In December, the federal government announced it would invest $10 million to support 18 applied research projects that explore specific, impactful ways to help Canada meet its housing and infrastructure needs.

Delivered by a range of organizations across the country, the projects aim to generate innovative, practical solutions to the housing and infrastructure challenges faced by communities.

“These important projects will support innovative solutions that will help build more critical infrastructure and housing, faster across Canada,” said then-Housing Minister Sean Fraser.

Several projects were funded in Ontario.

McMaster University in Hamilton received $235,000 to explore modernizing governance of the housing system, with a focus on multi-order partnerships, public and private investments.

Queen’s University in Kingston received $172,000 to advance studies of 3D concrete printing technology to build more durable housing and infrastructure by conducting large-scale proof-of-concept tests.

The Canadian Urban Institute in Toronto received nearly $1.7 million to develop a new method of identifying under-utilized land to increase housing density along transit corridors, while considering environmental, fiscal, social, and equity factors in determining the most suitable locations for housing infill.

Toronto’s Archangel Ventures also received $1.7 million to develop a project that aims to help address Canada's urban housing shortage by repurposing commercial office buildings into affordable, sustainable housing, focusing on low-carbon redevelopment and delivering economic feasibility studies.

Toronto Metropolitan University received $487,000 to conduct a detailed study on the impacts of transit investments on tenants from low-income and racialized communities. The results and findings to inform policy decision makers on transit investments, while ensuring the protection of vulnerable communities from displacement and unaffordable housing.

Finally, the University of Toronto received $280,000 to develop an online platform to facilitate partnerships between developers, municipalities, and lenders for innovative mixed-use projects, promoting affordable housing solutions, diverse collaborations, and increased participation from non-traditional funders.

Funding for the projects comes from Infrastructure Canada’s Research and Knowledge Initiative (RKI) contributions funding program, which aims to strengthen the evidence base on public infrastructure and communities in Canada.

To date, the RKI has supported projects such as: $6 million for 12 projects selected under the theme of "Cultivating Community Data and Research to Inform Public Infrastructure Decision-making", and $4 million to support two projects: the Data for Canadian Cities Pilot and the Infrastructure Assessment methodology project.