Grand Challenges Canada thanks the Government of Canada for its continued support of our work in global health and humanitarian innovation
Canada’s largest impact-first investor receives renewed support through $200 million in grant agreement funding over seven years
Toronto, April 7, 2021—Grand Challenges Canada—a Canadian not-for-profit organization, primarily funded by the Government of Canada, which invests in novel, local innovations that address critical global health, humanitarian and Indigenous community challenges in Canada and low-resource countries—would like to thank The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, for her announcement today of a $200-million investment, over seven years, in our organization.
“We would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Canadian government in demonstrating its renewed confidence in our organization to deliver impact through innovation,” said Ms. Jocelyn Mackie, Grand Challenges Canada’s Co-CEO. “To date, GCC has supported over 1,300 innovations and thousands of innovators from around the world. In addition, our portfolio of innovations has the potential to save 1.78 million lives and improve 64 million lives by 2030. These results would not have been possible without our partnership with Global Affairs Canada.”
Dr. Karlee Silver, Grand Challenges Canada’s Co-CEO, added: “We also celebrate today the impact these innovators are having already—something that is even more poignant on World Health Day. These innovative products and services have already improved 7.5 million lives and saved 38,000 more. It’s the innovators we support who truly make our platform special. However, the reality is that lifesaving and life-improving innovations usually take years to move from seed to scale to maximize their impact. This is why the long-term commitment by the Government of Canada will be so transformative.”
Mme Guylaine Saucier, Grand Challenges Canada’s Chair of the Board, further added: “Since our inception 10 years ago, our unique approach has been to prioritize funding for innovators who live close to the challenges they are addressing. By leveraging our new funding with dollars from investors and partners, we will continue to support innovators to develop and transition to scale their innovations that improve, in particular, the health, human rights and well-being of women, adolescent girls and children. Looking to the future, the renewal of GCC’s platform for seven more years will also allow us to incubate new Grand Challenges to address emerging challenges through innovation.”
About Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact®. Funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, Grand Challenges Canada funds innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. The bold ideas Grand Challenges Canada supports integrate science and technology, social and business innovation—known as Integrated Innovation®.
One of the largest impact-first investors in Canada, Grand Challenges Canada has supported a pipeline of over 1,300 innovations in 106 countries. Grand Challenges Canada estimates that these innovations have the potential to save up to 1.78 million lives and improve up to 64 million lives by 2030.
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For more information, please contact:
Douglas Chow, Senior Manager, Communications
Grand Challenges Canada
*protected email*
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