Open Call For Proposals: Strengthening Canada’s Skills with PIAAC Research
The Future Skills Centre invites researchers and organizations across Canada to contribute new evidence and insights that advance understanding of the country’s evolving skills and workforce needs.
Through the Strengthening Canada’s Skills with PIAAC Research open call for proposals, we aim to build evidence that informs systems change and supports more inclusive and resilient pathways for Canadians.
Please submit all proposals to the application portal by 5 PM EST January 6th, 2026.
Background
With the release of Cycle 2 of OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), Canada has a unique opportunity to deepen its understanding of adult skills and their role in driving prosperity and well-being. PIAAC is a rich but underused dataset that sheds light on both the distribution of foundational skills and the ways in which these skills influence labour market outcomes, productivity, social participation, and quality of life.
This competitive open call for proposals is designed to unlock the potential of PIAAC data for Canada. We aim to fund innovative, policy-relevant research projects that address critical gaps in evidence, build national research capacity, and mobilize findings in ways that will shape policies, programs, and practices.
This call builds upon FSC’s recent report, Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada which discusses key knowledge gaps, the importance of fostering research infrastructure and networks and mentoring the next generation of researchers, and ensuring that evidence reaches those in a position to act on it.
Key Information
| Application Deadline | January 6th, 2026 at 5 PM EST |
| Who Can Apply | Applications may be submitted by a sole organization or a partnership/consortium of organizations, including: Post-secondary institutions, Not-for-profit research centers, for-profit organizations (provided the project is undertaken at cost, with no mark-ups or profit incorporated). Federal, provincial and territorial government ministries and agencies are not eligible to apply. Full eligibility criteria can be found in the Call for proposal guidelines. |
| Funding & Budget | $50,000 to $90,000 per project. Expenses may include customary research expenses (i.e. salaries for primary researchers, research assistants, direct research expenses). |
| Project Timelines | We expect to communicate funding decisions starting in March 2026. All projects are expected to start April 2026 and must conclude by October 31, 2026. |
How To Apply
STEP 1: Download and read the following application materials
A) Call for proposal Guidelines
Includes eligibility criteria, funding details, selection criteria, application timelines and process, and more.
B) Skills for Productivity, Prosperity and Well-being in Canada
All interested applicants are strongly encouraged to review this report prior to developing their submission to this funding call.
STEP 2: Complete the Application Form
Submissions may be made in English or French.
Help and Contact Information
For more information, please contact us at opencall@fsc-ccf.ca to request accommodations or if you need further assistance.
About the Future Skills Centre
The Future Skills Centre is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to preparing Canadians for employment success and meeting the emerging talent needs of employers. We are a pan-Canadian organization that supports new approaches to addressing Canada’s most pressing labour market development issues. We work with a diverse network of partners from coast to coast to coast to invest in solutions, generate insights, and catalyze systems change to advance a future of shared prosperity where no one is left behind.
We are rooted in the development of empirical knowledge and are committed to actively applying this knowledge to develop new programs and inform policy agendas. We are intentional about supporting emerging researchers and those from marginalized groups.