We envision a world where innovation helps everyone thrive.
Grand Challenges Canada was launched in 2010 with a powerful conviction: the world’s most pressing challenges can — and must — be solved by those closest to them. With foundational support from the Government of Canada, we set out to fund bold, locally led ideas that could transform lives at scale.
We use a Grand Challenges approach — a model that frames big problems and issues open, global calls for solutions — to surface ideas across disciplines and geographies, and invite participation from innovators often overlooked by traditional funding streams. We’re proud to be part of the global Grand Challenges network — a community of funders, researchers, and implementers working together to accelerate innovation for global good.
From the beginning, we’ve focused on Integrated Innovation™ — combining scientific or technological advances with social and business innovation from the start. This ensures the solutions we support are not only effective, but also scalable, sustainable, and more likely to succeed in complex real-world systems.
How we work
Grand Challenges Canada is one of the world’s largest impact-first investors. We provide flexible capital, tailored support, and the right connections to help innovations scale and integrate into systems sustainably. Our model is designed to unlock potential, shift power, and deliver meaningful results — at scale. We’ve supported more than 1,500 unique innovations in over 100 countries, helping local leaders bring bold ideas to life.
Powered by values. Guided by people.
Hosted by the University Health Network (UHN) and governed by an independent Board of Directors, we work with integrity, accountability, and care at the core of everything we do.
Our team brings deep expertise in global health, development finance, systems change, and innovation. We are united by a shared belief in the power of bold thinking, local leadership, and collaborative partnership.
We work alongside innovators who are challenging the status quo and creating better futures. Their ambition fuels our mission — and shapes what we do next.