Markham, Ontario
4 December 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today officially launched the Canada First Research Excellence Fund during a tour of the IBM facility in Markham. He was joined by Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, Joe Daniel, Member of Parliament for Don Valley East, and John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West.
The Government of Canada’s significant investments in research and development have already made a major contribution to Canada’s strong performance in science, technology and innovation (ST&I). The Fund, which was announced in Economic Action Plan 2014, is a legacy investment to help position Canada’s post-secondary institutions among the best in the world for talent and breakthrough discoveries, and to excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic benefits for Canada.
The inaugural competition will see Canadian post-secondary institutions vying for research funding over seven years. Grants will be awarded on the basis of scientific merit, strategic relevance to Canada (including the potential for the research area to create long-term economic advantages for Canada), and quality of implementation plan. Submissions will be reviewed by independent panels of international scientific experts as well as an arms-length selection board composed of leaders from the academic, public and private sectors. Applications for this first competition will be due in March 2015. A second competition will be launched by 2016 at the latest.
