January / February 2005
Research funding part of broad Ontario strategy
A recent announcement of $53.2 million in provincial matching funds for federally-support research projects is part of a broader, $1.8 billion commitment over four years to support research and commercialization in Ontario and in line with the Government’s priority of achieving greater returns for its investment in research.
The 48 projects approved in this round range from a $6 million contribution to Phase 2 of the SHARCNET project at the University of Western Ontario, to $527,000 towards the Royal Military College in Kingston for its Fuel Cell Research and Innovation Centre, to $2.3 million towards Carleton University’s Centre For Advanced Studies In Visualization and Simulation (V-SIM), in Ottawa.
"Ontario has a reputation for knowledge, innovation and invention," says Economic Development and Trade Minister Joseph Cordiano, noting the funding support will ensure Ontario's continued prosperity and position the province as a leading innovation economy.
While funding is awarded on criteria based on scientific and technical merit, the government is also expecting the investment in research will also build on Ontario’s capacity for innovation, economic growth, health and environmental quality.
The government is also spending its research dollars to leverage and achieve long range priorities, including strengthening the province’s research capabilities, increasing Ontario’s pool of research talent, encouraging use of research infrastructure and encouraging more private sector partnerships.
For example, the government last week announced $8 million in funding over four years to create a new Centre of Excellence for Energy, which it hopes will further the government's innovation agenda by encouraging research and development into leading edge and emerging energy sources and technology.
It also announced the Ontario Fuel Cell Innovation Program, which is providing $3 million in annual funding through 2007-08 with a focus on commercialization and moving products to the manufacturing stage.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty travelled to Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Summit to announce Ontario is contributing $7million over the next five years to support an innovative online initiative at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo that will allow researchers and governments to find global solutions to global problems.
CIGI will receive the funding to help develop IGLOO (International Governance Leadership Organizations Online), a web-based platform for research on issues of global importance.
"The launch of IGLOO signifies a new day in research and collaboration," said Jim Balsillie, Chair of CIGI. "No longer will visa issues, travel costs or geographic boundaries inhibit the free flow of ideas and information."
The IGLOO initiative will put researchers in a unique position to collaborate with the World Economic Forum, the United Nations and other major academic and research institutions in Ontario, Canada and around the world. IGLOO will leverage proven technology developed by Open Text of Waterloo. This technology was used recently to help CARE International coordinate its tsunami relief efforts.
What helps drive the government’s new focus is the notion that while Ontario has invested billions in research support over the years, the province has not always been successful in translating its scientific strength into commercial success.
The recent announcements are consistent with the government’s Research Commercialization Strategy, announced last year, which includes effects to build capacity in university and college technology transfer offices and help increase their networks.
The $53.2 million investment represents the province’s matching funding commitment to round four of the Canada Foundation for Innovation Fund (CFI). Project funding is cost-shared between the CFI (40%), the province (40%) and the research institution (20%).
View details of funded projects at www.ontario-canada.com. Details of the CIGI initiative are available at www.cigionline.ca.
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