Government of Canada Celebrates Strong Support for Cutting-Edge Research at the University of Ottawa

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 12, 2016) - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Federal investments in several disciplines will help push the frontiers of knowledge in fields like ocean and coastal research, children's health, and sustainable infrastructure. Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was at the University of Ottawa, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, to celebrate 15 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs.

The University of Ottawa will receive $13.8 million for these chairs. They include Dr. Benoît Lessard, the new Canada Research Chair in Advanced Polymer Materials and Organic Electronics. Dr. Lessard is looking at another growing application of organic electronics: highly specific sensors. He and his research team will focus on the use of smart polymers (i.e. responsive to stimuli) in organic electronics sensors and study how the environment affects these devices. This research will lead to the development of inexpensive, flexible and highly selective sensors that can be used for everything from environmental monitoring to novel health care systems to improve quality of life.

Minister McKenna also announced an additional $12.6 million through the Research Support Fund to cover the indirect costs of research at the university as well as more than $2.3 million in infrastructure support through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This funding will help support cutting-edge research in a number of fields, including environmental and climate science.

Quotes

"I'd like to extend my sincere congratulations to the latest new and renewed Canada Research Chairs. The Government of Canada is proud to support these elite researchers who improve our depth of knowledge, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of our highly skilled workforce."

-The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

"The researchers that we are celebrating today at the University of Ottawa offer unique and essential expertise to help develop technologies and services to benefit our province, Canada and the world. The nearly $29 million in funding announced today for the University of Ottawa will support world-class research and education opportunities in Ottawa."

-The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"The Canada Research Chairs program remains a cornerstone of our efforts to attract and retain the brightest minds in Canada. It has become one of our most important and respected investments in research and provides resources to mentor and train the research leaders of tomorrow."

-Dr. Mario Pinto, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

"Leading researchers are pushing the boundaries of sustainable technologies, but their efforts rely on state-of-the-art facilities and labs. With the right tools, Canada's top researchers are helping to reduce our environmental burden, stimulate the economy of the future and transform our lives."

-Dr. Gilles Patry, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

"The Canada Research Chair will enable us to build an internationally renowned program able to design and engineer novel materials for inexpensive, flexible and highly tunable sensors, create prototypes, and connect Canadian industries with cutting edge research. Ultimately, we aspire to see our efforts improve Canadian healthcare as well as enhance efficiency and safety in chemical manufacturers."

-Dr. Benoît Lessard, Canada Research Chair in Advanced Polymer Materials and Organic Electronics."[Quote

"Thanks to support from the Canada Research Chairs program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the University of Ottawa continues to offer these brilliant scientists a state-of-the-art environment in order to solve problems and make new discoveries that will contribute to Canada's competitive advantage and benefit all Canadians."

-Mona Nemer, University of Ottawa, vice-president, research.

Quick facts

• More than 1,700 Canada Research Chairs are working in a wide range of fields at over 70 post-secondary institutions across the country.

• The Government of Canada is investing more than $238 million in support of 119 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs in universities across Ontario, their labs and equipment, and the indirect costs of research.

• The Research Support Fund offsets a portion of the costs associated with managing research at Canadian institutions, such as training costs for workplace health and safety, maintenance costs for libraries and laboratories, and administrative costs.

• The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to innovate by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada's universities, colleges, research hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions.

• Created in 2000, the Canada Research Chairs program has helped attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Canada Research Chairs deepen our knowledge, enhance our quality of life and grow our economy.

Associated link

Recipients list

Follow Minister Duncan on Twitter and Instagram: @ScienceMin