Universities give high marks to smart investments in research and innovation

OTTAWA, March 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada's universities welcome the smart, strategic investments in research and innovation contained in today's federal budget.

"In the face of tough fiscal choices, the government showed leadership by continuing its investments in research, innovation, research infrastructure and university-private sector collaborations," says Stephen Toope, chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada's board of directors and president of the University of British Columbia. "These investments will build a stronger future for our society and economy."

In a climate where some federal government departments are seeing reductions, the federal budget provides ongoing funding for research and innovation through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to enhance their support of industry-academic research partnership programs. These investments will preserve current levels of basic research and scholarships funding, securing Canada's position as a global leader in research and discovery.

An additional $500 million over five years for the Canada Foundation for Innovation reflects the importance that high-quality research infrastructure plays in attracting and retaining top students and researchers from around the world. In addition, the budget includes measures to give graduate students valuable research experience in the private sector - an initiative called for by AUCC.

Other strategic investments in research and higher education include:

• $60 million for Genome Canada to launch a new applied research competition in the area of human health, and to sustain the Science and Technology Centres until 2014-15,
• $40 million over two years to support CANARIE's operation of Canada's ultra-high speed research network,
• $6.5 million over three years for a research project at McMaster University to evaluate team-based approaches to health care delivery,
• $17 million over two years to further advance the development of alternatives to existing isotope production technologies, and
• $10 million over two years to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to link Canadians to global research networks.

"The budget provides new opportunities for talented graduate students to gain research experiences in companies across Canada," says AUCC president Paul Davidson. "We're also pleased the budget recognizes the importance of deepening international education and research linkages."

The government is also investing in knowledge transfer and commercialization with $24 million over two years and $12 million per year thereafter to make the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program permanent. This initiative supports research on business priorities by teams of private-sector researchers and academics.

In addition, the budget contains funding to improve educational outcomes for Canada's Aboriginal people, including $275 million to support First Nations education on reserve. This is a shared priority, and Canada's universities will continue to work with Aboriginal organizations, the Government of Canada and private sector partners to ensure that our growing population of Aboriginal youth has access to high quality postsecondary experiences. 

AUCC is the national voice of Canada's universities, representing 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities.

For interviews and information, please contact: 

Helen Murphy
Manager, Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
613.563.1236, ext. 238
Cell: 613.608.8749
[email protected]

Mélanie Béchard
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: [phone], ext. 306
Cell: 613.884.8401
[email protected]