Government of Canada Invests in University Research at the Universite de Montreal and the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 16, 2011) - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today celebrated investments in leading-edge research and training programs at the Université de Montréal and the École Polytechnique de Montréal. These investments will fund research projects primarily focused on the effects of aging on memory, omega-3 fatty acids and their influence on insulin and type 2 diabetes, and technologies to remove phosphates from wastewater.

"Our government is investing in the people and ideas that will produce tomorrow's breakthroughs to keep Canada's economy growing and create new jobs," said Minister of State Bernier. "This research will improve the quality of life of Canadians, while helping universities develop, attract and retain leading scientists and engineers."

On June 17, 2011, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced more than $411 million in grants and scholarships over terms ranging from one to five years. These awards comprise the 2011 competition results for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Discovery Grants, Discovery Accelerator Supplements, Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, Postgraduate Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships programs.

"These programs are key tools for unleashing the creative power of our most innovative students and researchers," said Suzanne Fortier, President of NSERC. "The Discovery Grants Program has an outstanding international reputation because it has a very broad scope and offers researchers a lot of flexibility. Our scholarships and fellowships programs play a key role in attracting and retaining the best brains in Canada."

NSERC's Discovery Grants Program supports ongoing programs of research in every scientific and engineering discipline. Of the 2,003 grant recipients, 123 have been identified to receive a Discovery Accelerator Supplement in addition to their Discovery Grant. Valued at $120,000 over three years, the awards are given to top-ranked researchers judged by their peers to show strong potential for becoming international leaders.

NSERC's scholarships and fellowships, such as the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, Postgraduate Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships, offer support at the master's, doctoral and post-doctoral levels. A total of 1,836 new awards were offered this year.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada 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 post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

The lists of grant and scholarship recipients and descriptions of their projects are available on the NSERC website (www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp).