Major new investment in research talent ushers in a new era of discovery in Manitoba

Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan announces 10 Canada Research Chairs

WINNIPEG, Nov. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Everyone benefits when our labs and classrooms look more like the Canada we see today. Diverse perspectives bring new ideas and drive creativity in science and research, which lead to innovations that help grow the economy. The next generation of young researchers bring fresh thinking to science problem solving and discovery, which helps keep Canadian research at the forefront of discovery today and in the future.

Today, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, was in Manitoba to announce significant investments in the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) that will attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. The Government of Canada is investing $9.5 million for 10 new and renewed Chairs at the University of Manitoba from the most recent competition.

The announcement includes a new investment of $210 million over the next five years, through Budget 2018, that will add 285 new Chairs. This announcement also includes a boost for early career researchers and new and currently active Tier 2 Chairs who are receiving an additional supplement of up to $20,000 to help them establish their research projects. This is in recognition of what was heard during consultations with the research community—a need for a boost to propel young researchers' careers forward.

The Minister joined new and renewed Chairs at the University of Manitoba to highlight the importance of fostering the diversity and creativity that leads to cutting-edge research. The event profiled Dr. Trust Beta, a Canada Research Chair in Grain-Based Functional Foods, and Dr. Nancy Kang, an early career researcher and Canada Research Chair in Transnational Feminisms and Gender-Based Violence. The University of Manitoba is one of 49 universities across Canada to receive the CRCP funding announced on November 13, 2018.

Quotes

"The future of research and science in Canada will be led by the next generation of talent. That's why it is so important that we support our early career researchers today. There's no better place than Canada to be a scientist. That's why Canada Research Chairs come here from diverse backgrounds and choose Canada to pursue their ambitious research goals, build their teams and maintain Canada's position as a global leader in research excellence."  
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

"We have come a long way in the last year to create opportunities for researchers through the Canada Research Chairs Program. A strong action plan to address equity, diversity and inclusion and a focus on early career researchers will continue to strengthen the Canadian research enterprise and contribute to the social and economic well-being of Canadians."
– Ted Hewitt, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Chair of the Canada Research Chairs Program Steering Committee 

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to promoting diversity: in the most recent chairs competition, women accounted for over 43 percent of nominations. This is a historic high for this prestigious program.
• The Government of Canada invests in research excellence in the areas of health sciences, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities through its three granting agencies: the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Associated links

• Canada Research Chairs Fall 2018―Recipient's List
• Canada Research Chairs Program Update―Stipend to support Tier 2s
• Profile on Dr. Trust Beta, Canada Research Chair in Grain-Based Functional Foods
• Profile on Dr. Nancy Kang, Canada Research Chair in Transnational Feminisms and Gender-Based Violence
• Canada's Science Vision

Follow the Canada Research Chairs on Twitter: @CRC_CRC

For Canadian science news, follow @CDNScience on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Nyree St-Denis, Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Science and Sport, 343-291-4051, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]; Alioune Camara, Media Relations Advisor, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, 613-992-8930, [email protected]