from government-funded research institutions to industry
OTTAWA, September 20, 2005 -- Industry Minister David L. Emerson and
Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today announced 22 grants worth $17.1 million
over three years to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and new technology
being developed in Canadian universities, hospitals and colleges for use in
the Canadian economy.
These grants will strengthen interactions among publicly funded research
institutions through the support of regionally based networks and expand the
training of technology transfer experts required to increase the benefits to
Canadians of our public investments in research.
The 16 network awards, worth $14.26 million, will provide the essential
resources for research-intensive institutions to develop the critical mass of
expertise, tools and resources to manage and protect intellectual property, to
encourage entrepreneurship and to make industry more aware of the knowledge
and technology resources at their disposal.
To address the short supply of technology transfer practitioners in
Canada, $2.87 million will be invested in 6 internship programs. These
internships provide the opportunity to gain the hands-on experience required
to effectively manage intellectual property and guide its commercialization.
These grants are being funded through the Intellectual Property
Mobilization program, a cooperative arrangement involving the Natural Sciences
and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
Canada (SSHRC).
"The IPM program is an example of how the Government of Canada is helping
to generate new ideas and efficiently apply the knowledge gained in health
research to benefit all Canadians", said Minister Dosanjh. "This program will
help the talented research teams funded today to develop new products and
services that will ultimately improve our health care system."
"Innovation is about turning new ideas and knowledge into new products,
new services, and new ways of doing things, thereby improving the way we live,
work and learn," said Minister Emerson. "Ensuring the commercialization of
ideas is the key to creating wealth for Canadians. I am pleased to see that
hospitals, universities and other institutions of higher learning are eager to
partner with the federal government to foster innovation and
commercialization."
CIHR is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's
mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation
into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a
strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR
provides leadership and support to close to 10,000 health researchers and
trainees across Canada. For further information, please visit
www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca .
SSHRC is an independent federal government agency that funds university-
based research and graduate training through national peer-review
competitions. SSHRC also partners with public and private sector organizations
to focus research and aid the development of better policies and practices in
key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life.
NSERC is a federal agency whose role is to make investments in people,
discovery and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians. With an annual
budget of more than $860 million, the agency supports more than
20,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies.
NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 10,000 university professors
every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 500 Canadian
companies to participate and invest in university research projects.
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For further information:
Marie-France Poirier
Media Specialist, CIHR
Media Relations
(613) 941-4563
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Michael Dwyer
Media and Public Affairs Officer
NSERC Newsbureau
(613) 992-9001,
michael.dwyer@nserc.ca
Doré Dunne
Media Relations Officer, SSHRC,
(613) 992-7302
dore.dunne@sshrc.ca
Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001
Adèle Blanchard
Office of the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh
Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
