Promoting Indo-Canadian Research Partnerships: Joint Experience in Participatory and Indigenous Research

On 15 October 2026, PRIA, in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), convened a roundtable bringing together researchers, research funders, academic institutions and civil society organisations to explore opportunities for renewed India–Canada collaboration in the social sciences.

The discussion took place at an important moment in bilateral relations, with renewed commitments to strengthening ties between the two countries. Participants explored the potential of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, particularly at the intersection of social and natural sciences, climate change, technological development and artificial intelligence. A key focus of the roundtable was the role of participatory research and Indigenous knowledge systems in understanding the impacts of climate change on health, livelihoods and vulnerable communities. Discussions also examined how social sciences can strengthen the integration of community voices into policy and practice, and how research institutions and funding systems can recognise diverse knowledge systems and foster equitable research partnerships.

The conversation emphasised that communities are not merely sources of data or recipients of research interventions. They are knowledge holders and active contributors who develop solutions and adapt to changing social and ecological realities. Meaningful research partnerships must therefore enable community knowledge to shape research questions, methodologies and outcomes.

The DECODE Knowledge Project, which examines co-construction, decolonisation and transformation through the experiences of Indigenous and land-based communities across countries, offered an important perspective on these discussions. Experiences shared during the roundtable further highlighted the significance of sustained community engagement, ethical knowledge-sharing, intergenerational learning and collaboration among universities, civil society organisations and local governance institutions.

Participants also reflected on the institutional conditions required to support participatory and interdisciplinary research, including longer research timeframes, flexible funding mechanisms and approaches to evaluating impact that extend beyond conventional academic outputs.

The roundtable underscored the importance of mutual learning in strengthening India–Canada research collaboration. Rather than transferring models from one context to another, partnerships can create opportunities for experiences from both countries to inform new approaches to research, knowledge creation and public policy.