News Release

For Immediate Release
August 27, 2008

DRIVING THE INNOVATION ECONOMY IN THE GTA

McGuinty Government Funding Research That Turns Ideas Into Jobs

Transcript 

NEWS

Research aimed at improving the lives of children with severe physical disabilities, creating cleaner ways to generate electricity, and finding better ways to treat and prevent disease are among the 22 research projects across the Greater Toronto Area receiving more than $3 million in funding from the province’s Early Researcher Awards program.

Funding world-class research is part of Ontario’s plan to build an innovation economy that turns great ideas into good jobs, better health care, a cleaner environment and endless possibilities for Ontario families.

The researchers include:

• Dr. Tom Chau (Bloorview Kids Rehab) who is helping children trapped by severe physical disabilities communicate and interact with the world around them.
• Dr. Radhakrishnan Mahadevan (University of Toronto) whose research focuses on microbial fuel cells: a device that uses micro organisms to generate electricity. Dr. Mahadevan believes this technology has the potential to assist in environmental clean-up while generating clean energy.
• Dr. Krishnan Venkatakrishnan (Ryerson University) whose team is finding new ways to use lasers to help Ontario’s semiconductor manufacturers produce the next generation of high-performance chips.
• Dr. Peter Cheung (University Health Network) and his team will explore the regulation of genes linked to prostate cancer.

In total, 66 projects across the province worth $9.24 million are receiving funding from the Early Researcher Awards program.

The goal of this program is to improve Ontario’s ability to attract and retain the best and brightest research talent from around the world. Today’s investment will ensure that leading Ontario researchers have the resources they need to build their research teams of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants and associates from across Canada and abroad.

QUOTES

“Today’s investment is an important part of Ontario’s plan to build an innovation-driven economy. We are investing in the people who are pioneering the scientific breakthroughs that will improve health care, protect the environment, and ignite growth in the industries that will shape Ontario’s future,” said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson.

“This Early Researcher Award recognizes that in our knowledge-based economy, research to better the human condition – to empower children with disabilities – is a priority for the Ontario government. Our aim is to unlock the world of communication and control for children who can’t talk or move. The Early Researcher Award will help us attract and train top graduate students to work in this rich, untapped field and address other childhood disability issues for generations to come,” said Bloorview Kids Rehab researcher Tom Chau.

QUICK FACTS

• The Bloorview Kids Rehab research project is expected to create jobs and training opportunities for three post-doctoral researchers, focused on the next generation of advanced medical devices for children with severe disabilities.
• Across the GTA, today’s investment means cutting-edge research jobs and training opportunities for as many as 74 undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctorate researchers, and the engagement as many as 1,099 high school students each year, giving them an inside look at real research and inspiring them to consider a career in science and technology.
• The Early Researcher Awards program is an important part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, a plan to make innovation the driving force of the provincial economy.
• Innovation is part of the McGuinty government’s five-point plan for the economy. The other parts of the plan are:

• Skills and training
• Building infrastructure
• Strategic business tax cuts to create investment
• Partnerships with business

LEARN MORE

Learn More about the Early Researcher Awards

Learn More about Ontario’s Innovation Agenda

Learn how Ontario’s Budget 2008 is supporting innovation

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See also:

• Backgrounder: Strengthening Ontario’s Innovation Economy