Government of Canada Announces $361 Million in Research Funding for Canadian Professors in Science and Engineering

London, Ontario, May 24, 2002 – Maurizio Bevilacqua, Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), announced today 2,914 new research grants worth almost $361 million over five years to university and college professors in 62 Canadian postsecondary institutions.

"The NSERC research grants are awarded to both established and up-and-coming researchers," said Mr. Bevilacqua, who met and congratulated successful applicants today at the University of Western Ontario. "NSERC grants allow universities to train the skilled workforce that is essential for competing in today's knowledge-based global economy."

"We want Canada to move from being 14^th to being among the top five countries in the world for research and development – attracting and retaining the best and brightest minds," said Mr. Rock. "NSERC-funded researchers create the advances that drive tomorrow's innovations.

As part of this effort to place Canada at the forefront of the global knowledge-based economy, the Government of Canada has launched a new initiative to address skills and innovation challenges for the next decade. On Feb. 12, Industry Canada released a blueprint entitled Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity, one of two papers that lay out the government's goals, targets and priorities. The discussion includes ways of creating knowledge and bringing ideas to market more quickly, ensuring a skilled workforce, modernizing business and regulatory policies, and strengthening communities by supporting innovation at the local level.

Each year thousands of professors from postsecondary institutions across Canada apply to NSERC for research and equipment grants. These funds provide the core support for research in dozens of fields such as biology, physics, geology, computer science and chemical engineering. The professors dedicate a large portion of their grant funds to training the next generation of Canadian undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.

"The great success of new federal programs such as the Canada Research Chairs and the Canada Foundation for Innovation means that universities are hiring once again," said NSERC President Tom Brzustowski. "More than 780 professors applied for their first NSERC grants in this competition. Since young researchers are Canada's future, we've given special attention to their needs."

NSERC also supports research projects with industry partners that put new knowledge to productive use in the economy. The results of those competitions are announced throughout the year.

NSERC is a key 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:

Complete List of Grants

Some New NSERC Awards in...
(researcher profiles)

• British Columbia
• Prairies
• Ontario
  • South and West
  • North and East
• Québec
  • Montréal
• Atlantic Canada

For more information about Canada's Innovation Strategy or to obtain a copy of either Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians or Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity, please call 1-800-O CANADA (1-800-622-6232) or visit http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca.