Centre sur la sécurité international (CSI)

Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN-RCDS)

Logo CSI Logo CDSN-RCDS

The Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN) is composed of over 30 partner institutions in Canada and abroad, as well as more than 100 academics and researchers.

Based in Canada, the CDSN aims to connect and foster dialogue between academics, policymakers, members of the armed forces, and civil society.

Its objectives are to:

Build a world-class research network;
Advance research on Canadian defence and security;
Tailor research initiatives to better inform policymaking;
Enhance exchange and collaboration among defence and security stakeholders;
Increase public awareness and understanding of defence and security issues in Canada;
Train the next generation of experts, with a strong emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

CDSN at Université Laval

The Université Laval is the only officially represented Francophone university within the CDSN. This grants it a unique role, as it can provide the insights of numerous Francophone researchers in a field traditionally dominated by Anglophone perspectives (defence and security research). Indeed, several researchers from Laval University are also members of the CDSN.

Anessa Kimball is co-director of the CDSN for Laval University. This facilitates fruitful exchanges between the CDSN and the CSI (and, by extension, the ESEI). Consequently, CDSN events at Laval University are co-hosted by the CSI.

Scholarship Programs

The CDSN and the Graduate School of International Studies offer two annual scientific mobility scholarships until 2026.

For more information, contact anessa.kimball@pol.ulaval.ca.

Here are several articles published with the support of CDSN funding!

Support for research formation and scientific redaction

Briefing papers

Martin, Tristan (2024). Coopération ou confrontation : Les motifs derrière la stratégie russe dans les institutions arctiques. Centre sur la sécurité internationale, Université Laval.

Critical Reviews

Research Reports

Peer-reviewed contributions

Articles

À venir

Books & Chapters

Other publications

Soon

Funding opportunities through federal agencies

Several programs are offered by government agencies to encourage policy and strategic thinking. Here are some examples:

The MINDS Program: Major Support for Research and Innovation

The MINDS Program — Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security — provides funding to support reflection and research on defence and security issues of particular relevance to Canada.

These funds are used in part to support a range of activities, including the Rencontres Université-Défense (UNIDEF), research assistant contracts for various projects (such as the review of NATO Centres of Excellence and Canada's defence and security agreements), as well as the development of intensive training like the upcoming RAPID initiative.

Targeted Engagement Grants

The MINDS Program therefore offers targeted engagement grants aimed at fostering innovation in strategic defence thinking. Applications must align with the strategic challenges identified for the 2024–2025 period:

Our people	Culture Change Recruitment, Training, and Retention
Strategic Competition, Alliances, and Global Issues	Canada in times of global uncertainty and interconnectedness Canada: a strong and reliable partner and ally Climate Change: a driver of destabilization
The Defence of Canada and North America	Defending North America Defending the Arctic and the North
Strengthening Canadians’ Understanding of Defence and Security Issues	Bridging the (awareness) gap
Defence Procurement	Flexible procurement through an innovative industrial defence base
Domains and Technology	Cyber and Space: critical enablers for strategic effect Emerging Technologies

The SSHRC encourages research in the field of the social sciences and humanities

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports research and research training in the field of the humanities and social sciences. It offers various funding opportunities, including:

Grants: SSHRC offers a wide range of grants to researchers working on open or targeted themes, as well as funding for research-creation projects.
Scholarships: SSHRC awards scholarships to full-time students enrolled in graduate programs in the social sciences and humanities.
Fellowships: SSHRC provides a number of fellowships to promising researchers who have obtained an eligible doctoral degree or an equivalent program in the social sciences and humanities.
Awards & Prizes:
- Each year SSHRC celebrates the achievements of Canada's top leaders, thinkers and researchers in the social sciences and humanities with the prestigious SSHRC Impact Awards. Candidates are nominated by eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions;
- In SSHRC’s annual Storytellers Challenge, undergraduate and graduate students compete for prizes by creating short videos or presentations showing how social sciences and humanities research is affecting our lives, our world and our future for the better;
Supplements: Additional funding or training opportunities are available through specific SSHRC funding opportunities or jointly with Canada’s three federal research granting agencies.