New technologies are revolutionizing society, creating a 'techno-social collective' where humans and intelligent machines are deeply interconnected. While such advances present exciting opportunities, they also present significant risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The Connected Minds Program envisions a world where breakthroughs in technology promote social health and justice for all, with special focus on Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Our transdisciplinary research teams and partners will pursue research and co-create technologies that optimize the benefits and mitigate the risks of the new techno-social collective. Supported by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) and 50+ industry, hospital, and community partners, Connected Minds will support programs, researchers, and trainees to create a global hub of critical transdisciplinary scholarship on the configuration of social power and systemic barriers that underpin advances in emerging technologies.
Connected Minds Expertise Pillars: 1) Society, 2) Neuroscience and Behaviour, 3) Intelligent Technologies
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BASIC INFORMATION
CFREF funds have been allocated for a research seed grant program open to registered members of the Connected Minds research group. Requests for Proposals will be released on an annual basis and will normally fund 6-8 grants per call* at a maximum of $75,000 per award over 2 years. Deadlines for each call for this competitively adjudicated program are published on /research/connected-minds/opportunities/.
*At least 20% of these awards (e.g., 1 of 5 in the first cycle) will be set aside for an Indigenous-led proposal and/or is substantially guided by and centers Indigenous community priorities, as determined by the Connected Minds Indigenous Advisory Circle, and that meet the minimum requirements set for the award.
Note: Only registered members of Connected Minds at either 快播视频 who are eligible to hold a cost centre or at Queen's University who are eligible to hold a research project may be the principal investigator.
Connected Minds Seed grants are intended to establish new collaborative research projects that promote community building, investigations, and scholarly activities aligned with the overarching goals and themes described above. They are not intended to replace other funds or support ongoing research projects. They may be exploratory or 鈥榟igh risk鈥 in nature but should include a plan for sustainability if successful.
Specifically, effective seed grants are expected to make meaningful contributions towards fulfilling a subset of Connected Minds' strategic objectives and pivotal performance benchmarks, encompassing:
- Collaborations with industry, academic, government, & community partners (including building relationships with Indigenous communities)
- Increased interdisciplinary scholarship, research, & art creation
- Increased international recognition, collaboration, & leadership
- Contributions to the following three National Science and Innovation Priority Areas (NSIPA): 1) Healthy Canadians, 2) Innovative Resilient Communities 3) Technologically Advanced Canada
These partner focused research grants are designed to generate pilot data to secure follow-on funding from external sources, e.g., Tri-Council. The program is not intended to provide continuing support for ongoing research/creative projects or to serve as a substitute for external funding. The mandate of CFREF is not to replicate existing funding, but to provide an opportunity to secure new and/or greater sources of funding, or perhaps move in a different direction.
SEED GRANT PRIORITY CALLS - SPRING 2026
For the Spring 2026 cycle of Connected Minds Seed Grants, the following priority call areas have been identified. Projects aligned with one or more of these areas will receive priority for funding. Priority will also be given to projects led by Early Career Researchers and projects that demonstrate a clear pathway to policy impact.
Note that projects that do not align with these areas will also be considered.
Connected Minds places strong emphasis on co-created research. In this round of applications, applicants will be expected to clearly articulate why co-creation is essential to their project, including how partners are engaged, what roles they will play, and how this collaboration strengthens the relevance, rigor, and impact of the research.
1) Disruptive and Unintended Cognitive and Behavioural Impacts of AI and Emerging Technologies:
As AI-driven and algorithmic systems increasingly shape how people think, learn, decide, and interact, there is growing concern about their unintended cognitive, emotional, and behavioural effects. These impacts raise important questions about human agency, attention, autonomy, well-being, and long-term cognitive development.
Connected Minds invites projects that investigate how AI and other emerging technologies influence cognition and behaviour at individual, community, and societal levels, with particular attention to policy-relevant implications.
Projects may address, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive Depletion and Attention Economies: Effects of AI-mediated platforms on attention, memory, fatigue, cognitive load, and resilience.
- Human Agency and Decision-Making: How reliance on automated or algorithmic systems shapes autonomy, judgment, responsibility, and trust.
- Mental Health and Well-Being: Intersections between emerging technologies, emotional regulation, motivation, identity, and psychological health.
- Behavioural Adaptation and Social Dynamics: Changes in social interaction, norms, creativity, and behaviour in AI-mediated environments.
- Policy and Governance Implications: Translating empirical findings into guidance for technology governance, platform design, or public policy.
Example Interdisciplinary Project: A team of cognitive scientists, mental health researchers, and sociologists examines how AI-driven recommendation systems affect attention, cognitive effort, and emotional well-being over time. The project integrates behavioural experiments with policy analysis to generate evidence-informed recommendations for platform governance and public health policy.
2) Dual-Use Technologies, Civilian Benefit, and Societal Alignment:
Many emerging technologies, particularly in AI, neurotechnology, and biomedical systems, are developed for civilian and public-interest purposes, yet may also have applications across health, infrastructure, security, or other sensitive domains. These dual-use dynamics raise important questions about governance, institutional responsibility, ethics, and alignment with public values.
Connected Minds welcomes projects that critically examine dual-use technologies through a civilian, public-benefit, and responsible innovation lens, with an emphasis on governance frameworks, safeguards, and policy alignment. This priority area is not intended to promote harmful or militarized applications, but rather to support research that strengthens transparency, accountability, and societal trust.
Projects may address, but are not limited to:
- Governance of Dual-Use Technologies: Identifying risks, safeguards, and responsible development pathways in AI, neurotechnology, and related systems.
- Institutional and Funding Alignment: Examining how universities, funders, and public institutions navigate dual-use considerations in research and innovation.
- Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI): Anticipating misuse, unintended consequences, or rights-based concerns.
- Canadian and International Policy Contexts: Aligning research with federal priorities related to innovation, resilience, public trust, and global governance.
Example Interdisciplinary Project: An interdisciplinary team of engineers, legal scholars, and policy researchers examines governance gaps in emerging neurotechnologies with both clinical and non-clinical applications. The project produces policy briefs and institutional guidance to support responsible civilian use and alignment with Canadian federal research priorities
3) Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Self-Determination:
Connected Minds is committed to supporting research that upholds Indigenous self-determination, governance, and rights in the development and use of data, technologies, and knowledge systems. As digital and AI-driven systems increasingly rely on data extraction and analytics, Indigenous data sovereignty is essential to ensuring ethical, reciprocal, and community-led research practices.
This priority area supports Indigenous-led projects or projects developed in meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities that centre Indigenous priorities. Areas of focus may include, but are not limited to:
- Indigenous Data Governance and Sovereignty: Advancing frameworks grounded in Indigenous laws, values, and knowledge systems.
- Technology, Data, and Self-Determination: Exploring how AI, digital tools, or neurotechnologies intersect with Indigenous rights and governance.
- Community-Driven Research and Capacity Building: Supporting Indigenous-led research infrastructure, data stewardship, and policy engagement.
- Policy and Legal Pathways: Informing institutional, provincial, or federal policies related to Indigenous data, IP, and digital governance.
Example Interdisciplinary Project: An Indigenous-led research team collaborates with legal scholars and data scientists to co-develop a community-defined data governance framework for digital health and AI research. The project supports Indigenous self-determination while generating policy-relevant guidance aligned with United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Canadian institutional obligations.
PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS
Across all priority areas, Connected Minds will give particular consideration to:
- Projects led by Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
- Purposeful co-creation, including meaningful engagement with partners such as policymakers, practitioners, communities, or governance bodies
- Projects that articulate a clear pathway to policy impact, including engagement with policymakers, institutions, or governance bodies
- Interdisciplinary and co-created approaches aligned with Connected Minds鈥 pillars and values
Last updated: 01/08/2026
