69热视频

More than $200 million to support new, major programs is most welcome, Principal says

The federal government has taken some important initiatives in supporting university-level research in Canada, 69热视频 Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum said Tuesday, shortly after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty鈥檚 budget was presented in the House of Commons.

Munroe-Blum singled out three important programs that between them add $165 million in research funding and also noted that other funding increases add up to a significant amount of support for research in the context of a necessarily austere budget that works to reduce Canada鈥檚 deficit.

The three major programs the 69热视频 Principal cited were:

鈥� A new institute to allocate, on a competitive basis, $12 million over five years in research dollars for joint projects with India;

鈥� Ten new Canada Excellence Research Chairs (or CERCs) in which the government provides $53.5 million over five years to bring the world鈥檚 best researchers to a Canadian university through a competitive process;

鈥� A new, $100-million 鈥淐anada Brain Research Fund鈥� program under which research projects will apply for funding (matched by Ottawa to a maximum of $100 million) under a competitive process.

鈥淭hese are exciting new programs with substantial backing,鈥� said Munroe-Blum, who chairs the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada鈥檚 Standing Advisory Committee on University Research. 鈥淭hey will create important new opportunities for universities across the country and will continue the work the government has already done to boost research and innovation in Canada and to ensure we remain more competitive with the best of the world.鈥�

The modest increase in this budget to the three federal granting councils nonetheless comes with a recognition of social sciences and humanities research and the important work done in these fields that is often overshadowed by research conducted in the physical and life sciences

Funding for the indirect costs of research 鈥� $10 million 鈥� is some recognition of the fact that institutions end up having to invest significantly in infrastructure and other costs to support laboratories and researchers attached to major research projects.

Munroe-Blum welcomed the five-year, $35-million program to encourage climate change research at Canada鈥檚 post-secondary institutions, saying she looks forward to universities contributing more in the effort to tackle this crucial issue.

鈥淎s it is, this budget expresses priority in maintaining and enhancing the vital support for Canadian research and innovation necessary to contribute the talent, discovery and innovation on which Canadians鈥� prosperity and well being depend,鈥� Munroe-Blum said.

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