EDMONTON, Alberta, June 27, 2005 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced $2.84 million in funding for five new Canada Research Chairs in Alberta. Funding for university researchers in Alberta from the Canada Research Chairs Program represents $2.5 million, while an additional $340 000 has been invested by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support research infrastructure.
This funding is part of a $62.9-million investment to support 79 new Canada Research Chairs at 31 universities across Canada, which was announced today.
"The Government of Canada is continuing to build a world-class research environment in Canada by investing in new ideas and innovation, and the people who produce them," said Minister Emerson. "Today's funding will support research that is crucial to improving our environment, advancing our health care, protecting our natural resources, and making Canadians more productive and competitive, now and in future generations."
Of the 79 new Canada Research Chairs, 33 are either expatriates returning to Canada or researchers coming to Canada from abroad. So far, the Canada Research Chairs Program has attracted 475 researchers from other countries. The program was designed to attract and retain the best and brightest minds from around the world.
"Investments like this one made today are essential for our universities," said Minister McLellan. "These awards will not only help our institutions make important advances in the fields of science and medicine, but will also contribute to the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada."
One of Alberta's newest Chairholders is Yufeng (Frank) Cheng of the University of Calgary. Appointed Canada Research Chair in Pipeline Engineering, Dr. Cheng's research focuses on developing models and techniques to help predict, inspect and prevent pipeline failure. He examines the effects of coatings, soils and microbial activity, and studies the interactive effects of online protective measures in both offsetting and aggravating the problem. This research is leading to economic, environmental and safety benefits in pipeline operations, as well as to sustainable energy distribution and supply.
Today's investment also includes $8.1 million from the CFI to fund essential research infrastructure, ranging from computer equipment for information databases to housing for laboratory facilities. For a complete listing of CFI contributions, please visit the Foundation's Web site at http://www.innovation.ca. The Canada Research Chairs Program has created 1509 research positions at 73 Canadian universities since it was launched in 2000. The program helps universities attract and retain the best researchers and achieve research excellence in natural sciences and engineering, health sciences and social sciences and humanities.
For more information on this announcement, including the list of recipients, please visit our Web site at http://www.chairs.gc.ca.
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Media contacts:
Héloïse Perron
Canada Research Chairs Program
Tel.: (613) 996-8373
Cell.: (613) 371-3783
Alastair Sinclair
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: (613) 996-3160
Alex Swann
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Anne McLellan
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Tel.: (613) 991-2924
Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001
