Government of Canada celebrates cutting-edge infrastructure for researchers at Ryerson University

Minister Morneau highlights $128,000 for spacecraft dynamics testing

TORONTO, March 3, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, today celebrated $128,000 in funding for Ryerson University.

The Government of Canada is committed to providing strong support for new research innovation and infrastructure. Our country's researchers tackle issues that matter to the lives of everyday Canadians, from the development of a deep space habitat near the Moon—exploring asteroids with the eventual goal of a human mission to Mars—to space exploration at the forefront of technological development, which often has beneficial spin-offs for technological advancement on Earth.

The Federal government also announced $4,982,485 in funding for 19 projects at the University of Toronto and $442,000 for 3 projects at York University which will be used for a range of innovative initiatives, from creating technologies that fight fibrosis to building a facility for women's reproductive health research.

The investment was made by the Government of Canada through the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund. This fund helps universities attract and retain the best and brightest researchers from around the world by giving them access to cutting-edge research tools.

Quotes

"Investments in Canada's research infrastructure, like those we are celebrating today, are incredibly important to our nation's future. They help us to attract and retain the very best scientists and give Canadian researchers the tools they need to perform excellent cutting-edge research, train the scientists of tomorrow and enable innovative discoveries that improve our environment, economy and communities."
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

"Our government understands the important role Canada's scientists and researchers play in developing the evidence we need to make decisions that impact our environment, our health, our communities and our economy. Strengthening our support for research innovation and infrastructure and improving access to post-secondary education is fundamental to our government's plan for a strong middle class and a growing economy."
– The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance

"This generous funding from CFI's John R. Evans Leaders Fund will allow Ryerson to continue our leading aerospace research carried out by the Ryerson Aerospace Control Systems Research Group, led by Professor Anton de Ruiter. The funding will support the creation of a test facility that will explore the dynamics, guidance, navigation and control (DGNC) of aerospace vehicles."  
– Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University.

Quick facts

• Ryerson University is receiving $128,000 in infrastructure funding for a spacecraft dynamics and control test facility. This research program develops Canadian expertise to address important spacecraft dynamics and control challenges, which is needed to enable future space exploration missions and maintain and enhance Canada's relevance in the international space community.
• The University of Toronto is receiving $4,982,485 in funding for 19 projects ranging from the remuscularization of injured hearts using stem cells to robotic radiobiology.
• York University is receiving $442,000 in infrastructure funding for a women's reproductive health center, the tools to study the diagnosis of cell carcinomas and a lab for thermos-magnetics
• On February 28, 2017, Minister Duncan announced the Canada Foundation for Innovation's contribution of more than $51 million, through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, for 223 projects at 39 universities across the country. 
• This amount includes close to $12 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Infrastructure Operating Fund, a mechanism that assists institutions with operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure.

Related products

A full list of the funded projects is available online at Innovation.ca. 

Associated links

• Canada Foundation for Innovation
• John R. Evans Leaders Fund
• The CFI Research Facilities Navigator – An online directory of CFI-funded labs that are available to collaborate with the private sector.

Follow Minister Duncan on social media.

Twitter: @ScienceMin 
Instagram: sciencemin

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For further information: Annie Donolo, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Finance, 613-769-7187, [e-mail]; Stefanie Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Science, 343-291-2600; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home