July 14, 2026
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has officially launched the 2026 Housing Research Awards, inviting researchers, innovators, and industry experts to submit projects that support the future of Canada’s housing sector. This year’s President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research focuses on the theme “Modernizing Canada’s Housing Industry.”
The initiative supports research that can improve housing productivity, accelerate construction timelines, reduce costs, and help increase Canada’s housing supply.
CMHC is encouraging research that advances modern construction methods, including off-site manufacturing, prefabrication, standardized building designs, digital technologies, automation, and integrated supply chains.
These approaches have the potential to transform residential construction by improving efficiency, reducing project delivery times, and supporting more affordable housing across Canada.
The awards form part of CMHC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening evidence-based housing policy under the National Housing Strategy (NHS).
The annual Housing Research Awards celebrate innovative work across multiple disciplines, including:
Winning projects receive funding to expand research, share findings, and support practical solutions that improve housing affordability and address Canada’s evolving housing needs.
Three awards will be presented this year:
Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel representing academia, government, industry, and the non-profit sector. Projects will be assessed based on their innovation, research quality, and potential to support better decision-making across Canada’s housing sector.
According to CMHC President and CEO Coleen Volk, the 2026 awards are intended to encourage impactful research that helps modernize Canada’s housing industry while supporting the government’s commitment to increasing housing supply.
The Housing Research Awards application portal is now open, with submissions accepted until 4:00 p.m. EST on September 29, 2026. Award recipients will be announced later this year.
By encouraging research into modern construction technologies and innovative housing solutions, CMHC continues to support collaboration between researchers, industry, and policymakers to build a more productive, resilient, and affordable housing sector for Canadians.
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