The Canadian Space Agency Issues Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Opportunity

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has posted a new opportunity, this one for Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the Canadian space sector.

The agency posted the following introduction of the grant opportunity.

Canada’s space sector plays an essential role in our society, impacting our daily lives and contributing to innovation, scientific research and economic growth. Experiments performed in space help us understand health problems on Earth. Satellites provide data on climate change, measure pollution, and help protect our planet. Space technologies improve products we use every day, weather forecasts, and communications worldwide.

The ingenuity required for space exploration also helps build the workforce of tomorrow. Canada’s space workforce creates approximately 12,000 careers for highly skilled people in our national economy, and supports an additional 12,000 jobs indirectly. With projections of significant growth for both the domestic and global space sector, Canada needs to prepare for the future by attracting talented, highly qualified individuals to pursue careers in space.

Canada’s Space Strategy, Exploration, Imagination, Innovation: A New Space Strategy for Canada, the Government of Canada set a clear objective that Canadians of diverse origins benefit equitably from jobs, skills and economic growth in the space sector. Many studies have show that certain populations are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields in Canada, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities (especially the Black community) and handicapped people. For instance, only 29% of employees in Canada’s space sector identify as female.

Canada can do more to recognize and remedy these gaps so that our national space workforce reflects the wealth of Canada’s cultural diversity. With this Announcement of Opportunity (AO), Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the Canadian space sector, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) seeks to promote equity and diversity in the next generation of space professionals in Canada and make the Canadian space workforce more inclusive by providing space-related training opportunities for underrepresented populations.

Eligible recipients include Canadian post-secondary educational institutions, such as a college, technical institute, or university and not-for-profit organizations.

The CSA will host a webinar on April 18, 2024 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (ET) “to present the AO Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the Canadian Space Sector (EDI) and answer general questions from applicants, the CSA will be holding a bilingual webinar.” Register for the webinar must be completed by April 17, 2024 using this link AOP Accroître l’EDI – Inscription au webinaire / Increasing EDI AO – Webinar Registration (office.com)

There are two funding categories: