NSERC and Nova Chemicals Establish Industrial Research Chair at the University of Windsor

(Ottawa, ON) – Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray, Member of Parliament for Windsor West, on behalf of the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today announced with Susan Whelan, MP for Essex, and Roger Gallaway, MP for Sarnia-Lambton, the creation of the NSERC-NOVA Industrial Research Chair in Polymerization Catalysis at the University of Windsor. The chair will develop catalytic chemistry for manufacturing plastics.

NSERC has committed $973,000 over five years. NOVA has committed $750,000 with in-kind contributions valued at another $485,000. The University of Windsor is committing $1,318,428 in salaries and other support.

"In order to be competitive in the new global economy, we need high-quality products," said Mr. Gray. "The new plastics which will result from the findings of this new industrial research chair will create new and innovative manufacturing possibilities."

Ms. Susan Whelan, Member of Parliament for Essex, congratulated the University of Windsor for securing the new NSERC-NOVA Industrial Research Chair in Polymerization Catalysis. "The federal government fully supports this research partnership. It will stimulate and accelerate innovation in this important sector and benefit Canada. Investments in research, such as this, complement the recommendations of the Industry, Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons, which I chair."

Mr. Roger Gallaway, Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, also welcomed the partnership: "This chair is yet another example of how the government is showing the way forward by bringing together the best minds, ideas and practices from both the academic and industrial sectors."

The Industrial Research Chair in Polymerization Catalysis will be held by University of Windsor Chemistry professor Dr. Douglas Stephan.

As part of the support for the research chair, these funds will provide scholarships that will attract many of the brightest graduate students in chemistry to Windsor. Salaries will also support two new postdoctoral fellowships – research-intensive, entry-level positions which are often the launching point for careers in university faculty or research institutions.

"The chair greatly strengthens the materials and synthesis specialization in our chemistry area, already one of the leaders in its field in Canada," says University of Windsor President Ross Paul. "For the university, this position adds an important new dimension to our industrial partnerships."

Dr. Tom Brzustowski, NSERC's president: "NSERC is delighted to be partnering NOVA, a company famous for its mastery of catalysis, in this enterprise. I am particularly pleased at the Chair's inclusion of graduate students in the program. The training of tomorrow's top Canadian researchers is – and will always be – one of NSERC's highest priorities."

"NOVA Chemicals prides itself on astute use of technology and a clear focus on commodity chemical manufacturing," says Paul Clark, NOVA Chemicals' Vice President of Technology. "Within our own research and development area we have made significant strides in furthering catalysis development, and we are very pleased to be able to support this chair and further academic research into the vital sector of technology."

"This is good for science, good for NOVA and good for Canada," says Dr. Stephan. "Our team at Windsor is ecstatic about NOVA furthering its initial support into this partnership. We appreciate their trust and confidence and, in turn, we assure our supporters that our research in developing catalysts for the production of polymers will be second to none."

The NSERC-NOVA Chair in Polymerization Catalysis is the fourth Industrial Research Chair to be established at the University of Windsor. Dr. Jerry Sokolowski is the NSERC-Ford Chair in Light Metals Casting, Dr. Andrzej Sobiesiak is the NSERC-DaimlerChrysler Canada Chair in Alternate Fuels and Dr. Peter Frise is the NSERC-DaimlerChrysler Canada Chair in Mechanical Design.

NSERC is the primary federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

For more information, contact:

Nick Heisler
DPMO
Tel.: 613-952-4900

Francis Lionnet
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 992-9001
Email: fzl@nserc.ca

John Carrington
University of Windsor
Tel.: (519) 253-3000 ext. 3241
Email: johnc@uwindsor.ca