Bold ideas change what’s possible.
Grand Challenges Canada is an innovation platform built to turn possibility into impact. We identify critical barriers, back bold ideas early and bring together the capital, evidence and partners that help promising innovations go further.
Where we’re investing
As part of our 2025-2030 strategy, we are concentrating new Proof of Concept and Transition to Scale investments in primary health care, youth mental health, and climate and health.
Climate and health
Nexa backs innovations that help people and communities anticipate, withstand and respond to the health impacts of climate change.
Learn more about Nexa, Nexa Lighthouse, and Nexa Billion.
Youth mental health
Being advances locally led approaches that promote and protect young people’s mental health.
Learn more about the Being Initiative and view the latest innovation lookbook.
Primary health care
With our focus on primary health care, we will support locally-led innovations that expand access to accessible, high-quality care and strengthen the systems that deliver it.
Our primary health care portfolio funding opportunities are expected in 2027.
Focused portfolios. Stronger pathways to scale.
Finding a promising idea is only the beginning. Our portfolios have built the pipeline. Our scale work builds the conditions for the strongest solutions to go further.
Drawing on evidence, relationships and more than 15 years of investing in innovation, GCC works with governments, funders, investors, multilateral organizations, development banks and delivery partners to build demand, mobilize capital and create pathways to scale.
Our pipeline
Since 2010, GCC has invested in more than 1600 unique innovations in 110 countries, spanning everything from early child development and education to sanitation. Interested in seeing GCC’s pipeline of portfolio investments? Learn more below.
Play Learn Thrive
Portfolio Spotlight: Play Learn Thrive
Play Learn Thrive supports bold, locally led solutions that help children aged 0-12 learn and thrive in crisis settings. With support from the Lego Foundation, GCC is working with innovators in Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon and Jordan to advance inclusive approaches for children and their caregivers.