By: Liz Do
13 Mar, 2025
CIFAR renews programs in AI, child development and quantum materials
March 13, 2025
Guided by an international, interdisciplinary review, CIFAR renews three programs and sunsets one other.
CIFAR has announced the outcomes of its latest research program review, reaffirming its mission to support bold, interdisciplinary research that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing science and humanity.
Following an extensive review process, including recommendations from international and interdisciplinary expert review panels and CIFAR’s Research Council, the Board of Directors approved the renewal of the Child & Brain Development, Learning in Machines & Brains and Quantum Materials programs.
Programs Renewed for Five Years
- Child & Brain Development: This program focuses on a fundamental question: why do some children thrive while others do not? The program addresses this question through causal and mechanistic approaches, spanning species and levels of analysis from cells to societies. Key scientific contributions include spearheading the concept of biological embedding, advancing the study of gene-environment interactions, and uncovering mechanisms underlying sensitive periods of development. More recently, recognizing the accelerating disruptions and uncertainties in the world, the program has shifted its focus to understanding and supporting children’s developing brains and bodies as they grow up in an era of rapid change and this emphasis will continue in the next term – the program’s fifth, building on CIFAR’s leadership in population health and human development since the 1980s.
- Learning in Machines & Brains: Originally launched in 2004, this program bridges neuroscience and AI to advance our understanding of learning and intelligence. Past accomplishments include contributions to deep learning, biologically plausible models, and unsupervised learning frameworks, building on CIFAR’s global leadership in AI since its first program AI, Robotics & Society launched in 1983. The program’s future in its fifth term focuses on integrating machine learning and neuroscience to create scalable brain-inspired models, develop foundation models, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration between industry and academia.
- Quantum Materials: Originally founded in 1987, this program focuses on the physics of quantum materials involving entanglement, topology and novel states like superconductivity. Key achievements over the past term include advances in topological materials and 2D quantum systems. The next five years will involve designing new materials, studying the frontiers of superconductivity, and leveraging collaborations with industry for technological breakthroughs
“On behalf of CIFAR, I would like to congratulate members of the Child & Brain Development, Learning in Machines & Brains and Quantum Materials programs on their five-year term renewal,” said Stephen Toope, President & CEO of CIFAR. “Their renewal reflects their immense potential to shape the future of their respective fields while driving transformative impact in Canada and beyond. We are excited to continue supporting their work in the years ahead.”
Sunsetting of the Quantum Information Science Program
As part of the review process, the Board of Directors has also decided that the Quantum Information Science program will not be renewed beyond 2025-26. Decisions to sunset programs are a normal part of the review process that free up resources for renewal of CIFAR’s research portfolio.
Launched in 2002, Quantum Information Science explores quantum information’s fundamental nature and its technological potential. Recent successes include addressing challenges in quantum computing and broadening international collaboration. Over the next year, CIFAR will work with program members to finalize their efforts and maximize their impact.
“The Quantum Information Science program has left an indelible legacy in one of the most exciting areas in science. For more than 20 years, this program has brought together some of the brightest researchers in physics and computer science from around the world, enabling advancements in computation, encryption and fundamental physics,” said Toope. “On behalf of CIFAR, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all program members, past and present, for their remarkable contributions to this field.”
Looking to the Future
An additional seven research programs will undergo evaluations in 2025-26, as well as three programs in 2027-28. Considerations made during the program review process include the extent to which a program: still needs CIFAR’s support to undertake its work; has adequately engaged with the CIFAR model in the past term to warrant continued support; has adequately developed an impact agenda in line with CIFAR’s Strategy; and is complementary to CIFAR’s broader portfolio and Impact Clusters.
CIFAR’s research community includes 495 researchers across 206 institutions worldwide. 65 per cent of our Fellows, Advisors and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars contributed to the top 1 per cent of most-cited papers over the past five years. Last year alone, this community leveraged an additional $288 million from non-CIFAR sources to scale projects from CIFAR programs.
We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.
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