Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy Creating Jobs and Opportunities, Says Minister of State Holder

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 27, 2015) - Industry Canada

During a keynote address at the Economic Club of Canada today, the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), outlined how the Harper Government's updated science, technology and innovation (ST&I) strategy is building on Canada's strengths in science to provide Canadians with a better quality of life while creating jobs and prosperity through new discoveries and business opportunities.

The Minister of State marked the occasion by announcing the new harmonized Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. This policy ensures that the results of research funded by the federal granting councils are freely available online within 12 months of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. A key commitment in the ST&I strategy, the policy will make federally funded research more open and accessible to Canadians, providing greater opportunity for researchers, entrepreneurs and the wider Canadian public to develop new ideas that benefit Canadians.

The Minister of State also highlighted several of the government's commitments to position Canada as a global leader through the three pillars of the ST&I strategy-people, knowledge and innovation. Under the first pillar, he indicated that the government will continue to develop, attract and retain the most talented researchers in the world while quadrupling investment to inspire young Canadians to develop a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Under the second pillar, he highlighted the government's new Canada First Research Excellence Fund, a legacy $1.5-billion investment to move Canadian university and college research from world-class to world-leading. Under the third pillar, he stressed the importance of supporting partnerships between Canadian businesses, universities and colleges to accelerate business opportunities and build on a number of actions that the government has already taken, including strengthening Canada's entrepreneurial culture, improving support for business and increasing the availability of venture capital.

Quick facts

• Since 2006, the Government of Canada has provided more than $11 billion in new resources for basic and applied research, talent development, research infrastructure and innovation-related activities in the private sector. As a result of these investments, Canada now leads the G7 in research and development investments at post-secondary research institutions.
  
  
• The Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications applies to three granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The policy advances the objective of Canada's Action Plan on Open Government to promote the accessibility of federally funded research. The policy will apply to grants awarded from May 1, 2015, onwards.
  
  

Quotes

"Our government's top priority remains creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians. The Harper Government has made the record investments necessary to push the boundaries of knowledge, create jobs and prosperity, and improve the quality of life of Canadians. Moving forward, our government will strengthen Canada's leadership in science while building on the capacity of Canadian businesses to leverage new opportunities, a key to successful businesses that compete and win in global markets and create high-quality jobs in Canada."

- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"Today's announcement of the new Tri-Agency Open Access Policy will provide researchers, entrepreneurs and the wider Canadian public with free, online access to federally funded research. This new offering will provide greater opportunity to build on this research in creative ways that create social or economic benefits for Canadians."

- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

Associated links

- Economic Club of Canada

- Tri-Council Open Access Policy on Publications

- Science, technology and innovation strategy

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