Canada's engagement with the International Science Council
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), on behalf of Canada's scientific and engineering community, is an active participant on the world stage, playing a key role in a number of international science and technology networks of strategic importance for Canada.
Since 1919, the NRC has been an adhering member to the International Science Council (ISC) and its predecessor organizations. The ISC is a non-governmental organization with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific unions and associations, and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including academies and research councils.
The ISC was launched in 2018 following a merger of the International Council for Science (ICSU)—representing the natural and physical sciences—and the International Social Science Council (ISSC)—representing the social, economic and behavioural sciences. The ISC is unique in its capacity to bring together scientific excellence and science policy expertise across fields of science and across the regions of the world.
The ISC mission is to strengthen international science for the benefit of society. The organization fulfills this mission by promoting international scientific activity in the different branches of science and interdisciplinary projects.
Canadian membership managed by the NRC
Through the Grants to International Affiliations (GIA) program, the NRC supports Canada's membership to over 30 international scientific unions and programs, including the ISC and EUREKA. The NRC has signed partnership agreements with Canadian learned societies and/or agencies to establish Canadian national committees in support of Canada's affiliations to these international scientific organizations.
Membership in international fora forms part of Canada's overall international engagement, provides a platform for Canadian scientists at the global level, and supports science and technology excellence in Canada. The participation of Canada's scientific community in international scientific organizations and international projects provides networking, advocacy, leadership and benchmarking opportunities, and helps Canadian scientists continue to contribute to the world's most complex sustainable development goals such as fighting climate change and finding innovative solutions for world hunger, poverty and clean energy.