GEOIDE Network Will Receive Close to $12 Million Over Four Years

Quebec City, October 15, 1998 - The Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) Ron J. Duhamel took part today at Laval University in an event celebrating the launch of the Geomatics for Informed Decisions Network (GEOIDE). Dr. Tom Brzustowski, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Dr. Marc Renaud, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council also participated in the event, along with many researchers and partners of the new network.

GEOIDE, which will benefit from a federal investment of close to $12 million over the next four years, was established through a national competition in the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program. This Canada-wide program now has 14 networks, including two other new NCEs, the Canadian Arthritis Network and the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems Network.

Noting Canada's enviable reputation in the field of geomatics, Secretary of State Duhamel said he was confident that in addition to developing innovative technology, the GEOIDE network would make major contributions to training the next generation of scientists and engineers. "When you bring together 97 eminent researchers from 24 universities with partners from 26 companies and 16 other organizations, including government agencies, you can expect very positive results for research, for Canadian businesses and for the overall quality of life of Canadians," added Mr. Duhamel.

Dr. François Tavenas, rector of Laval University where the administrative centre of the new network is located, highlighted the support provided by his institution. He said: "It is very gratifying to see that an NCE is being established around a node of excellence in geomatics research in existence for the past ten years at Laval University and in the Quebec region." He stressed the fact that the university was supporting the network by providing the research infrastructure and a unique pool of human resources. Laval University and the other 47 Canadian universities are contributing the success of the NCEs.

The GEOIDE network will address four major objectives: to better exploit Canadian geomatics infrastructure; to develop tools and technologies for decision making and information dissemination; to coordinate long-term fundamental research in multidisciplinary pan-Canadian teams; and to broaden the range of applications based on geomatics technologies.

"Geomatics is a fast expanding field which already supports an industry worth more than $10 billion world-wide", said Dr. Brzustowski. "The GEOIDE network will link together all sectors involved in geomatics, facilitating the efficient transfer of research results into marketable products in Canada."

Dr. Renaud concluded: "As President of SSHRC, I am pleased that social sciences and humanities researchers can make an important contribution to the GEOIDE network and to the NCEs in general. Their participation will help the GEOIDE network better integrate the economic, social and political aspects of its research, particularly in the areas of health, commerce and social policy."