NSERC Takes Steps Towards A Smarter Canada

$32.5 million for Canadian students and researchers

March 26, 1999 - (Ottawa, Ontario) - NSERC yesterday finalized the details of how it will invest the $32.5 million increase allocated to it in the 1999 federal budget.

"Council will use these funds immediately to strengthen university research in Canada," said Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC.

"We want to make it easier for some of our brightest scientists and engineers to realize their potential in Canada," said Dr. Ronald Duhamel, Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development). "If we count up all the money directed to NSERC during the last two years, the total increase in its annual budget is more than $100 million," he said. "This makes a remarkable difference in the outlook for Canadian research, and for the future prosperity of the country. Money invested in research and in young researchers enhances our national competence, leads to innovation and makes Canada more productive by increasing the value of what Canadians produce."

The Secretary also noted that the 1999 federal budget also included support for as many as eight new Networks of Centres of Excellence in partnership with industry.

In all, some 7,600 research projects will benefit immediately from the NSERC budget increases. The initiatives will also include awards to help universities encourage aboriginal undergraduate students to consider careers in science and engineering.

The breakdown of the use of the new funding is as follows:

• $11.2 million for the Research Grants program, which supports basic research and pays for the stipends and training of research students. The increase, which helps researchers meet the cost pressures on university research, will take the form of a 5 per cent across-the-board increase to the value of all research grants. (Note: subatomic project grants will be considered separately.)

• $3.1 million for 500 new undergraduate awards to allow students to gain research experience either in university or industry, and for a $400 increase to the value of the awards for all holders. Universities will encourage aboriginal students to apply for these awards.

• $6 million for Collaborative Research Opportunities, which are large research initiatives facilitating international and multidisciplinary co-operation.

• li $4 million to be added to the Major Facilities Access program to help researchers use the large research facilities that are essential in many modern areas of research.

• $600,000 for 20 additional Industrial Research Fellowships. These will be offered to doctoral graduates to work in R&D; labs in Canadian companies.

• $7.5 million a year for the next three years for health-related research projects and workshops in the natural sciences and engineering.

One of the areas of funding that will receive special attention in the new budget is genomics research. As well, following a separate decision made earlier this year, NSERC will allocate $4 million over four years towards creation of a network of at least four industry chairs in design engineering. The chairs - to be sponsored in partnership with universities and industry - will attack the critical shortages of design engineers in Canada. The special emphasis of the chairs will be to develop environment-friendly products and processes in all sectors.

For more information, contact:

Nigel Lloyd, Director General, Research Grants and Scholarships, NSERC Phone: (613) 995-5833

Steve Shugar, Director, Policy and International Relations, NSERC Phone: (613) 995-6449