Support for innovation to create jobs, expand research and foster innovation

An investment of $1.1 billion for post-secondary facilities in Quebec

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec, announced today a historic investment to help equip young Quebeckers with the quality post-secondary education that will help them achieve their goals.

In total, universities and colleges throughout Quebec will receive nearly $1.1 billion from the Government of Canada, the provincial government, the institutions themselves and private donors.

Federal funding will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses, improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities and help youth join a strong and healthy middle class.

The Government of Quebec announced the 2016-2026 Québec Infrastructure Plan that includes investments in all sectors of the economy, including those in higher education.

Among the projects being undertaken at the Université de Montréal is the building of a new science complex at the Outremont campus. The new complex will serve as a multidisciplinary centre for research and science education at the school, giving researchers more opportunities to collaborate on major scientific and technological research initiatives. Of the total investment for this new facility,

• $145 million is being provided by the Government of Quebec;
• $119.03 million is being provided by the Université de Montréal; and
• $84.23 million is being provided by the Government of Canada.

This new complex is just one of 10 projects announced today that are being funded at the Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions. In total, the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec are providing a combined investment of $259.02 million for these projects at the university and its affiliated institutions. This includes:

• $160.31 million from the Government of Quebec; and
• $98.71 million from the Government of Canada.

As a result of these investments in Quebec, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities that advance the country's best research. They will collaborate in specially designed spaces that support lifelong learning and skills training. They will work in close proximity with partners to turn discoveries into products or services. In the process, they will train for—and create—the high-value, well-paying middle-class jobs of the future. Their work and discoveries will plant the seeds for the next generation of innovators.

Quotes

"This investment is a historic leap to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will in turn keep the Canadian economy globally competitive and help grow the middle class."
– The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

"Our government has started an important shift to ensure the educational success of everyone from children to adults. The partnership announced today between the Government of Quebec, the federal government and our post-secondary institutions will allow us to offer a stimulating learning environment for students in all regions of Quebec. In a constantly changing world, our ability to work together so that all children can achieve their dreams will contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of Quebec." 
– Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is providing more than $385 million for research infrastructure at institutions throughout Quebec.
• The Government of Quebec is providing more than $345 million for research infrastructure at institutions throughout Quebec.
• The post-secondary institutions along with the private donors are providing more than $361 million for research infrastructure at institutions throughout Quebec.
• The Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions have been awarded $98.71 million in federal funding through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund.
• The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada's universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada's climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
• Canada's Innovation Agenda is designed to ensure our country is globally competitive in promoting research, translating ideas into new products and services, accelerating business growth and propelling entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to international success.

Associated links

• Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund website
• 2016-2026 Québec Infrastructure Plan (in French only)
• Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund backgrounder – List of projects at the Université de Montréal
• Innovation Agenda backgrounder

Backgrounder
Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund

The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) is a $2-billion initiative designed to modernize research and commercialization facilities at Canadian universities, colleges and polytechnics.

Through the program, the Government of Canada is partnering with the provinces and territories to fund projects that:

• improve the scale or quality of facilities for research and innovation, including spaces for the commercialization of research;
• improve the scale or quality of facilities for specialized training at colleges focused on industry needs; and/or
• improve the environmental sustainability of research and innovation-related facilities at universities and colleges.

SIF will support up to 50 percent of a project's eligible costs. The remaining funding will come from other partners, such as provincial and territorial governments, and the institutions themselves.

These historic investments will promote economic activity across Canada and help provide the skills and training needed to secure high-value, well-paying middle-class jobs. They will result in state-of-the-art facilities to not only train the next generation of highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs but also serve as hubs of discovery and collaboration. They will nurture the development of innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.

SIF will also support the Government of Canada's climate-change objectives by investing in the design and upgrade of energy-efficient buildings.

Investments in Quebec and at the Université de Montréal

In total, universities and colleges throughout Quebec will receive nearly $1.1 billion from the Government of Canada, the provincial government, the institutions themselves and private donors. Federal funding will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

The Government of Canada is investing $98.71 million in 10 projects at the Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions, HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal.

For information about a specific project, please contact the institution.

PROJECT	SIF Funding	Provincial Funding
Université de Montréal – Upgrades to the inhalation chamber at the Roger-Gaudry pavilion's U4 wing	$614,674	$1,316,005
Université de Montréal – Repair to the building envelope of a research facility at the Faculty of Medicine	$892,644	$1,052,584
Université de Montréal – Development of space for the International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research	$2,406,788	$3,493,995
Université de Montréal – Upgrades to animal research facilities	$812,074	$487,244
Université de Montréal – Development of research facilities for the Department of Archeology	$401,953	$595,954
Université de Montréal – Construction of a new science complex at the Outremont campus	$84,225,244	$145,004,558
Université de Montréal – Renovation and energy optimization of the outdated infrastructure of the Montreal Clinical Research Institute	$5,890,937	$3,534,456
Polytechnique Montréal – Construction of new electrical rooms serving research laboratories in the main pavilion	$1,149,948	$1,368,861
Polytechnique Montréal – Renovation to build a large experimental laboratory	$394,963	$501,203
HEC Montréal – Upgrade of the telecommunications network	$1,921,950	$2,953,050
TOTAL	$98,711,175	$160,307,910

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Philip Proulx, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-2500; Thierry Bélair, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Higher Education, Government of Quebec, 418-266-3255; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]