MINDS Program Pillars

Targeted Engagement Grants (TEGs) respond to defence policy challenges with the goal of informing current and future defence policy-thinking. TEGs provide non-recurring financial support to fund activities such as conferences, workshops, roundtables, and research and publications that  are relevent to DND/CAF and align with defence policy challenges. 

Collaborative networks are research networks, consisting of multi-disciplinary and diverse groups of experts from across Canada and internationally, working together to research specific defence policy challenges. Funding is provided for three years, allowing for more in-depth and nuanced analysis of key issues.

A new scholarship program directly supports the MINDS mandate to foster the next generation of defence and security experts. In partnership with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), MINDS will provide financial support to students pursuing research related to defence and security at the Masters, Doctoral and post-Doctoral levels. Full Master’s scholarships will be offered to Indigenous students whose research relates to defence and security.

MINDS also offers a five-month fellowship for a Canadian defence and security scholar to attend the NATO Defense College in Rome.

Through the Expert Briefing Series, MINDS invites Canadian and international experts to brief a Government of Canada audience on issues of priority for the Defence Team. These presentations are designed to respond to an evolving security environment.

The MINDS Rapid Response Mechanism provides financial support and funding flexibility to respond to the evolving security environment, and the fast-moving requirements for expert advice.