Article

Supporting research that matters to Canadians

Research infrastructure funding to benefit universities and colleges from coast to coast

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Canada’s researchers play a crucial role in advancing our society. Whether addressing the many facets of the global climate crisis, developing new generations of highly performing materials or innovating in the food sector, bright minds at Canadian universities, colleges, cégeps and polytechnics are driving innovation at home and on the world stage.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Parliamentary Secretary Andy Filmore announced close to $45 million in Government of Canada funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to ensure researchers have the labs and equipment they need to carry out world-class research and technology development.

The investments will support 150 projects at 43 institutions across the country:

More than $30 million to 136 research infrastructure projects at 31 universities through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), will help institutions attract and retain the very best researchers.
More than $14 million to 14 projects at 12 colleges, cégeps and polytechnics through the CFI’s College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF), will help colleges support innovation by providing state-of-the-art, industry-relevant research infrastructure to find innovative solutions that keep Canadian business competitive at the international level.

Projects supported through the two funding programs include:

Using ultrafast light to create alternative sources of energy

Synthetic materials will play an increasingly important role in Canadian society as we seek alternatives to fossil fuels. Using a newly funded ultrafast laser, Julianne Gibbs at the University of Alberta will characterize these materials on a molecular level to optimize their performance to produce solar power, and to convert sunlight into a fuel like methanol using CO₂ or other green carbon sources.

Training the next generation of hydrometeorologists in a quickly changing world

West-central British Columbia is one of the wettest regions on the planet, routinely faced with heavy precipitation and icing. Yet summer droughts, intense thunderstorms and high winds ignite and sustain destructive wildfires. Stephen Dery at University of Northern British Columbia is creating the Monitoring Extreme Climate and Hydrometeorological Events (MECHE) observatory. It will be used to train the next generation of hydrometeorologists on state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to help address a warming climate that affects individuals, ecosystems, infrastructures and socioeconomic activity.

Innovating for the marine and food products industry

To better meet the analytical needs of the marine products processing industry, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles and its college centre for technology transfer (CCTT) is getting equipment for the characterisation of the chemical properties of marine and food products. With new cutting-edge tools, researcher Marie-Gil Fortin and her lab colleagues will be able to drive innovation to stimulate job creation and increase the bottom line for these companies.

Leading the charge to electric for the mining industry

While the shift from diesel to electricity is already well underway, there is still a long way to go before the mining industry is in a position to fully transition to electric. By establishing the Battery Electric Vehicle Lab, Cambrian College and its Director, Applied Research & Innovation, Michael Commito, hope to encourage this industry to adopt battery electric vehicles and equipment. Ultimately, this project will allow companies to lower operating costs, improve worker health and safety and play a part in fighting climate change.

Quotes

“Over the last seven years, our government has taken concrete action to restore the role of science and researchers, and we will continue to support this sector by adding action to attract and retain the best and brightest Canadian talent at institutions across the country. Today’s investments will ensure that researchers at our colleges and universities have the equipment and spaces they need to flourish and tackle our most pressing challenges, like climate change, health care and economic security. I’m eager to see where these researchers’ bold and visionary ideas will take us in the years to come.”
- The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Innovation is built on new ideas and discoveries that can be implemented not only to enable major scientific advances, but to improve the daily lives of every Canadian. Through the projects supported by the CFI today, and through increased collaboration between the academic and entrepreneurial sectors, society benefits from the tangible improvements that will contribute to makings Canada an even more prosperous nation.”
- Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

Quick facts

Funding provided through JELF helps institutions attract and retain outstanding researchers. It also contributes to acquiring the tools that enable the innovative work of those researchers, and offers research infrastructure that, when combined with support from partner organizations, creates a highly competitive package for attracting talent.
The $30 million JELF investment includes $7,035,833 awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF), a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.
The CIIF supports research infrastructure projects that augment the existing applied research and technology development capacity of colleges, and allow them to respond to important industry needs.
The $14 million CIIF investment includes $3,322,219 awarded under the IOF.

Quick links

Canada Foundation for Innovation
John R. Evans Leaders Fund
College-Industry Innovation Fund
CFI Research Facilities Navigator: our online database of labs and facilities that are opening their doors to collaborations with industry, academia and government

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

For 25 years, the Canada Foundation for Innovation has been making financial contributions to Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research organizations to increase their capability to carry out high-quality research. The CFI invests in infrastructure that researchers need to think big, innovate and push the boundaries of knowledge. It helps institutions to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers and to support world-class research that strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life for all Canadians.

A promising future, now
25 years of investing in ideas that change our world

Social Media

For updates, follow us on Twitter @InnovationCA, LinkedIn, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel to find videos about the CFI and its transformative research projects. Follow our 25th anniversary activities through #PromisingFutureNow.

Contacts

Benoît Clément
Media Relations and Social Media Specialist
Canada Foundation for Innovation
C: 613-943-2580
benoit.clement [at] innovation.ca (benoit[dot]clement[at]innovation[dot]ca)

Laurie Bouchard
Senior Manager, Communications
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
laurie.bouchard [at] ised-isde.gc.ca (laurie[dot]bouchard[at]ised-isde[dot]gc[dot]ca)

Media Relations
Innovation, Science, and Economic
Development Canada
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic [at] canada.ca (ic[dot]mediarelations-mediasrelations[dot]ic[at]canada[dot]ca)

College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF) – Stream 1

Projects funded

Institution	Project title	Maximum CFI contribution
Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology	Battery Electric Vehicle Lab	$1,000,000
Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles	Maintien et développement du laboratoire de caractérisation des propriétés chimiques de produits marins et alimentaires	1 000 000 $
Cégep de Rimouski	Renforcement de l'infrastructure de recherche appliquée en conversion thermochimique de la ressource bois	315 441 $
Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe	Agrandissement du Groupe CTT et ajout d’équipements Spéciaux	994 673 $
Cégep de Thetford	Monitoring in-situ de procédés chimiques par FTIR en flux continu et l'échelle pilote	196 660 $
Cégep de Trois-Rivières	Consolidation of the Research Capacity in Aluminum Processing	1 000 000 $
Cégep de Trois-Rivières	Renforcement stratégique d’équipements pour le développement de produits cellulosiques innovants	1 000 000 $
Cégep Édouard-Montpetit	Fabrication, finition, caractérisation et inspection de pièces en composites à matrice céramique	1 000 000 $
College of the North Atlantic	Lidar and Photogrammetry Infrastructure to Support Research into the Production and Application of Digital Twins	$281,908
Lambton College	Lambton Water Centre (LWC)	$392,576
Niagara College	NextGen Greenhouse Excellence at Niagara College	$892,807
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology	Building Integrated Renewable Energy Infrastructure	$1,000,000
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)	NAIT Resource Industry Circular Economy Research Laboratory: Adding Value to Resources Sector By-Products and Waste	$1,000,000
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)	De-risking Advanced Industrial Process Water Treatment Technology Development	$1,000,000
TOTAL	14 projects	$11,074,065

NOTE:
As part of this announcement, an additional $3,322,219 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.

John R. Evans Leaders Fund

CFI-JELF-Projects-by-Province

Institution	Projects Approved
Carleton University	2
Dalhousie University	8
Lakehead University	2
McGill University	8
McMaster University	2
Memorial University of Newfoundland	2
Polytechnique Montréal	1
Queen’s University	2
Ryerson University	2
Simon Fraser University	5
Trent University	1
Université de Montréal	9
Université de Sherbrooke	1
Université du Québec à Montréal	2
Université Laval	7
University of Alberta	11
University of British Columbia (The)	16
University of Calgary	6
University of Guelph	1
University of Manitoba	6
University of Northern British Columbia	2
University of Ontario Institute of Technology	2
University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa	5
University of Regina	1
University of Saskatchewan	1
University of Toronto	12
University of Victoria	1
University of Waterloo	8
University of Western Ontario (The)	4
University of Winnipeg (The)	2
York University	4
Total Institutions 31	136

Project Title	Maximum CFI Contribution
Carleton University
Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Resilience-oriented Energy Management and Control for Cyber-physical Microgrids	$75,001
High Resolution Raman Microspectroscopy for Tissue Engineered Materials and Devices	$119,999
2 projects	$195,000
Dalhousie University
Molecular Dissection of Circuits in the Visual System	$125,000
International Migration Research Lab	$49,112
Understanding Sex Differences in Pathophysiology of Right (-sided) Heart Failure for Development of Novel Therapies	$125,000
Re-grounding Indigenous Women and Land and Water Based Laws	$56,533
A biomolecular NMR Facility Supporting Structural Biology, Protein Engineering and Mechanistic Studies	$800,000
Mi’kmaw Cultural Research Lab	$70,265
Assessing and Leveraging Mountain Wetlands for Water Supply and Carbon Storage	$85,000
Early Intervention to Reduce the Burden of Severe Mental Illness	$175,333
8 projects	$1,486,243
Lakehead University
Rational Design of Molecular-based Low-dimensional Quantum Materials	$100,080
A New Research Infrastructure for Intelligent Diagnostics and Prognostics of Electric Machines	$102,671
2 projects	$202,751
McGill University
Big Biomedical Data and Machine Learning to Understand the Human Association Cortex	100 154 $
Biomaterials and Device Engineering Laboratory	214 908 $
Exploring Chemical Diversity in Legume Species and Building Biofoundries for High-value Metabolites	380 170 $
Lyman Laboratory of Insect Diversity and Phylogenomics	309 495 $
Adaptive and Stable Control of Legged Robotics in Complex Environments	150 000 $
Urban Boundary-layer Processes and their Links to Sustainability and Resilience	97 200 $
The Laboratory for Microbial Evolutionary Genomics	205 170 $
Heterogeneous Integration Lab	115 300 $
8 projets	1 572 397 $
McMaster University
Laboratory Infrastructure to Optimize Methods for Treating Swallowing Impairments in People Living with Dementia	$107,500
Chemistry at Environmental Interfaces: Implications for Air Quality, Pollutant Fate, and Cultural Heritage Conservation	$120,000
2 projects	$227,500
Memorial University of Newfoundland
The Micro-Ultrasound Lab: A Platform for Translational Preclinical Imaging	$172,290
Advanced Imaging Facility for the Visualization of Live and Complex Biological Specimens	$173,670
2 projects	$345,960
Polytechnique Montréal
Plasma Reactivity for Novel Cancer Therapies and Sustainability (PEARL)	145 000 $
1 projet	145 000 $
Queen’s University
State-of-the-art Live Imaging Platform to Study Plant Stress Signaling	$61,487
Elucidating Drinking Water Quality Degradation in Distribution Systems and Premise Plumbing	$125,000
2 projects	$186,487
Ryerson University
Brain–environment Synchrony as a Path to Understanding Listening Success	$76,000
Towards the Processing and Characterization of Bioactive Glasses	$76,000
2 projects	$152,000
Simon Fraser University
Thermo-Fluid Test Laboratory for Optimized, Additively Manufactured Designs	$100,000
Development of an Innovative Combined Optical and Position Calibration System for Future Neutrino Telescopes	$200,000
Innovative Multifunctional Materials for Enhancing the Performance and Longevity of CO2 Capture and Conversion Systems	$200,000
Vehicle Track Interaction Research Laboratory	$100,000
The Precursor Laboratory: Emerging Scenographic Technologies for Live Performance	$316,000
5 projects	$916,000
Trent University
Facility for Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Catalysis	$55,433
1 project	$55,433
Université de Montréal
Intestinal Microbiota Manipulation used to Improve Public and Animal Health	94 610 $
Multi-brAin Recording and stiMulatiOn plaTform (MARMOT)	112 377 $
The Integrative Plant Systematics Laboratory	207 733 $
Antibody Responses and B Cell Lymphoma Derived from Germinal Centers	159 978 $
Modeling and Simulation of Neocortical Learning and Mechanisms of Neurodevelopmental Disorders	75 100 $
Deciphering the Role of Astrocytes in Stress-induced Synaptic Dysfunction	100 000 $
High Sensitivity Mass Spectrometry Platform for the Discovery of Tumor-specific Antigens and the Identification of Prote	588 783 $
Bacterial Cell Shape and Size	120 000 $
Plateforme d’imagerie multiphotonique en immersion virtuelle pour étude de la microcircuiterie visuelle en action	289 076 $
9 projets	1 747 657 $
Université de Sherbrooke
Infrastructure for the Development of Electrochemical Biosensors	130 000 $
1 projet	130 000 $
Université du Québec à Montréal
Le P'tit Labo	214 686 $
Infrastructure to Investigate Plant Resilience to Environmental Stress using Functional Genomics and Structural Biology	345 310 $
2 projets	559 996 $
Université Laval
Role of Platelets and Extracellular Vesicles in Inflammation	136 800 $
Plateforme de mesure et d’analyse des conditions environnementales et des émissions atmosphériques en milieu d’élevage	86 460 $
Investigation of the Epigenetic and Transcriptional Mechanisms Underlying Microglia Cell Functions in the Brain	30% 249 $
Microcircuiterie et neuroplasticité adaptative des ganglions de la base dans la maladie de Parkinson	114 535 $
La conception de nouveaux agents thérapeutiques et la résonance magnétique nucléaire	202 612 $
Advanced Inclusions Microthermometry (AIM) Platform	125 004 $
Co-DOT 4.0	198 491 $
7 projets	993 151 $
University of Alberta
Laboratory for Microwave Processing in the Natural Resources Sector	$125,000
Agricultural Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management: Enhancing Agricultural Production in the Prairie Provinces	$195,882
Establishment of a Cardiac Immunopathology Suite	$132,197
Quantitative Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins for Clinical Diagnostics and Environmental Surveillance	$158,616
Collaborative Ultrafast Spectroscopy Laboratory (CUSL) for Materials and Device Characterization	$660,000
Human Chondrodysplasia Research Laboratory	$160,000
Examining Tree Diversity and Productivity Relationships in an Experiment: Adaptation of Boreal Forests to Climate Change	$185,150
An Infrastructure for Thermal Well Simulation at High Pressure and High Temperature	$80,000
High Throughput Honey Bee Biology and Health Studies	$100,000
Automation Infrastructure for both Fundamental and Applied Functional Genomics	$88,886
An Electrophysiology Suite for Understanding Disorders of Membrane Transport	$98,999
11 projects	$1,984,730
University of British Columbia (The)
Infrastructure for Investigations of the Cognition, Behavior, and Ecology of Urban Wildlife	$125,000
Language and Development Lab	$92,999
Earth Observation and Spatial Ecology Lab	$150,000
Integrated SOILRES Platform for Advanced Study of Soil Processes Driving Agroecosystem Resilience Under Climate Change	$125,000
Infrastructure to Establish a Combined Regenerative and Precision Medicine Reproductive Research Program	$125,000
DARE \| Digital Archaeology Research Environment Lab	$106,078
Fluvial Landscapes Platform (LegoFlume)	$74,488
The Canadian Arcminute Resolution Magnetoionic Medium Survey (CARMIMS)	$140,000
Development of Natural Language Processing & Machine Learning to Accelerate Breast Cancer Outcomes Research	$125,000
Metabolic Monitoring of Immune Cell Function	$125,000
Automated Growth and Screening Platform for Elucidating Crop Water Requirements	$125,000
Basic and Applied Investigations of Motor Imagery to Promote Recovery After Stroke	$125,000
Quantitative Ecology Laboratory with a Focus on Animal Conservation	$114,842
Functional Metabolism and Transport using Mass Spectrometry (MeTSpec)	$180,000
Truth and Trust Lab: A Request for Observational, Physiological, and Social Judgment Research Infrastructure	$121,376
A Functional Genomics Platform for Analysis of Cancer-associated Glycosylation	$125,000
16 projects	$1,979,783
University of Calgary
Healthy and Resilient Communities Through Participatory Approaches to Sustainable Infrastructure	$131,081
Multiaxial Ultrasound Transducers for High Precision Transcranial Therapy	$140,178
Next Generation 3D Bioprinting for Organ-on-Chips	$200,000
Intelligent Flow Control and FSI Research Facility for Wind Energy and Autonomous Systems	$100,000
Decentralized Finance	$50,000
Impact of Early Life Stress on Brain Networks and Mood Regulation	$120,000
6 projects	$741,259
University of Guelph
High Resolution Soil Moisture from UAVs	$36,392
1 project	$36,392
University of Manitoba
Infrastructure to Advance Food Protein Processing and Bioproducts Applications	$160,000
Characterizing Thin Layer and Deep Bed Drying to Optimize Grain Drying	$149,945
Integrated Spatial and Temporal Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Quantify Nanoscale Events in Complex Biological Systems	$160,000
Development of Spatial RNA-sequencing Platform to Understand Disease Heterogeneity	$328,744
Electrical Lab-on-a-chip Devices for Medical and Biopharmaceutical Applications	$159,731
Infrastructure to Study the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Antiviral Immunity	$344,376
6 projects	$1,302,796
University of Northern British Columbia
Monitoring Extreme Climate and Hydrometeorological Events (MECHE)	$97,150
Terahertz Innovation Hub	$99,969
2 projects	$197,119
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Adaptive Hybrid Manufacturing of Reactive Metals	$151,121
Cybersecurity and Resiliency Testing Infrastructure	$78,949
2 projects	$230,070
University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa
Spatially Resolved Single Cell Proteomics for Next Generation Translational Medicine	$271,732
Assessment of Sex and Age Differences in Psychosis in Rodent Models of Alzheimer’s Disease	$252,186
Experimental and Computational Platform for Brain Dynamics	$500,000
Probing Earth’s deep time – Advanced Research Facility for Geochronology	$292,428
Parallel Nanopore Electronics for High Throughput Nanopore Research	$155,514
5 projects	$1,471,860
University of Regina
Cold-region Water Resource Recovery Laboratory	$168,176
1 project	$168,176
University of Saskatchewan
Green SkEye: Greenhouse Imaging and Analytics for Omics Innovation in Agriculture	$125,000
1 project	$125,000
University of Toronto
DNA Nanomaterials for Connective Tissue Diseases	$159,730
Picture This: A Multi-organ Imaging Bank for Childhood Disability-specific Protocols and Outcomes	$237,396
Frailty, Sarcopenia, Exercise, and Prevention of Dementia at the Kimel Centre for Brain Health	$100,000
Fabrication and Characterization of Soft Conductive Materials for Sensing, Actuation and Energy Storage	$125,000
FLASH Irradiator	$396,428
Learning with Discrete Structure	$160,000
Optimizing Balance Training for Fall Prevention	$75,100
Investigating Altered Neurochemistry and Cellular Pathology in Aging and Dementia: From Animal Models to Humans	$219,696
Chemical Genetic Exploitation of the Nematode C. elegans to Develop New Drugs, Nematicides, and Small Molecule Tools	$277,945
Computational Biomarkers Indicative of Swallowing and Gait Functional Declines	$150,000
Interdisciplinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory	$199,106
Modeling and Validation of Immunometabolic Atlas Benchmarking Cognitive Impairment and Depression in Multiple Sclerosis	$629,000
12 projects	$2,729,401
University of Victoria
Understanding People's Relationships with Data to Design Better Information Futures	$175,000
1 project	$175,000
University of Waterloo
Virtual Mobility Lab (VML) for Innovative Transportation Research	$174,850
An Advanced Evaporator for Dedicated High-quality and High-precision Indium Deposition	$145,000
Realistic Over-the-air Test System for Researching Wireless and Satellite Communications at up to 44 GHz	$270,000
An Integrated Digital Platform for Occupant-centric Building Operation	$160,000
Measurement Systems for Investigating Speech Communication	$80,000
Experimental Modelling of Aquatic Microbial Hosts and their Viruses	$100,000
Infrastructure for the Analysis of Multi-phase Flows for Airborne Disease Mitigation and Pollution Control	$180,000
Laboratory Investigation of Geosynthetics Reinforced Pavement System in Response to Low Temperature and Climate Change	$90,000
8 projects	$1,199,850
University of Western Ontario (The)
Integrated Molecular and Spatial Profiling for Complex Chronic Diseases	$531,362
Impact Biomechanics Lab	$155,884
Movement & Applied Imaging Laboratory	$213,098
High-performance and Safe Next-generation All-solid-state Na Batteries: Materials and Interfaces	$346,296
4 projects	$1,246,640
University of Winnipeg (The)
Laboratory of Osteoarchaeology	$151,137
Centre for Molecular Structure Determination	$120,000
2 projects	$271,137
York University
Multifunctional Aerogel Innovation Platform	$140,000
Building Infostructure for Quasi-experimental Analysis in Global Legal Epidemiology	$200,000
Novel Targets of Whole-food Dairy Products for Human Musculoskeletal and Cardiometabolic Health	$125,000
Research Apiary to Study Honey Bee Behaviour, Genetics and Health	$212,990
4 projects	$677,990

NOTE:
As part of this announcement, an additional $7,035,833 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF), a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.