Types of Grants

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Research Grants Program, funded through the proceeds of an endowment established by the Government of Canada, is designed to support research and informed discussion on Canada’s relations with Asia.

As part of the Foundation’s Canada Asia Pacific Research Network (CAPRN), this program will fund research activities, conferences, graduate and media fellowships, and special initiatives. These activities will in turn assist in the enhancement of Canadian capacity for public policy research and analysis focusing on the Asia Pacific region.

All grant recipients will be selected on the merits of their proposals and on their potential contribution to advancing the objectives of the Foundation’s programs.

The Foundation reserves the right to cite the results of research funded under the grants program, and grant recipients may be called upon for media and outreach activities coordinated by the Foundation. Grants are not intended to support dissertation research.

Applications may be submitted in English or French.

Canada Asia Agenda

The APF Canada awards grants for articles on current issues affecting Canada-Asia relations, with a preference for articles that focus on Canada’s involvement with a particular Asian country. Articles funded by APF Canada’s policy research grants are valued at $1,000 each and are considered for publication in APF Canada’s newly launched Canada-Asia Agenda series.

The Canada-Asia Agenda series examines current issues affecting Canada’s involvement with a particular country or industry in Asia. The series is edited by Dr. Brian Job, a Senior Fellow of the Foundation, and is written by academics who are experts in different specialties of Canada-Asia relations. Canada-Asia Agenda is published throughout the year. Articles published in the series tend to be succinct commentaries of no more than 2,000 words.

Topics

The purpose of the Canada-Asia Agenda series is to provide timely commentary on issues affecting Canada’s involvement in Asia. Topics considered for publication are generally tied to current events and developments in Canada and Asia. Topics can be retrospective or consider current events.

Media Fellowships

The Media Fellowship program of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada offers established journalists the opportunity to spend time in Asia, researching and preparing stories. The program aims to help Canadian journalists to become better informed about this dynamic part of the world and be better able to write/broadcast accurately and insightfully about Asia and the Canada-Asia relationship.

The Foundation will award up to five fellowships a year, four valued at up to $10,000 each, and a fifth for a visit of up to 11 days to Japan. The $10,000 Media Fellowships are a component of the Foundation’s Research Grants Program, funded through the proceeds of an endowment established by the Government of Canada. All grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Themes

The broad themes and topics for 2010-2011 are listed below. Applicants should indicate clearly the category in which they wish to be considered.

A. Building an Asia Pacific Gateway

B. Canadians Abroad

C. Open Category

D. Japan-Canada

This addition to the Media Fellowship grants will be specifically for travel to Japan for a with flights and accommodation expenses covered by the Foreign Press Centre Japan.

Post-Graduate Research Fellowships

The Foundation is committed to fostering the next generation of Asia Pacific researchers and analysts. To this end, it will offer up to three Post-Graduate Research Fellowships valued at $35,000 for Master’s graduates and at $38,000 for PhD graduates for a one year non-renewable term.

In their time at the Foundation, Post-Graduate Research Fellows undertake a guided research project, with a view to producing a policy paper of 5,000-8,000 words on a mutually-agreed upon topic related to Asia, including policy implications for Canada, or Canada-Asia relations. Papers produced by Post-Graduate Research Fellows are modeled after and considered for publication as a Canada-Asia Commentary.

Post-Graduate Research Fellows are based in the APF’s Vancouver office. In addition to composing a research project, Fellows are expected to participate in the day-to-day activities of the Foundation, including:

• Assisting in the composition and distribution of the daily Canada-Asia news service
• Organizational assistance in hosting roundtables, conferences and meetings both in-house and off-site.
• Participation and contribution in APF Canada Research Group meetings as well as at meetings and activities in the Canadian and Asian policy community.
• Assistance with on-going Foundation research such as the Asia Pacific Gateway and Transnational Migration projects.

Post-Graduate Research Fellows balance their time between their guided research project and broader Foundation activities. They are encouraged to maximize their time at the Foundation and are given the space to explore new and innovative ways to advance the Foundation’s on-going mission.

To speak with a current Post-Graduate Research Fellow, please contact our grants administrator at researchgrants[at]asiapacific[dot]ca

Senior Fellowships

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is accepting third-party nominations for its Senior Fellowship program. Each year, we appoint a number of Senior Fellows to the roster of experts who are associated with the work of the Foundation. We are looking for individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada-Asia relations in one of the following areas: scholarship, public policy, business, diplomacy, arts and culture, and civil society. In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of the recipients, Senior Fellowships provide an opportunity to work with the Foundation on areas of special interest. The terms of each appointment is customized according to individual needs and interests, and include an honorarium of $10,000 for a two year term.

Special Initiative Funding

APF Canada’s Special Initiative Funding program accepts applications year-round of exceptional quality and uniqueness for a maximum award of $25, 000. The Foundation accepts proposals in this category relating to research projects, conferences/meetings or public education activities that do not fit within the guidelines of the other programs. Not more than one will be awarded per year. The program is intended to support activities that will have a significant and long-term impact on the Canadian understanding of, and relationship with, contemporary Asia.