University of Toronto

Published purpose

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program targets the very top tier of world-class researchers in priority areas identified by the Federal Government. The CERC Program aims to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract the world’s top researchers in order to be at the leading edge of breakthroughs in priority research areas expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians; to help Canada build a critical mass of expertise in priority areas identified by the government; to create a competitive environment to help Canadian universities attract a cadre of world leading researchers in their pursuit of excellence in their research; and to contribute to the branding of Canada as a location of choice for world-leading research, science and technology development along with other federal programs with similar objectives.