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What Are the Top Fields of Canada-India Research Collaboration in 2026?
Canada and India are deepening research collaboration across AI and machine learning, clean energy and climate tech, critical minerals extraction and processing, agricultural technology and food security, public health innovation, and sustainable urban development. These fields represent where Canadian expertise in technology and environmental solutions converge with India’s massive scale, innovation capacity, and urgent sustainability challenges- creating research partnerships generating knowledge valuable globally.
Collaboration Landscape: 2026 Overview
Field | Key Program | Universities/Organizations Involved |
AI & Machine Learning | University of Toronto Computer Science; McGill AI Research | U of T, McGill, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi |
Clean Energy | UofT India Foundation Energy Research | U of T Engineering, IIT Madras, MNRE India |
Critical Minerals | Natural Resources Canada Partnership | University of British Columbia, U of T, Indian Bureau of Mines |
Agri-Tech | University of Guelph-India Programs | U of Guelph, Punjab Agricultural University, ICAR |
Public Health | McMaster-India Health Partnerships | McMaster, University of Toronto, AIIMS Delhi |
Urban Sustainability | UofT India Foundation Research Catalyst Grants | U of T School of Cities, IIT Madras, TISS Mumbai |
How Are Canada and India Collaborating on AI?
by harnessing the strengths of Canada in technology applications through its experts in machine learning and computer science with India’s experience of harnessing the power of data, software development, and real-world applications. Researchers from the University of Toronto collaborate with IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi to explore the possibilities of development of technologies such as facial recognition for public services, traffic improvements in Indian cities, and predictive analytics for agriculture and health care.
The AI and the City Conference was organized by UofT India Foundation in association with IIIT Bangalore. The conference witnessed the participation of 28 research teams from 12 countries, including researchers exploring the way AI can be used for making cities more sustainable- be it dealing with smart city infrastructure, traffic optimization, or analyzing environmental data. Thus, Indian scholars are providing unique perspectives in studying the application of AI in cities while Canadian scholars can add methodological depth to study protocols in ways not possible in India.
What Clean Energy Projects Exist?
Canada-India clean energy collaboration addresses India’s massive renewable energy deployment needs through research on solar efficiency, wind optimization, energy storage systems, and grid integration. University of Toronto’s Department of Chemical Engineering partners with IIT Madras on battery technologies and energy storage innovations critical for high renewable penetration grids.
The UofT India Foundation supports research examining how distributed renewable energy systems can serve rural areas lacking grid access- a challenge affecting hundreds of millions of Indians. Canadian expertise in grid modernization and storage technology transfers to Indian contexts where researchers develop solutions appropriate for local conditions, affordability constraints, and infrastructure realities. Clean energy research generates knowledge applicable across the Global South facing similar decarbonization imperatives.
Why Do Critical Minerals Matter?
Lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth minerals are some of the important minerals that are necessary for renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and advanced technology. Both Canada and India have rich deposits of these valuable minerals, but mining and processing of these minerals presents environmental and societal problems. The study aims to learn the sustainable mining processes, the rehabilitation of the environment and creation of processing methods with the least harmful effect on the environment.
Natural Resources Canada collaborates with the Indian authorities and educational organizations in the price of creation of sustainable methods of mining. The companies like The University of British Columbia and The University of Toronto work with Indian mining research institutions on the improvement of the environmental monitoring, waste disposal and community engagement in mining activities. Thus, cooperation allows both countries to develop the sustainably working minerals sector that would aid in the clean energy transition.
What Agri-Tech Research Is Happening?
The research conducted in agricultural technology seeks to respond to the issues related to food security as both countries deal with challenges in agriculture due to climate impacts on crops. Scientists from the University of Guelph work jointly with the Punjab Agricultural University and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to create crop types suitable for climate change, improvement of water and fertilizer usage through precision agriculture as well as breeding programs focused on resistant crops.
The combination of Canada’s knowledge in the field of agriculture and cold-chain technologies with India’s crop variety makes it possible to create innovations that can be used by farmers in India and help companies to learn something new from them.
How Are They Collaborating on Health?
Public health research collaboration addresses infectious disease control, maternal and child health, non-communicable disease prevention, and health system strengthening. McMaster University and University of Toronto partner with AIIMS Delhi and other Indian medical institutions on pandemic preparedness, vaccine development, and health technology innovation.
Canada-India health collaboration proved particularly valuable during COVID-19, with Canadian researchers contributing expertise in epidemiology and vaccine development while Indian researchers provided frontline insights from managing the pandemic at scale. Ongoing collaboration on tuberculosis, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance reflects recognition that health threats transcend borders. Canadian public health infrastructure knowledge transfers to India’s healthcare systems serving far larger populations with different resource constraints.
What Urban Sustainability Projects Exist?
Research Catalyst Grants awarded by the UofT India Foundation exemplify collaboration in urban sustainability as they fund joint research between University of Toronto researchers and Indian partner organizations on topics like water management, heat resilience, waste systems, and equitable urban development. Our recent projects include researching continuous water supply systems, climate adaptation in vulnerable cities and inclusive urban planning.
The School of Cities of the University of Toronto collaborates with IIT Madras, TISS Mumbai, and other Indian institutes to conduct research that will inform sustainable urban development practices. Research based on Canadian experience managing the impacts of climate informs work on adaptation strategies, while the experience of rapidly growing and densely populated Indian cities leads to development of innovations applicable to growing North American cities. Information moves both ways, with Indian solutions sometimes turning out to be applicable in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which Canadian university leads Canada-India research collaboration?
A: University of Toronto leads substantially across multiple fields through the UofT India Foundation’s comprehensive programs. However, significant collaboration occurs through McGill (AI research), McMaster (health partnerships), University of Guelph (agriculture), and University of British Columbia (critical minerals). Many partnerships involve multiple institutions working simultaneously.
Q: How can Indian researchers access Canadian funding for collaborative projects?
A: The UofT India Foundation’s Research Catalyst Grants explicitly invite Indian researchers to lead partnerships with Canadian faculty. Additionally, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and Canadian Foundation for Innovation provide funding for international collaborative research. Indian researchers should identify Canadian collaborators and jointly apply for funding.
Q: Is Canada-India research collaboration growing or declining?
A: Collaboration is expanding significantly. The UofT India Foundation received 22 Research Catalyst Grant applications in 2025-26, triple the previous year. Government-to-government research agreements are strengthening. Corporate investment in Canadian-Indian research partnerships is increasing, particularly in clean energy and agri-tech. This growth reflects mutual recognition that addressing global challenges requires sustained international research partnerships.
Q: What role does the UofT India Foundation play in Canada-India research?
A: The foundation facilitates research collaboration through Research Catalyst Grants, capacity-building workshops, academic convenings like the AI and the City Conference, and institutional partnerships with premier Indian universities. It serves as bridge between University of Toronto researchers and Indian academic institutions, researchers, and organizations, enabling partnerships that wouldn’t occur through conventional channels alone.
