Thank you in advance for your patience.

January 31, 2012 - Vancouver, BC - John Robinson, Executive Director of the UBC Sustainability Initiative, thinks much of the green movement misses the point. The traditional thinking on sustainability focuses on the need to reduce human activity in order to save the environment from ruin. But what if human activity could actually heal the environment? What if we the many commercial and residential buildings popping up around the world can improve both the wellbeing of their inhabitants while making positive contributions to the environment?

Robinson and collaborator, UBC architecture professor Raymond Cole, will share their unique vision in regenerative sustainability Feb. 1 at the Canada Foundation for Innovation Dialogues at UBC Robson Square lecture series. 

“The implications of this approach are profound, says John Robinson, director of UBC’s  Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS). “If human activity can be regenerative, then it need not necessarily be minimized. The focus shifts from reducing harm to improving benefit.”

Robinson and his team at UBC are walking this talk. In November 2011, with support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, UBC opened CIRS, North America’s greenest building. This structure is designed to restore the environment and improve the wellbeing of its inhabitants. Its “net positive” environmental impacts include:

• Energy: By capturing energy from the sun, the ground and the nearby Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) building, CIRS heats itself and returns 600 megawatt hours of surplus energy back to campus.
• Operational carbon: CIRS’ operations require no fossil fuel and the surplus energy CIRS returns to EOS removes an additional 150 tonnes of GHG emissions annually through reduced natural gas use.
• Structural carbon: CIRS’ wood structure locks in more than 600 tonnes of carbon, offsetting GHG emissions from non-renewable materials used in the building’s construction, including cement, steel and aluminum.
• Water: CIRS will satisfy the water needs of 200 inhabitants, plus hundreds of auditorium and café users, by capturing rain and treating it onsite. Water that can’t be used for drinking will recharge the local aquifer.

“We also want CIRS to be net positive in human terms,” says Robinson. “We are measuring productivity, health and happiness of the building inhabitants with a goal of improvement in all these areas over time.”

CIRS is a test-bed for how organizations can implement regenerative sustainability. The CIRS website reports in real-time on key sustainability indicators and the team hopes that others can benefit from the best-practices developed at the centre.

In the lead-up to the American Association for the Advancement of Science this month in Vancouver, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the University of British Columbia are teaming up to present a four-part lecture series celebrating Canadian innovation. These lectures will cover a range of Canadian research, from brain imaging, to child development, to quantum computing. Details are available at www.innovation.ca.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation
The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit innovation.ca.

Join Profs. John Robinson and Raymond Cole 6-7:30pm on Wednesday, Feb. 1 for the Canada Foundation for Innovation Dialogues at UBC Robson Square. This event is open to the public and admission is free. No registration required. For more information, visit innovation.ca or aaas.ubc.ca and click on Special Events.

For more information or interview requests contact
Ryan Saxby Hill
ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca
613-294-6247 (mobile)

The road map looks at the role the CFI plays in supporting Canada’s research enterprise and looks at the evolving environment in which it now operates. It examines the CFI mandate — to support world-class research, world-class talent and world-class innovation — and proposes a number of strategic directions, including:

• Investing in the highest levels of excellence;
• Sustaining and enhancing the capacity of Canada’s research enterprise;
• Forging productive partnerships;
• Building global influence.

The CFI road map also aims to chart the evolution of the organization by identifying areas where the CFI could shift its approach and application in order to respond to the current and anticipated needs of the research community — and of the country. The shifts explored in the document fall into three categories:

• Applying the principle of excellence across a broader spectrum of infrastructure funding.
• Supporting the full spectrum of research, from discovery to innovation.
• Working together to consult, coordinate, collaborate and communicate.

The road map is available online.  The CFI will be holding webinars on January 17 and 18, 2012, to present the road map and answer any questions you may have. We will send registration information early in the new year.

Please note that the deadline to submit comments on the CFI’s proposed road map is February 16, 2012. All feedback will be communicated to the CFI Board of Directors at its March 2012 meeting.  

The CFI wishes you all the best this holiday season. We look forward to working with you in 2012. 

Download CFI Strategic Roadmap 2012-17 (PDF)

John Robinson thinks that much of the green movement misses the point.

We need to move beyond just “greening” our buildings and start designing structures that actually produce net benefits for both the environment and human well-being. Robinson leads the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) at the University of British Columbia, where he is a pioneer in the field of regenerative sustainability. Using the CIRS as a prime example, he and his fellow researchers are looking at the ways in which buildings and human-made processes can contribute to urban sustainability. The building utilizes the sun, the wind, the rain and the earth and returns clean water, while reducing the university’s energy use and carbon footprint. On the human side, CIRS is intended to make its inhabitants healthier, more productive and happier, while changing the way we all think about sustainability.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Dialogues at UBC Robson Square, is presenting a special opportunity to find out how CIRS is aiming to accelerate sustainability at UBC and beyond.

When:           February 1, 2012, at 6 p.m.
Where:          UBC Robson Square
                      800 Robson Street

This event is free and open to the public, thanks to the sponsorship of the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the University of British Columbia.

For more information, please email ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca or call 613-943-5346.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Vancouver, January 25, 2012 — Canadian researchers are leading the way in the search for the cause of autism, a condition affecting about one in every 200 people in Canada. The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Dialogues at UBC Robson Square, will highlight Dr. Alan Evans, one Canadian researcher making a difference in brain research.  

“Clinicians are typically unable to diagnose autism until the third year of life,” says researcher Alan Evans of McGill University’s McConnell Brain Imaging Centre. “However, the earlier we can identify any developmental abnormalities the more possible interventions we have in our arsenal.”

Evans and his colleagues are currently working with American researchers to map the brains of 500 younger siblings of autistic children. Statistically, about 15 to 20 percent of the younger siblings of autistic children will develop autism spectrum disorder themselves.

By regularly monitoring the brains of those younger siblings from birth, researchers hope to be able to pinpoint what changes take place in the brains of the children who develop the disorder. This better understanding will help identify the causes and lead to prevention and treatment.

According to Autism Society Canada, the causes of autism spectrum disorder are not fully understood, but it is generally accepted that it is a neurological problem.

The sibling autism study is just one example of the cutting-edge research that taps into Canada’s growing expertise in the brain imaging field and makes use of its sophisticated telecommunications system, which links computers across the country to a super-computer network with the power to perform complex data calculations.

“It’s one thing to collect data,” says Evans, “and quite another to turn that data into useful knowledge. Increasingly, the limiting factor in leading-edge research is computing power. The more computer capacity they have, the better scientists are able to turn data into knowledge.”

Canada’s unique combination of human and digital brainpower will be featured at the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s first Dialogues at UBC Robson Square lecture series Today at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, BC. 

In the lead-up to the American Association for the Advancement of Science this February in Vancouver, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the University of British Columbia are teaming up to present a four-part lecture series celebrating Canadian innovation. These lectures will cover a range of Canadian research, from sustainability, to child development, to quantum computing. Details are available at www.innovation.ca.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit innovation.ca.

For more information or interview requests contact
Ryan Saxby Hill
ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca
613-294-6247 (mobile)

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is providing $33 million to support Canadian researchers in their work, such as the team of researchers at York University working to understand how proper management of pain in childhood can have life-long benefits. 

“Our government is investing in science and technology to improve the quality of life of Canadians and strengthen the economy,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “Investments in research and development are ensuring that our scientists have the resources they need to be successful.”

From the most advanced medical technology, to the latest opportunities in business and finance, this funding will support researchers at universities across the country.

“Canadians from coast to coast to coast can be assured that Canada’s research community is bringing its talents to bear on the problems that matter to them,” said
Dr. Gilles G. Patry, Canada Foundation for Innovation President and Chief Executive Officer. “This round of investment illustrates the value of research and innovation in building stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities.”

Canada Foundation for Innovation funding – $25 million through the Leaders Opportunity Fund and $8 million through the Infrastructure Operating Fund – is awarded through a rigorous, objective and merit-based competition process.

The Leaders Opportunity Fund has a legacy of supporting research in communities across Canada. A full list of the funded projects is available online at www.innovation.ca.

BACKGROUNDER  

The Canada Foundation for Innovation is investing where it matters:

• Finding solutions for a growing oil sands industry
Through deepening their knowledge of the science behind bitumen, researchers at the University of Alberta are working to develop more sustainable techniques for oil extraction and refinement. This research will result in improved oil sands processing techniques while maintaining environmental stewardship. 

• Creating a more personalized approach to cancer treatment
Researchers at the University of Toronto are developing new imaging methods to help physicians rapidly identify ineffective chemotherapy or other cancer treatments and adjust a patient’s course of treatment. They are also working on making radiation treatments 50 to 100 times more effective, potentially reducing the level of radiation required. This research has far-reaching implications, since more than 50 percent of cancer patients undergo radiation therapy.

• Reinforcing bridges and overpasses
Only 50% of Quebec’s bridges and overpasses are currently considered to be in good condition. Researchers at Université de Sherbrooke think they may have found a way to boost this figure to 80% and improve the safety of Quebec’s 9,000-odd provincial and municipal bridges and overpasses. Among the methods being developed to reinforce these aging structures are real-time simulations of impact loads on bridges.

• Supporting prosperous farming communities
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are working with Prairie farmers to diversify their income sources and agricultural productivity through agroforestry, the integration of trees in farmland. Promoted for the production of biomass, a source of energy, agroforestry may also restore soil productivity in marginal lands, helping farmers remain profitable.

• Links between early painful experiences and dealing with distress as an adult
Watching children suffer through getting a needle is something every parent dreads. Researchers at York University suspect that how parents and caregivers soothe infants during painful experiences such as vaccination may have an effect on how children cope with distress later in life. The team at York are exploring how managing pain properly in early childhood may affect health in adulthood.

• The networked world ― delivering on the promise of social media
Researchers at Dalhousie University’s Social Media Lab are creating a hotbed for social media research in Atlantic Canada, helping businesses, government and not-for-profit organizations understand how to engage in online conversations with Canadians. This work is embedded in a growing industry. The Social Media Lab plans to form a social media analytics company, ensuring that research conducted at the lab generates real opportunities in the community.

 - List of Approved Projects by Institution (PDF)

For more information and interview requests

Ryan Saxby Hill
Canada Foundation for Innovation
613-294-6247 (mobile)
ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca

Jay Jacobson
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-947-2956
 

CFI Strategic Roadmap Webinar, Slides, January 17-18, 2012 (PDF Format)

CFI Strategic Roadmap Webinar (January 17-18, 2012)

Mapping the human brain is a massive effort, and one that has serious implications for those living with a range of diseases from autism to Alzheimer’s.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Dialogues at UBC Robson Square, is presenting a special opportunity for the public to engage with Dr. Alan Evans, one of Canada’s top brain researchers.

Dr. Evans will offer his unique perspective on why brain research matters to Canadians and how his work with C-brain — a telecommunications-enabled effort to map the brain of Canadians — is revolutionizing our understanding of the human experience.

When:    6:00 pm, January 25, 2012

Where:   UBC Robson Square
             800 Robson Street

Dr. Evans and his team are leading the global race to use the latest technologies in brain imaging to diagnose, treat and research brain conditions. This is an unprecedented opportunity for the Vancouver public to hear one of Canada’s top brain researchers. A Q&A session will follow Dr. Evans remarks.

This event is free and open to the public thanks to sponsorship from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the University of British Columbia.
 
For more information, email ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca or call 613-943-5346.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Ottawa, ON – January 12, 2012 – Supporting Canadian discovery, innovation and competitiveness has been a hallmark of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) over the last 15 years. Throughout 2012, the CFI will be celebrating the world-class research it has enabled through investments in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions. 

“For 15 years the CFI and its partners have been giving researchers the tools they need to think big and compete globally” said Dr. Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. “But the CFI is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about people and communities. Sustained investment of the Government of Canada through the CFI has enabled research institutions to attract and retain some of the world’s top talent and train the next generation of Canadian research leaders, helping Canadians thrive in the global knowledge economy.”

In addition to showcasing great Canadian discoveries in every discipline, the CFI will focus its communications activities on how research is helping to build strong communities and is delivering real, tangible benefits to Canadians.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

The CFI gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation, and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit www.innovation.ca.

For more information or interview requests:

Ryan Saxby Hill
Canada Foundation for Innovation
ryansaxbyhill@innovation.ca
613-943-5346 (office)
613-294-6247 (mobile)

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Download 2012 Leading Edge Fund Application Forms (PDF) 
Download 2012 New Initiatives Fund Appplication Forms (PDF)

Thank you in advance for your patience.

November 16, 2011 – Ottawa, ON – Communities across Canada are benefiting from strong links between the private sector and top research talent.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation is convening a panel with some of the country’s top thinkers on innovation, research and development to discuss how university and college researchers can work with industry to support and sustain Canadian communities. They will discuss strategies for fostering collaboration by looking at communities across Canada where innovation is successfully driving job growth and industrial leadership.

The panel will also discuss how collaboration among community players and institutions leads to economic development. In Hamilton, for example, St. Joseph’s Healthcare is teaming up with McMaster University, Mohawk College and local companies to transform the former steel town into a medical research hub. In Vancouver, pharmaceutical research infrastructure has been deployed with business in mind, ensuring that the city can attract not only the world’s best researchers, but also the biotechnology companies that follow them. Research facilities are at the heart of thriving industrial development clusters across Canada, from photonics in Quebec City, to nuclear research in Saskatoon, to aquaculture in St. John’s.

The panel will be chaired by Marie Carter, chief operating officer of Engineers Canada. Panellists include:

• Dr. Kevin Smith, president of the Canada Foundation for Innovation Board of Directors, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener and Associate Professor at the McMaster University School of Medicine.
• Fred Morley, executive vice-president and chief economist of the Greater Halifax Partnership
• Mike Harcourt, the former premier of British Columbia and chair of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for Cities and Communities
• Bruce Perry, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Bombardier Aerospace in Montréal

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Dr. Patry will be part of a delegation of Canadians representing a variety of fields, including education, innovation, trade promotion, and culture. The delegation will share its experiences and knowledge with its Malaysian, Vietnamese and Singaporean counterparts in order to provide greater visibility to bilateral co-operation in various sectors, particularly in education and economic development. Dr. Patry brings his experience in both the private and academic sectors.

While in Singapore, the Governor General will underscore Canada’s shared interest in promoting growth through innovation and increased productivity. He will address these issues with Singaporean representatives and will meet with Canadians from the business, investment and academic communities. His Excellency will also lay a wreath at the Kranji War Cemetery in memory of the hundreds of Canadian soldiers who were killed in Southeast Asia during the Second World War. In honour of the Governor General’s visit to Singapore, an orchid will be named after him during a ceremony at the National Orchid Garden.

The Governor General will deliver keynote address on the Diplomacy of Knowledge: Education and Globalization in the 21st Century at the National University of Malaya, followed by a panel discussion that will focus on transferring university research to the private sector to make “smart cities” and innovative communities. Dr. Patry and Kunal Gupta, CEO of Polar Mobile, will participate in this panel discussion.

State visits by a governor general play an important role in Canada’s relations with other countries. They are the highest form of diplomatic contact, as they mark further developments in bilateral relations and exchanges among peoples.

Accompanying delegation:

• The Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Vietnam, Singapore)
• Mr. Paul Davidson, President, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
• Mr. Kunal Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Polar Mobile
• Mr. John G. Jung, Chief Executive Officer, Canada’s Technology Triangle (Singapore)
• Dr. Hy V. Luong, Professor of Anthropology and Director, Collaborative MA Program in Asia-Pacific Studies University of Toronto
• Mr. John R. McDougall, President, National Research Council Canada
• Dr. Gilles G. Patry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Foundation for Innovation
• Ms. Kim Thúy, Author

For full biographies of the delegation, visit www.gg.ca/pdf/Visit_to_Asia_2011_Eng-Accompanying_Delegate_Bios.pdf.

For the full itinerary of the State visits, visit http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14309&lan=eng.

For more information on the Canada Foundation for Innovation, visit www.innovation.ca.

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For more information:

Ryan Saxby Hill 
Coordinator, Media Relations (English) 
Tel: 613-943-5346  
Cell: 613-294-6247 
Email: ryan.saxbyhill@innovation.ca

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations (Français)
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell: 613-447-1723
Email: yves.melanson@innovation.ca

NOTICE
Annual Public Meeting

The Canada Foundation for Innovation invests in the state-of-the-art labs and equipment researchers need to think big and help our nation innovate and prosper.

Guest speaker
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston
Governor General of Canada

Monday, November 28, 2011
8 to10 a.m.
FAIRMONT CHÂTEAU LAURIER
ADAM ROOM
1 Rideau Street
Ottawa

RSVP by November 21, 2011
613-996-4426 or rsvp@innovation.ca

You must register to attend this free event.
Space is limited, so please register early.

Research builds communities

 - Download Invitation (PDF, 416KB)

“Our consultations indicate that the CFI brand is both trusted and valued when it comes to promoting world-class research excellence,” says Dr. Gilles G. Patry, the CFI’s president and CEO. “In 2012, the CFI will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, and we want to share with Canadians our excitement, confidence and optimism about the contribution that research and innovation make to society.” 

The CFI’s new tagline — Research builds communities — highlights the tremendous role research and research infrastructure plays in our communities. CFI investments have increased Canada’s research capacity and helped clusters of expertise flourish in communities across the country. For example, photonics in Quebec City, aeronautics in Montréal, life sciences in Saskatoon, food security in Guelph and aquaculture in St. John’s, to name just a few.

Research infrastructure also enables cutting-edge research that benefits communities in areas such as health, the economy and the environment.  

The CFI’s previous logo was created in 1997, before the proliferation of high-speed wireless networks, smart phones and social networks. Just as innovation requires flexibility and adaptation, organizations, businesses and governments regularly update their brand and visual identity as they work to maintain industry best-practices and showcase current design norms. 

With its new brand and its commitment to working with its partners in Canada’s research enterprise, the CFI also aims to complement the messaging of the Government of Canada and of the federal granting agencies. The CFI’s new visual identity will be implemented in the coming months

For more information on the CFI’s brand update, visit www.innovation.ca/ID_e/index.html.

Leaders Opportunity Fund – Funding for infrastructure associated with a
Canada Research Chair

List of Approved Projects by Institution (PDF format)

Provincial Cumulative Totals (PDF format)

Thank you in advance for your patience.

The 2011 Canadian Research Data Summit, Mapping the Data Landscape, is organized by the Research Data Strategy (RDS) Working Group, of which the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is a member. The aim of the summit is to address the challenges and opportunities related to data management and, more specifically, to harness Canada’s collective investment in research data for the greatest possible benefit.

“The Canada Foundation for Innovation is a proud partner in this initiative, “ said Dr. Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. “The summit will undoubtedly help shape a national strategy for the researchers of today and tomorrow to share and use data.”

The RDS Working Group will release a final report on the Summit in early 2012. The report will highlight key actions required to develop a national strategy for research data management.

The full announcement and summit backgrounder are available for viewing on the RDS Working Group website at: http://rds-sdr.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/index.html.
                                                                                                                   
About the Research Data Strategy Working Group
The RDS Working Group is a collaborative effort to address the challenges and issues surrounding the access and preservation of data arising from Canadian research. This is a multi-disciplinary group with members representing universities, institutes, libraries, granting agencies and individual researchers. Together, they focus on the necessary actions, next steps and leadership roles that researchers and institutions can take to ensure Canada's research data is accessible and usable for current and future generations of researchers.

- 30 -

For more information:
 
Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723

“As a practising researcher, Dr. Driedzic brings a range of scientific knowledge to the CFI Board,” said Dr. Smith. “And with many years of experience serving on various committees, I am certain he will be an effective advocate for the CFI."

Dr. Driedzic is one of Canada’s leading fish physiologists and is currently the Tier I Canada Research Chair in Marine Bioscience at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His primary research exploits the unique properties of marine organisms to address human disease issues such as diabetes and cardiac ischemia. He has also worked in applied biology in the area of aquaculture.

Dr. Driedzic has also served as the Vice-President (Academic and Research) at Mount Allison University, Director of the Ocean Sciences Centre at Memorial University and Director of AquaNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence in Aquaculture.   

The CFI Board of Directors makes final funding decisions on proposed projects and sets strategic objectives for the organization. Each director is appointed for a three-year term. The Board approves annual corporate plans and objectives, and reviews their outcomes.

Biographies of all CFI Board Directors are available here.

Created by the Government of Canada in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) strives to build our nation’s capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development to benefit Canadians through investments in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions.

- 30 -

For more information:
 
Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723

Thank you in advance for your patience.

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced new funding in researchers and universities across Canada to provide them with the cutting edge equipment and facilities to be the best in the world and stay the best in the world.  This funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will support leading-edge research and recognizes the importance of knowledge and innovation in today’s global economy.

“Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, improve the quality of life of Canadians and strengthen the economy,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “This investment will make sure that our scientists have the tools they need to be successful, and help Canada develop, attract and retain the world’s best researchers.”

“CFI investments provide vital infrastructure in communities across the country and create opportunities for leveraging the work being undertaken by our enterprising researchers,” said Dr. Gilles G. Patry, Canada Foundation for Innovation President and Chief Executive Officer. “Cutting-edge research facilities are magnets that attract the best talent from around the world, allowing them to work with business and train a new generation of Canadian researchers and innovators.”

Getting more from research investments

The Canada Foundation for Innovation will invest $53 million to create the knowledge, solutions and new products and services that Canada needs to compete globally. This investment, made under the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF), will support 207 projects at 42 Canadian research institutions across Canada. These projects will deliver real results that improve the health, well-being and security of Canadian families, communities and businesses.

Here are some of the projects being supported through this latest round of LOF funding:

• Severe weather research helps prevent the loss of life and injury. Better understanding and predicting severe weather may help prevent the loss of life and injury as well as help reduce insurance costs. It will also help reduce the vulnerability of agricultural communities to extreme weather and protect economic activity in regions at risk. The work being undertaken by the research team at the University of Manitoba will help ensure the safety and security of Canadians in every region.
• Isolated social media generation faces mental health issues. Cutting, scratching and self-injury are signs of despair and isolation for too many youth. According to a 2009 study, as many as 1 in 4 youth and young adults have self-injured. This problem is likely to increase with the coming of age of the social media generation.  This is why the work being undertaken by the research team at the University of Guelph is vital, as self-injury is seen as a strong risk factor for suicidal behaviour.
• Smart materials help municipalities extend the life of public infrastructure. Researchers at the University of British Columbia are helping to address the pressing challenge of upgrading Canada’s aging and deteriorating public infrastructure, as well as mitigating the tremendous risk that is related to the seismic vulnerability of infrastructure in Canada, and in particular British Columbia. New smart materials will not only enhance the safety of the infrastructure but also result in know-how and commercial products for Canadian companies to export around the world.
• Nurturing premature babies to ensure better health outcomes. Preterm birth is the major cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries. Researchers at the University of Alberta are aiming to reduce the rate of preterm birth by improving prenatal care and reducing the rate of disease often associated with preterm delivery. The work of the team will benefit all those working in prenatal care of expecting mothers – be they obstetricians, nurses, midwives or other health care providers.
• Healthy aging – There is much more to good quality sleep than a good night’s sleep. Canada’s population is rapidly aging. By 2030, people over 65 will represent 21% of the population. Among the neurodegenerative conditions associated with aging, Parkinson’s disease is expected to represent a serious challenge to society. That’s why a research team at the University of Montreal is investigating the link between sleep and diseases such as Parkinson’s. They are working to develop prevention strategies and novel therapies to help over 100,000 Canadians and their families cope with this brain disease.

The CFI’s funding is awarded through a rigorous, objective, merit-based funding competition process. A full list of the funded projects is available online www.innovation.ca.

Created by the Government of Canada in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) builds our nation’s capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development to benefit Canadians through investments in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions.

For broadcast use:

Seniors suffering from Parkinson’s disease and babies born prematurely are among the Canadians who will benefit from $53 million in new federal investments in research facilities across the country. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

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For more information:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Tel.: 613-943-7599

Media Relations
Industry Canada
Tel.: 613-943-2502

Summary by Province / Sommaire par province

Leaders Opportunity Fund / Fonds des leaders

Province
Alberta (PDF, 35 KB)
British Columbia / Colombie-Britannique (PDF, 31 KB)
Manitoba (PDF, 24 KB)
New Brunswick / Nouveau Brunswick (PDF, 22 KB)
Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse (PDF, 26 KB)
Ontario (PDF, 50 KB)
Québec / Quebec (PDF, 47 KB)
Saskatchewan (PDF, 28 KB)

Summary by Institution / Sommaire par établissement

Leaders Opportunity Fund / Fonds des leaders

Algoma University

Athabasca University

Bishop’s University

Brandon University

Brock University

Carleton University

Dalhousie University

École Polytechnique de Montréal

* Financement de l’infrastructure liée à une Chaire industrielle du CRSNG / Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a NSERC Industrial Chair

Lakehead University

*Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiative / Financement de l’infrastructure liée aux Grands travaux de recherche concertée du CRSH

Laurentian University / Université Laurentienne

McGill University

McMaster University

Nipissing University

Nova Scotia Agricultural College

Queen's University

St. Francis Xavier University

Université Laval

* Financement de l’infrastructure liée à une Chaire d’excellence du CERC / Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a CERC Excellence Chair

Université de Moncton

Université de Montréal

*Financement de l’infrastructure liée aux Grands travaux de recherche concertée du CRSH / Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiative

Université de Sherbrooke

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Université du Québec à Montréal

Université du Québec à Rimouski

Trent University

Trinity Western University

University of Alberta

*Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiative / Financement de l’infrastructure liée aux Grands travaux de recherche concertée du CRSH

University of British Columbia (The)

University of Calgary

University of Guelph

University of Lethbridge

University of Manitoba

University of New Brunswick

University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa

*Funding for Research Infrastructure Associated with a SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiative / Financement de l’infrastructure liée aux Grands travaux de recherche concertée du CRSH

University of Regina

University of Saskatchewan

University of Toronto

University of Victoria

University of Waterloo

University of Western Ontario (The)

University of Windsor

University of Winnipeg (The)

Wilfrid Laurier University

Thank you in advance for your patience.

The CFI welcomes your comments on this draft call for proposals until September 7, 2011. Please send your comments to LEF_NIF@innovation.ca.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Click here to download the report

The article can be downloaded in full from the CFI website here.

Please consult the information sessions schedule (PDF format).

The video, which will be posted on InnovationCanada.ca, the CFI’s online magazine, focuses on five accomplished Canadian researchers at various stages of their careers. With humour and candor, the women reflect on their formative experiences, their views on combining family and work, and their assessment of how far women have come in research in Canada. They also discuss what women bring to the scientific process and what needs to be done to attract more females into research careers.

- New video looks at role of women in science.

The CFI will also publish a story on the state of women in science in Canada, including a look at trends and attitudes of young girls with respect to science. Last year, the CFI commissioned IPSOS-Reid to conduct the first nationwide study of young Canadians’ views on science. The survey suggests that the widespread belief that young women don’t like science is no longer true. In fact, the Canadian Youth Science Monitor says females between 12 and 18 are significantly more likely than males to say that science is a good career choice for young people generally.

On March 8, International Women’s Day, visit www.innovationcanada.ca for the full video, as well as stories on accomplished women doing research in Canada.

About the CFI

Created by the Government of Canada in 1997, the CFI strives to build our nation’s capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development to benefit Canadians. Because of CFI investment in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions are attracting and retaining the world’s top talent, training the next generation of researchers, supporting private-sector innovation and creating high-quality jobs that strengthen Canada’s position in today’s knowledge economy.

For more information:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca

“Supporting science is key to Canada’s future economic growth,” said Minister Goodyear. “Our government’s commitment to helping universities attract and retain world-leading research talent will lead to discoveries that improve the quality of life of Canadians and create new jobs.”

This $61 million investment, through the CFI’s Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF), will support the work of 339 leading researchers and 245 projects at 48 Canadian research institutions.

These investments provide researchers across Canada with the tools necessary to carry out a range of frontier research.

“Access to modern, cutting-edge equipment and facilities is imperative in the 21st century,” said Dr. Patry. “For more than a decade, the CFI has provided thousands of world-class researchers with the tools they need to do their work. Without the right infrastructure, they quite simply wouldn’t be in Canada.”

Some examples of the latest round of LOF funding include:

• Aiding in the design of innovative molecular targeted therapies for the treatment of breast cancer. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont.
• Improving our knowledge of the development and functions of the brain and spinal cord. Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S.
• Identifying new approaches that improve energy production, storage and sustainability. University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Man.
• Monitoring ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic to gather climate-related data for improved environmental protection, navigation security and fisheries management. Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Que.
• Developing new tools for mobile learning to allow for access to distance learning opportunities for formal education. Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alta.

The Leaders Opportunity Fund supports Canada’s quickly evolving research environment by giving Canadian universities the flexibility they need to attract and retain the world’s finest researchers at a time of intense international competition.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Board of Directors approved a total investment of $61,264,196 following a rigorous and independent merit-review process. This amount included $47,126,305 awarded under the Leaders Opportunity Fund, and another $14,137,891 awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a complementary program designed to contribute to the incremental operating and maintenance costs of infrastructure projects funded by the Foundation.

For a complete list of CFI-funded projects, visit our site here.

For Canadian research success stories, visit the CFI’s online magazine, www.innovationcanada.ca.

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. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of more than 6,800 projects at 131 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

For more information:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Tel.: 613-943-7599

 - Download Backgrounder (PDF format, 221Kb)

Summary by Institution / Sommaire par institution

Leaders Opportunity Fund / Fonds des leaders

Robert Davidson, Vice-President, Programs and Planning

Having been the CFI’s Director of Programs from 2001 to 2009, Mr. Davidson has an in-depth understanding of the CFI’s role as a unique Canadian funding organization. During the 1990s, he was the Director of Research and Policy Analysis for the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Mr. Davidson holds a Masters in Political Science and a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

As Vice-President, Programs and Planning, Mr. Davidson will be responsible for the planning, development, implementation and management of the research infrastructure funding programs of the CFI. He will also provide the leadership and strategic advice required for developing policies relevant to these programs.

Mr. Davidson comes to the CFI from McGill University, where he has been the Senior Advisor, Research and Development, since 2009. He will join the CFI on January 17, 2011.

Pierre Normand, Vice-President, External Relations and Communications

Mr. Pierre Normand has more than 20 years of experience in management, communications and external relations in university research, innovation and post-secondary education. He has been the Director of Communications at the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences since 2008 and was Chief of Communications at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) from 1988 to 1997. He ran a consulting company, Normand Communications, from 1997 to 2008 and worked closely with a number of innovation leaders in Canada including the CFI’s external relations and communications team. He has a degree in political science from Université Laval.

As the Vice-President of External Relations and Communications, Mr. Normand will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders, as well as providing management and direction to the CFI’s communications and government relations activities. He will provide the leadership and strategic advice necessary to develop, manage and implement corporate programs and policies as they affect the external positioning of the CFI.

Mr. Normand will join the CFI on January 24, 2011.

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. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of more than 6,800 projects at 131 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

For more information:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca

Please begin by reading the following information on server access to see if your situation is covered. If you are still experiencing difficulty, please communicate with the CFI at help.aide@innovation.ca.

Server Access

The CFI form is linked to a database through a server. Basically this means that data inputted into the form is then electronically submitted through the server into the database. A server is a kind of 'gateway' into the database. During previous competitions, during times of heavy usage, some users were unable to access the server or when they did, it was slow. This understandably created user frustration and exasperation! This problem has been remedied to the best extent possible. We have upgraded the server capacity to allow for a higher volume of users. In this sense, current technology is limited in terms of speed and access - we can only upgrade to existing levels of speed and capacity. A couple of tips on access:

• If you can't connect right away, or get an 'error' message, please try again several times until you connect. It is unlikely that you will not be able to connect to the server unless it is being serviced (see below) or there is a problem with your PCs internet connection. A good way to test this is to try and access a random site on the internet.
• The configuration of your own PC can greatly affect connection rates. A slow modem or an older PC with limited memory and a small processor can affect working speed. We also recommend using a relatively current version of your internet browser. If you find your computer is consistently slow or has trouble saving your form, etc., please contact your institution's technical support.
• If you are connected and working on your form and find that the server is unusually slow, consider saving your work into a word processor. The next time you log on, if you find access is faster, you can then cut and paste your text into the form and save then.
• Servers need to be maintained from time to time. This regular technical maintenance requires the server to be shut down, during which time access will be denied to users. We will inform you of maintenance times so that you can avoid working at this time. Regular maintenance hours are usually scheduled in the early morning.

The electronic application form is now available online .  Proposals may be submitted at any time and funding recommendations will be presented to the CFI Board of Directors at the next feasible decision point.

Instructions for completing the online forms are available at CFI Online – Download Reference Forms.

This program does not have online forms. 

Instructions on how to submit the Statement of qualification can be found here.

Mr. Tom Jenkins
Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Open Text Corporation

Managing content in the cloud - The impact of digital media and social media on societies and innovation around the world

 - Download Presentation (PDF format, 2.5MB)

Leaders Opportunity Fund – Funding for infrastructure associated with a
Canada Research Chair

 - List of Approved Projects by Institution (PDF format)

 - Provincial Cumulative Totals (PDF format)

The prizes will be awarded to the students in April 2011 to help pay for the research, reporting and crafting of an in-depth journalistic piece about any of the nearly 7,000 research projects that the CFI has funded across Canada.

An independent judging panel will select the recipients based on a story proposal, or “pitch,” and an accompanying budget for travel costs and other reporting expenses. Stories may be told in print, broadcast, online or mixed media. The students retain up to $1,500 of the award as a stipend.

The CFI finances the infrastructure “tools” required for cutting-edge research at Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutes. Since its inception in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion which the institutions have leveraged, resulting in a total of more than $12 billion of new research facilities and equipment.

The CFI Emerging Science Journalists Award is intended to encourage the next generation of science journalists and communicators in Canada and to introduce them to CFI projects. To apply for the award students must have prepared at least one piece of science communication of a journalistic nature aimed at the general public.

The award also helps the CFI inform the public about the social, economic and environmental benefits resulting from research conducted with CFI-funded infrastructure.

Deadline for applying for the award is February 1, 2011.

Details are available here.

Yves Melanson
Coordinator – Media Relations (613) 996-3160
Email: yves.melanson@innovation.ca

Instructions for completing the online forms are available at CFI Online – Download Reference Forms.

 - Download Invitation (PDF, 86KB)

Guest speaker: Mr. Tom Jenkins
Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Open Text Corporation,
and Chair, Government of Canada’s Research and Development
Review Expert Panel

Managing content in the cloud
The impact of digital media and social media on societies
and innovation around the world

Friday, December 3, 2010 – 8 a.m.
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE
THE SALON
240 MacLeod Street
Ottawa

A complimentary continental breakfast will be served.
Space is limited for this free event, so please register early.

RSVP by November 26, 2010
613-996-4426 or rsvp@innovation.ca

Please feel free to extend this invitation to others who may be interested.

“The CFI is pleased to be delivering programs that serve to attract, train and retain some of the best minds in the world,” said Dr. Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. “This investment demonstrates the Government of Canada’s recognition of the CFI’s pivotal role in helping build and strengthen the country’s vibrant research community.”

Highlights of the new funding architecture:

• A new program for Major Science Initiatives (MSI) ($185 million), covering the period 2012-13 to 2016-17.
• A new fund targeting colleges ($32.5 million), with one or more competitions to be launched by December 2010.
• The Leading Edge Fund (LEF) and New Initiatives Fund (NIF) ($200.5 million), with a competition to be launched by December 2011.
• The Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF) ($182 million), covering the period 2012-13 to 2013-14.

Under the new Major Science Initiatives (MSI) program, the CFI has been given the responsibility to design and implement a framework for predictable funding for supporting a portion of operating costs of some of Canada’s large-scale, leading-edge research facilities, specifically those in which the CFI has made a significant single capital investment of at least $25 million. MSI are a key element of Canada’s research landscape because they open doors to new international collaborations that keep the country at the forefront of new discoveries.

As part of the new fund for colleges, the CFI will launch one or more competitions by December 2010 with the specific objective to enable partnerships with the private sector to support business innovation. CFI investments will provide colleges with the support they need for investing in the latest research infrastructure that will be instrumental in transferring innovative research from the lab to the marketplace.

For the Leading Edge Fund (LEF) and New Initiatives Fund (NIF), the primary focus will be on ensuring that past CFI investments remain at the leading edge and are world-class.

The Leaders Opportunity Fund and the Infrastructure Operating Fund will continue to be delivered under the current program guidelines, and will incorporate some minor improvements.

Over the coming months, the CFI will consult with its stakeholders to finalize these programs prior to launch.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation 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. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of 6,800 projects at 130 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

CFI practices have been recently called “world’s best” by a panel of international experts, based on a third-party performance evaluation and value-for-money audit. For the complete evaluation, audit and panel report, click here.

For more information:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca