CFI Invests $25 Million in the Social Sciences and Humanities

February 8, 2007

OTTAWA, February 8, 2007 — Researchers and students in the social sciences and humanities in Canada will benefit from a $25 million investment by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI, was joined today by the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, to announce the landmark investment. The funds will go towards two projects — one led by the University of Ottawa and the other by the Université de Montréal. The projects will significantly enhance the knowledge management tools available to researchers and students from coast to coast.

“The CFI recognizes the critical contribution that researchers in the social sciences and humanities make to Canada and the world,” said Dr. Phillipson. “Providing them with world-class, user-friendly knowledge management tools will catalyze discovery at the frontiers of many fields of research.”

“Today’s announcement is wholly in keeping with the spirit of the objectives outlined in our recent economic plan,Advantage Canada. It solidifies the commitment of Canada’s New Government to support research excellence, and to ensure that research findings are translated into socio-economic outcomes for Canadians,” said Minister Bernier. “This initiative represents the collaboration and investments of all stakeholders, including the federal government. Partnerships are essential, and it is vital that we continue with this approach,” he added.

The investment announced today will provide researchers and students at close to 70 institutions across Canada with desktop access to an extensive body of national and international academic research material.

“This groundbreaking initiative will enable Canadian researchers in the social sciences and humanities to access a global digital network of research knowledge,” said Dr. Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. “Empowering our research talent in this way will inevitably enhance Canada’s international competitiveness and effectiveness on the world stage, as well as our prosperity and our quality of life.”

Today’s $25 million investment was approved by the CFI’s Board of Directors following a rigorous merit review process. It was awarded under the CFI’s National Platforms Fund, a new program designed to provide the Canadian research community with infrastructure and resources that serve the needs of researchers working in a wide variety of research areas at institutions across the country. More than $19 million was awarded to the Digital Content project, and over $5.8 million was awarded to the Synergies project. With the matching funds required to accompany this CFI award, this represents a new investment of almost $60 million in Canadian social sciences and humanities research.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI’s mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. 

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