The CFI Announces $43.5 million for 282 New Researchers at Canadian Universities

June 18, 2003

OTTAWA, June 18, 2003 —Today, Dr. David Strangway, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) was joined by Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) to announce $43.5 million in CFI funding, under the New Opportunities Fund, for research infrastructure, to support 282 new faculty appointments, in 46 universities across Canada.

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The New Opportunities Fund provides Canadian universities with an opportunity to attract cutting edge researchers from around the globe, making Canada one of the most innovative countries in the world,” said Industry Minister Allan Rock. “Investments such as these, will ultimately lead to new discoveries that will help to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.”

The projects we are celebrating today will strengthen the research capacity of institutions across Canada," said Dr. Pagtakhan. “These recipients will help train the next generation of outstanding Canadian researchers, ensuring that Canada’s participation in the global knowledge-based economy continues.”

Besides helping attract new, high-calibre talent to Canada, the New Opportunities Fund has enabled universities across the country to preserve our most important resource—our intellectual capital,” said Dr. Strangway. “Today’s investment will help Canadian universities to recruit and retain the best and brightest research minds.” On June 17, 2003, the CFI Board of Directors approved a total investment of $43.5 million in infrastructure for 237 projects at 46 universities. They include:   

• University of Manitoba – facility for development and evaluation of advanced membrane separation processes in wastewater treatment;
• University of Windsor – instrumentation for characterizing size-reduced waste plastics to improve automotive recovery and recycling;
• Université du Québec/Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – usine pilote mobile pour la mise à l’échelle de technologies environnementales;
• Memorial University of Newfoundland – a capillary electrophoresis system for the analysis and identification of environmental pollutants.

The projects were selected on the recommendation of experts who thoroughly assessed each project against the three CFI criteria:   

• Quality research and the need for infrastructure;
• Contribution to strengthening the capacity for innovation;
• Potential benefits of the research to Canada.

The $43.5 million CFI investment has been awarded through two funds: $33.5 million under the New Opportunities Fund to enable universities to provide infrastructure for newly-recruited faculty members, and the remaining $10 million under the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF) to assist universities with operating and maintenance costs.

A list of the projects approved by the CFI to date, and a listing of the approved funding for this announcement, are available here.

The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and other non-profit research institutions.

For more information:

Canada Foundation for Innovation / 
Fondation canadienne pour l’innovation

New Opportunities Fund / Fonds de relève

REGIONAL BACKGROUNDERS / FICHE D’INFORMATION PAR RÉGION

 - Alberta
 - British Columbia / Colombie-Britannique
 - Manitoba
 - New Brunswick / Nouveau Brunswick
 - Newfoundland and Labrador / Terre-Neuve et Labrador
 - Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse
 - Ontario
 - Quebec / Québec
 - Saskatchewan