Government of Canada: Building a Stronger Economy Through Investments in Research Partnerships

MONTREAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 8, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), was at McGill University today to announce the Government's support for 83 scientific teams at universities across the country. Researchers will work with companies on long-term projects in areas of importance to Canadians.

"Our Government's top priority is creating jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity," said Minister of State Goodyear. "Fostering a strong research environment and supporting partnerships are fundamental building blocks for a modern competitive economy. This funding will allow companies to increase their research and development activities in Canada by maximizing the expertise and knowledge of our researchers."

Of the 83 projects, 81 are receiving more than $36 million over three years to support early-stage work and to encourage collaboration among academic researchers, industry and government partners through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Strategic Project Grants. The goal of these grants is to increase research and training in areas that could strongly influence Canada's economy, society or environment in the next 10 years in four target areas: environmental science and technologies; information and communications technologies; manufacturing; and natural resources and energy.

In addition, McGill University and University of Toronto will share $9.4 million over five years for two Strategic Network Grants. These grants are for large-scale, multidisciplinary research projects in targeted areas that require collaboration between academic researchers and Canadian-based organizations and companies to address problems that will affect the industry over the next 10 years. This year, the Networks funded will focus on research into aquatic ecosystems, and on outdoor field robotics.

"The work these research teams undertake will solve real-world problems that help their industry partners succeed," stated Janet Walden, Vice-President, Research Partnerships Programs of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. "They exemplify NSERC's goal of connecting and applying the strength of the academic research system to address the opportunities and challenges of building prosperity for our country."

Through these two programs, McGill University received a total of $9 million. Funding will go towards ten research projects that will examine a variety of issues, such as helping detect bacteria in wastewater treatment plants and improving energy efficiency of wireless communications networks. The University also received funding for a network in the field of robotics, which will help develop robotics technologies that could be used for automated tasks, such as search and rescue operations or air and water quality assessment.

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging about 2,000 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested nearly $8 billion in initiatives supporting science, technology and the growth of innovation firms in Canada, including $5 billion for advanced research, education and training; $2 billion for post-secondary infrastructure; and $1 billion for applied research and financing. This funding has helped to make Canada a world leader in post-secondary education research and to create the knowledge and highly skilled workforce that are required for a more prosperous economy.

Recipients of the 2012 Strategic Project Grant and Strategic Network Grants Competitions

Recipients of the 2012 Strategic Project Grant Competition

Carleton University

Steven Cooke, Improving effectiveness of fish habitat restoration actions in Great Lakes coastal embayments: an integrated study of annual fish spatial ecology and limnology in Toronto Harbour

Dalhousie University

Daniel Ruzzante, Harvesting consequences on genetic diversity and meta-population effective size in a spatially stratified system, the Kogaluk river drainage in northern Labrador

École Polytechnique

Raman Kashyap, Quantum dot optical super radiance, broadband amplifiers, lasers and laser cooling: QUDOS

Maksim Skorobogatiy, A dynamically reconfigurable THz-TDS imaging system for industrial measurement applications

Ke Wu, Ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting and wireless power delivery technologies

Institut National pour la Recherches Scientifiques

Mohamed Chaker, Millimeter-wave electro-optical waveguide modulators based on calcium-barium-niobate thin-film

Michel Fournier, ANR - Interaction between pollution and climate changes: development of improved monitoring strategy

Daniel Guay, Développement de nouveaux senseurs pour la détection de l'ammoniac

Dongling Ma, Rationally nanostructuring solution-processable organic photovoltaic devices for efficiently harvesting near infrared photons: from materials to electrode design

Tsuneyuki Ozaki, Air-plasma-based THz technologies pumped by intense mid-infrared lasers: advancing innovations in manufacturing

Lionel Roué, Synthèse et mise en forme d'alliages nanostructurés utilisés comme anodes inertes pour la production d'aluminium

Mohammed Zourob, Development of low-cost, rapid and highly sensitive DNA-based biosensor for routine monitoring of emerging organic compounds in water

Mohammed Zourob, Development of bar-coded, highly sensitive, label-free high throughput screening platform for endocrine disrupting compounds

Mohammed Zourob, Integrated Lab-on-a-Chip with wireless communication capability for on-site mosquito-borne pathogen detection

Lakehead University

Han Chen, Biomass harvests in boreal forests: minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing benefits

McGill University

Vamsy Chodavarapu, Networked Fish: Integrated Acoustic Sensory Telemetry (AST) Tags for Water Monitoring

Subhasis Ghoshal, Environmental risks of engineered nanoparticles in municipal wastewater treatment plants: Toxicity, persistence and impacts on effluent quality

Jozsef Kövecses, Mechanical intelligence in haptic interfacing with digital worlds

Zetian Mi, 3-Dimensionally Integrated Nanophotonic Circuits on Si for Terahertz-Speed Chip-Level optical

Zetian Mi, Chemical transformation and storage of carbon dioxide via solar-powered artificial photosynthesis on semiconducting nanowire arrays

Mihriban Pekguleryuz, Development of novel magnesium alloys with impoved biocorrosion and mechanical behavior for cardiovascular implants

David Plant, Optical waveform generation: A powerful enabler for optical fiber communications

Ishiang Shih, High power nanowire green lasers monolithically grown on silicon: Bridging the green gap

Viviane V Yargeau, Conventional and advanced wastewater treatment: Providing secure sources of drinking water by removing contaminants of emerging concern

McMaster University

David Emslie, High-temperature rare earth polymerization catalysts

Steve Hranilovic, Turn on the lights-visible light communications for indoor and vehicular networks

Ray LaPierre, Development of a nanostructured high efficiency two-junction solar cell

Thomas Maibaum, Rigorous automated implementation of dependable distributed real-time systems (RAIDR)

Queen's University

Catherine Crudden, Eliminating hazardous chemicals in key processes in the pharmaceutical sector

Michael Cunningham, Advanced polymer colloids from ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in water

Hossam Hassanein, Engaging vehicles in ubiquitous service networks

Ryerson University

Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi, Intelligent robotic system for automated shot peening and peen forming

Marcello Papini, Modelling of abrasive water jet and slurry jet micro-machining

Simon Fraser University

Alexandra Fedorova, GreenPhones: Energy-smart software for ubiquitous mobility

Edward Park, Wireless inertial sensor network for ubiquitous human motion capture

Université de Montréal

Kevin Wilkinson, Bioavailability, toxicity, mobility and modeling of data poor metals (BIOMET)

Université du Québec

Wojtek Bock, Photonic sensing systems bases on a Lab-on-a-Fiber concept for specific cyanobacteria detection in water

Dominique Gravel, Quantifying and mapping the impacts of climate change on the productivity of Eastern Canadian forests

Université Laval

Louis Bernatchez, Enjeux génomiques, écologiques et socio-économiques des ensemencements et de l'exploitation du touladi par la pêche

Mario Leclerc, New polymerization method for highly efficient materials in organic electronics

John MacKay, A naturally-occurring resistance gene against the spruce bud worm: genomic characterization and applications in Canadian tree breeding and pest management

Younès Messaddeq, Multifunctional fibers for broadband mobile technologies

Réal Vallée, Development of innovative fiber lasers for biomedical, industrial and defense & security applications

Université de Sherbrooke

Atalla, Noureddine, Adaptive metaComposites: modeling, prototyping, manufacturing and reliability for vibroacoustics

Jean-Sebastien Plante, A low cost / high power density gas turbine concept based on rotary ramjets

University of Alberta

Robert Fedosejevs, Fusion energy-advanced ignition techniques and target fabrication

Andreas Hamann, Growth and survival of lodgepole pine genotypes under extreme climate events: risk assessment and climate change adaptation strategies

Robert Hayes, Engineering bimetallic catalysts for energy and environmental applications

University of British Columbia

Xiaotao Bi, Drying and torrefaction of biomass in fluidized beds with energy recovery and self-heat recuperation

Mu Chiao, Development of a microlens module with image stabilization for mobile Applications

Susan Grayston, The potential of retention trees to mitigate post-harvest soil carbon loss through reduction of root and soil organic matter decomposition mediated by the fungal community

Scott Hinch, Climate warming, pathogen expression, and capture locale: recent and emerging challenges for managing Pacific salmon fisheries

Guy Lemieux, Compute-Oriented FPGA device architectures and tools

Daan Maijer, Through-process modelling: Casting for marine energy systems

Jose Marti, Smart adaptive distribution systems for the new smart grid

Ulrich Mayer, Development of methods to investigate soil vapor intrusion risks for methane and BTEX compounds at ethanol-blended biofuel spill sites

Ali Mesbah, Systemic software analysis and maintenance techniques for Web 2.0 applications

Matthias Militzer, Laser ultrasonics as an innovative sensor for microstructure control

Shahriar Mirabbasi, Single-Chip 60-Ghz Wireless-Photonic Integrated Circuit

Laurel Schafer, Accessing enhanced mechanical properties and processability with branched and cross-linked biodegradable polymers

University of Guelph

Peter Tremaine, ANR: Demixing Amines for CO2 Capture: Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Approach

University of Manitoba

Ekram Hossain, Resource management in multi-tier cellular wireless networks enhanced with peer-to-peer communications

University of Ottawa

Abdulmotaleb El Saddik, U-Biofeedback: A Ubiquitous Biofeedback System for Continuous and Long-Term Wellbeing

Trevor Hall, RF communications in the e-city (RF-Cité)

University of Regina

Raphael Idem, Novel energy efficient, amine-based catalyst-aided method for capture of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-based industrial exhaust gas streams

University of Saskatchewan

Kerry Ann Mazurek, Multi-cell water detention pond for improved storm water quality

Christy Morrissey, Distribution and impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on agricultural wetlands and water birds of Prairie Canada

University of Toronto

Elizabeth Edwards, Expanding the ability to anaerobically digest pulp and paper mill waste

Marie-Josée Fortin, Optimizing future networks of marine protected areas in response to global change by combining genetic connectivity and biophysical models

Omer Gulder, Environmental performance, sustainability and durability improvements in fuel-flexible combustors for stationary and motive engines

Nazir Kherani, Efficient light harvesting using nanoparticle-based selectively transparent and conducting photonic crystal and index-graded antireflective films

Ulrich Krull, Implementing microfluidics-based manufacturing of model theranostic nanoparticles

Jorg Liebeherr, Enabling heterogeneous self-organizing machine-to-machine networks

Andreas Mandelis, Non-destructive imagingof manufacturing flaws in industrial automotive powder metallurgy green and sintered parts using a novel IR thermal-wave technology

University of Waterloo

Raouf Boutaba, pWeb: A distributed web hosting infrastructure

C. Perry Chou, Economical production of biobutanol through genetic engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum for effective dissimilation of cheap feedstock

Norman Zhou, Removal of drinking water contaminants with innovative TiO2 nanowire membranes

Weihua Zhuang, Energy and spectrum efficient wireless communication networks

University of Western Ontario

Paul Charpentier, Multi-layer solar harvesting nanofilms by roll-to-roll fabrication

Clare Robinson, Quantification of groundwater contribution to fecal and nutrient pollution at beaches of the Great Lakes

York University

Nick Cercone, Enhanced identification and visualization of relevant social media content and free form text: Relationships, affect, information influence and diversity

Recipients of the 2012 Strategic Network Grant Competition

McGill University

Gregory Dudek, NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN)

University of Toronto

D.A. Jackson, NSERC Strategic Network - Canadian Network for Aquatic Ecosystem Services:

Backgrounder

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

2012 Announcement of Strategic Grants

Strategic Network Grants and Strategic Project Grants encourage collaboration among academic researchers and industry and government partners. They support four main strategic areas: environmental sciences and technologies; information and communications technologies; manufacturing; and natural resources and energy.

1) Strategic Network Grants (SNG)

SNG are designed to increase research and training in targeted areas that could strongly enhance Canada's economy, society and the environment within the next 10 years. They fund large-scale, multidisciplinary research projects in targeted research areas that require a network approach and involve collaboration between academic researchers and Canadian-based organizations.

The following two networks will share $9.4 million over five years:

1. NSERC Strategic Network - Canadian Network for Aquatic Ecosystem Services: Canada's ecological systems provide many of the highly valued natural resources that drive Canada's economy. While the loss of biodiversity and the impacts on healthy ecosystems and wildlife habitats have traditionally been well-documented, the impact on the delivery of services and products of social and economic significance remains poorly understood. Lead researcher Donald A. Jackson (University of Toronto), along with network collaborators, will develop new tools and knowledge about the relationship between aquatic ecosystem services and the stressors that affect them. These will help inform policies on the development of Canada's natural resources in regions where rapid economic development is underway.
   
   This network is receiving $4.4 million and brings together 18 researchers from 11 Canadian universities, along with 10 scientists from six federal and provincial government departments. Two industrial partners, three Canadian environmental associations and a provincially funded technology futures organization are also involved.

2. NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN): Outdoor environments are among the places where robots have the greatest potential, especially in a country like Canada. Robotic systems can be the key to monitoring and maintaining the state of our environmental heritage; performing patrols to assure the integrity of our borders; testing air and water quality; and even dealing with environmental disasters, nuclear accidents, or search and rescue operations.
   
   This network is receiving $5 million and is led by McGill University researcher Gregory Dudek. The network incorporates researchers from eight universities, three Canadian government agencies, and 11 industrial participants. The partners will work together to address the scientific, technological and operational challenges that hinder the use of robotic tools in natural environments.

2) Strategic Project Grants (SPG)

SPG help address Canada's science and technology priorities. The primary goal of these grants is to increase research and training in targeted areas that could strongly enhance Canada's economy, society and/or environment in the next 10 years.

This year, 81 research projects were selected. The following universities will share $36 million over three years:

1. Carleton University
2. Dalhousie University
3. École Polytechnique de Montréal
4. Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
5. Lakehead University
6. McGill University
7. McMaster University
8. Queen's University
9. Ryerson University
10. Simon Fraser University
11. Université de Montréal
12. Université du Québec
13. Université Laval
14. Université de Sherbrooke
15. University of Alberta
16. University of British Columbia
17. University of Guelph
18. University of Manitoba
19. University of Ottawa
20. University of Regina
21. University of Saskatchewan
22. University of Toronto
23. University of Waterloo
24. University of Western Ontario
25. York University