Investment of $67.14 million in infrastructure at École de technologie supérieure will support research and innovation activities

News Release

April 25, 2017 – Montréal, Quebec – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, along with Hélène David, Quebec Minister of Higher Education, today announced a historic investment to help equip young Quebecers with the quality post-secondary education that will help them achieve their goals.

The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing $55.06 million in infrastructure at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). The funding will help the institution provide students with the training needed to access the high-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow.

Federal funding will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

The Government of Quebec’s contribution is part of the Québec Infrastructure Plan, which sets out investments in all sectors of the economy, including higher education.

ÉTS will use the funding to build a pavilion that will house Calcul Québec’s supercomputer and free up some of the learning spaces in the main pavilion, thereby increasing the number and quality of the institution’s engineering research labs. Part of the funding will also go to converting the Dow Planetarium into a creativity hub—an open entrepreneurial space focused on knowledge transfer and research for start-ups—and to expanding and repurposing the library to create a learning hub.

A total of $67.14 million is being invested in these projects:

  • The Government of Canada is providing $32.72 million.
  • The Government of Quebec is providing $22.34 million.
  • ÉTS and other partners are providing $12.08 million.

In total, universities and colleges throughout Quebec will receive nearly $1.1 billion from the Government of Canada, the provincial government, the institutions themselves and private donors.

As a result of these investments in Quebec, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities that advance the country’s best research. They will collaborate in specially designed spaces that support lifelong learning and skills training. They will work in close proximity with partners to turn discoveries into products or services. In the process, they will train for—and create—the high-value middle-class jobs of the future. And their discoveries will plant the seeds for the next generation of innovators.

Quotes

“This historic investment by the Government of Canada is a down payment on the government’s vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into middle-class jobs and start-up companies into global successes.”

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

“The investments we are making in Quebec will strengthen Canada’s position as a leader in post-secondary research and enable students to acquire the practical skills needed for the good middle-class jobs of today. Through the Strategic Investment Fund, our government is demonstrating its support for science, hard-working researchers, and the talented people they train who will become the scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future.”

– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

“Our government will continue to invest time and money in our students’ success. Our commitment is clear: do everything possible to help our students and professors accomplish great things. We are making significant investments in the development of our higher education facilities, thereby ensuring that future generations have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.”

 – Hélène David, Quebec Minister of Higher Education

“Economic development in Quebec rests on three pillars: entrepreneurship, manufacturing innovation and exporting. Research and innovation are assets that strengthen these pillars. In the next few weeks, we will unveil the Quebec research and innovation strategy, which resulted from widespread consultation with stakeholders and the public. Encouraging youth to pursue a scientific career will be one of the strategy’s objectives.”

– Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

“I’m quite proud and happy that students will benefit from these new facilties and the Innovation District during their studies at ÉTS. On their behalf and on behalf of the entire ÉTS community, I want to thank the federal government, the Government of Quebec and the City of Montréal for today’s investments and for their ongoing support of École de technologie supérieure.”

– Pierre Dumouchel, Director General, École de technologie supérieure

Quick Facts

  • The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, recently announced that the federal government is providing more than $385 million for research infrastructure at institutions throughout Quebec.

  • Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec, and Hélène David, Minister of Higher Education, recently announced that the Government of Quebec would invest more than $345 million in research infrastructure at post-secondary institutions in Quebec.

  • École de technologie supérieure has been awarded $32.72 million in federal funding under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, as well as a contribution of $22.34 million from the Government of Quebec through the Québec Infrastructure Plan.

  • The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada’s universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.

  • The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada’s climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.

  • Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan is designed to ensure our country is globally competitive in promoting research, translating ideas into new products and services, accelerating business growth and propelling entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to international success.

Associated Links

Contacts

Follow Minister Bains on Twitter: @MinisterISED
Follow Minister David on Twitter: @David_Hlne

Karl W. Sasseville
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
343-291-2500

Thierry Bélair
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Higher Education
418-266-3255

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

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