Funding, News and Announcements

SSHRC is pleased to announce the official release of the Canadian Research and Development Classification (CRDC).

Since December 2017, SSHRC has collaborated with CIHR, NSERC, CFI and Statistics Canada on the development of a new research classification standard for Canada. The CRDC is based on internationally recognized best practices in standards development and its development included in-depth consultations with subject matter experts from various research areas and disciplines.

The CRDC will allow researchers, research institutions and funding organizations to categorize research according to three criteria: the field of research; whether the research is considered fundamental, applied, or experimental development; and, the socioeconomic objectives of the research.

The CRDC is designed to be inclusive of all current research sectors in Canada, while contributing to greater alignment with international standards. It is comprehensive enough to support a wide range of needs within the R&D ecosystem.

Although SSHRC is not in a position to immediately implement the CRDC in its legacy systems, it will be introduced as those systems are replaced. The CRDC can be adopted by any organization, including postsecondary institutions, provincial and territorial granting agencies, and R&D institutes.

The CRDC is expected to evolve over time and include systematic revisions and updates within two years of release, and every five years thereafter.

For more information or questions on the CRDC, please contact Ariadne Legendre at Ariadne.legendre@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca