HAMILTON, Ontario, June 4, 2010 — Thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada at universities across the country, young researchers will have an opportunity to expand their professional and personal skills to prepare for the workplace. David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale, made the announcement while speaking at McMaster University on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).
“Our government is committed to developing, attracting and retaining the world’s best researchers here in Canada,” said Member of Parliament Sweet. “Through the investment of the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program, recent graduates are making a successful transition into the knowledge workforce and are strengthening Canada’s economy.”
Through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC’s) CREATE Program, 20 projects will receive $32 million over six years that will help science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace. The projects explore a variety of research areas, including photonics, climate change, civil engineering and optical networks.
In addition to the advanced training already received in their science and engineering studies, the training and mentoring projects funded through the CREATE Program will help students and post-doctoral fellows further improve their employability skills. The program will help attract highly qualified students, increase their mobility nationally and internationally, and establish links that will further their chosen careers.
“NSERC’s CREATE Program helps graduating students become highly sought-after professional researchers in the natural sciences and engineering, both in Canada and abroad,” said Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President of NSERC. “The program helps not only to improve the skill set of the next generation of Canada’s research talent, but also to support their retention in the workforce.”
More information on the CREATE Program is available in the attached backgrounder. To view the list of projects funded, visit the NSERC website.
NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28 000 students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11 800 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.
For further information, please contact:
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-947-2956
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Shannon Cobb
Media Relations and Public Affairs Officer
NSERC
613-996-3861
shannon.cobb@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
