CIHR Knowledge Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan: Frequently Asked Questions

CIHR is shifting from using the term 'knowledge translation (KT)' to 'knowledge mobilization (KM)'. CIHR's definition of KM retains key elements of KT while providing greater specificity, including a heightened focus on the importance of knowledge users, knowledge holders and diverse concepts of knowledge, and the use of new or existing knowledge to inform action. Consideration of Indigenous rights, equity, diversity and inclusion are central to CIHR's approach to both the practice and science of KM.

CIHR's legislated mandate includes not just the creation of new knowledge, but also its mobilization into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and strengthened health care systems. This knowledge mobilization (KM) component of the agency's mandate is an essential pathway from excellent research to impact.

To implement this commitment, CIHR has developed a KM Strategy and Action Plan to guide the agency's KM activities. The KM Strategy builds on CIHR's two decades of experience leading and funding the advancement of knowledge translation (KT) practice and science, and it is informed by extensive engagements across the research ecosystem.

The development of the KM Strategy and Action Plan was informed through a multi-year, multi-pronged approach that included evidence gathering, analysis, and community engagement. To begin, CIHR commissioned a comprehensive environmental scan. Informed by these findings, CIHR subsequently engaged more than 200 people from the health research community. These extensive engagements provided CIHR with valuable feedback to refine strategic directions, develop key actions for implementation, identify potential areas of alignment and collaboration with partners, and inform the development of the new definition of KM at CIHR. A summary of the feedback and input received through the engagements is available in a "What We Heard" Report upon request.

As Canada's federal health research funder, CIHR is mandated by the CIHR Act to both create new knowledge and mobilize it into improved health and health systems for Canadians. Since its inception, CIHR has helped shape the field of KM, build associated skills and capacity, and bridge knowledge-to-action gaps. In the late 2000s, the agency adopted the Knowledge to Action Framework; it subsequently used this framework to ground its KM interventions and emerge as an international leader in support of this field. For more than twenty years, CIHR and its Institutes have championed initiatives that transform the use of research, with investments in areas such as the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research and the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research. The implementation of the KM Strategy and Action Plan will support skill development in KM practice and science, address systemic and organizational barriers to KM, fund and advance the practice of KM, and advance CIHR's approach to KM through continuous learning and improvements.

CIHR's Institutes play an essential role in both leading and funding KM, including some of CIHR's leading innovations in this area. For example, they support KM by embedding KM requirements in funding opportunities, building KM partnerships and capacity within their research communities, developing knowledge products, and leading dissemination activities.

We encourage you to learn more about what CIHR's Institutes are doing in this area.

As commercialization and collaboration with industry are recognized as valued types of KM, specific actions promoting and supporting these areas will contribute to each of the intersecting streams of the KM Strategy: 1) enhance capacity for commercialization and industry collaboration; 2) transform by removing barriers to working with industry; 3) invest in supporting researchers with commercialization efforts; and 4) learn how to improve how CIHR advances commercialization and collaboration with industry. These actions will be addressed by a separate forthcoming CIHR Commercialization and Industry Collaboration Strategy and Action Plan.