Laurier awarded $520,000 to fund student research placements in India

March 2, 2026

Wilfrid Laurier University has been awarded $520,000 from the Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians Program (IPSFC) to fund student, faculty and postdoctoral research placements in India. Laurier will establish a Canadian-Indo Pacific research institute at O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat, India, enabling Canadian researchers to travel abroad and study topics of regional interest, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks, trade, and women’s participation in the workforce.

“This initiative advances Laurier’s academic strength, global partnerships, experiential learning and research impact,” says Kathy Hogarth, associate vice-president: global strategy. “It links Laurier to Indian economic ecosystems for internships, applied research and commercialization, and it enables our scholars to contribute evidence-based international policy recommendations.”

IPSFC provides support to Canadian post-secondary institutions to award scholarships and fellowships for research related to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Topics may include:

• Sustainable trade and ESG compliance: Exploring the integration of environmental and social standards into Canada-India trade relations.
• Gender equity and workforce participation: Addressing systemic barriers to women’s labor force entry and entrepreneurship.
• Green finance and sustainable accounting: Evaluating the role of climate disclosure, carbon pricing and financial technology in promoting sustainability.
• Inclusive digital trade and supply chains: Analyzing access to digital platforms and how they empower marginalized business owners.

Initial research themes will be co-developed with O.P. Jindal faculty members to ensure local relevance while supporting Canada’s broader diplomatic goals in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This investment will directly contribute to holistic student development by removing financial barriers for diverse students; developing research skills, cultural competence and professional networks; and enabling students to work and solve problems across disciplines,” says Hogarth.

Fellowships will be awarded over two years and placement duration will range from four to 12 months. The application process is under development, with more details to follow.