Grand Challenges Canada

Background of the organization

Funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, Grand Challenges Canada funds and supports innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada to seed and transition to scale their Bold Ideas with Big Impact®.  

 Grand Challenges Canada houses the Indigenous Innovation Initiative (I3), whose goal is to enable Indigenous innovators and communities to identify and solve their own challenges, transform lives and drive inclusive growth and health outcomes. I3 is deeply rooted in Indigenous values and wisdoms and is built on a foundation of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. It draws on the guidance of an Indigenous Innovation Council, which is made up of Indigenous leaders, Elders, and knowledge keepers with a strong commitment to community engagement and co-creation. 

Project description

The Foundation’s contribution will be used to scale the I3’s national platform and to provide funding and support to Indigenous innovators in developing, testing, and scaling their innovations.   

 I3 will also use funds to support the establishment of an Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem Network that will contribute to key policy, strategy, and leadership activities, and will engage a range of stakeholders in new partnerships spanning the philanthropic, non-profit, public and private sectors.