
The Governor General's Innovation Awards are to celebrate excellence in innovation across all sectors of Canadian society and inspire Canadians, particularly Canadian youth, to be entrepreneurial innovators. The Awards are given to individuals, teams and/or organizations whose innovations are truly exceptional, transformative, and positive in their impact on quality of life in Canada. They recognize current innovators across the breadth of our economy and society and help foster and celebrate innovation that is having a meaningful impact on our lives.
Recipients from previous years can be found here.
Eligibility
Eligible nominees for this award are:
- Citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
- Individuals, Teams, or Organizations for any sector.
- The nomination is for a specific innovation and the impact of the innovation is current.
Please note: The awards are not intended for lifetime achievement or innovations that have not yet demonstrated impact.
Nomination Process
Nominations are sought through a national network of organizations that have been designated as nominating partners.
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, The Royal Society of Canada, and Universities Canada are 2027 nominating partners of the Governor General's Innovation Awards. These organizations will be submitting nominations on behalf of its member institutions.
A complete nomination must include:
- Contact details for the nominator, nominee or team members and the nominating partner
- Confirmation that the nominee(s) is/are aware of and accept(s) the nomination
- A summary explaining the nature, significance and impact of the nominee's innovation or innovative activities. (Maximum 500 characters, including spaces.)
- Specific evidence of how the nomination addresses each of the three selection criteria. Please address the following questions:
- Inspiration: How does the process leading to this innovation, its implementation and its developer(s) inspire future innovators in Canada? (Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces)
- Leadership: How did the innovator(s) demonstrate leadership in their work on this innovation? Discuss evidence of initiative, collaboration, risk-taking and problem-solving in the process of developing and implementing the innovation. (Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces)
- Impact: Does the innovation in question have a positive effect in the world? Describe the successful implementation of the innovation in the sector, economy, society or culture, and the role of the nominee(s) in that implementation. (Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces)
If the innovation is not commercialized, or if impact is not easily quantifiable, please use qualitative data and/or storytelling to demonstrate the transformative impact.
Complete the nomination online using the Submission Portal (link coming soon).
Program Resources
- Information will be available when the awards open September 2026.
Deadlines
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
| Date | Required Steps |
|---|---|
|
September 9, 2026 |
Notice of Intent to Apply – email rwprizes@uwo.ca if you wish to have Research Awards & Distinctions support and coordination of your nomination. |
|
September 29, 2026 |
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences – submission information to be confirmed. |
Royal Society of Canada
| Date | Required Steps |
|---|---|
|
September 18, 2026 |
Notice of Intent to Apply – email rwprizes@uwo.ca if you wish to have Research Awards & Distinctions support and coordination of your nomination. |
|
November 6, 2026 |
Royal Society of Canada – send a complete nomination form to rwprizes@uwo.ca |
Universities Canada
| Date | Required Steps |
|---|---|
|
September 18, 2026 |
Notice of Intent to Apply – email rwprizes@uwo.ca if you wish to have Research Awards & Distinctions support and coordination of your nomination. |
|
TBA 2026 |
Universities Canada – submit an innovation for consideration to Universities Canada using the Submission Portal. |
EDID Supports
Western Research offers support and resources for knowledge mobilization, Indigenous Research, and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization. You can complete a request for support form to receive more information or request additional support. If you are unsure if your project involves Indigenous research, it is recommended that you contact Western Research early for determination and support.
Contact Us
Potential nominators and nominees are asked to contact Research Awards & Distinctions at rwprizes@uwo.ca regarding nominations to this program.