For Immediate Release
July 31, 2008

DRIVING THE INNOVATION ECONOMY IN GUELPH

McGuinty Government Building Ontario’s Innovation-Driven Economy

NEWS

Research aimed at protecting forests from invasive species and finding the best approach to curing cervical cancer are two of the five projects at the University of Guelph that will receive $700,000 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.

The researchers include:

• Dr. Hafiz Maherali, who is discovering how Ontario’s forests can develop resistance to powerful, invasive plant – the garlic mustard weed.
• Dr. Chris Thomas Bauch, who is using computer simulations to find the best approach to fighting cervical cancer, which could account for an estimated 380 deaths in Canada in 2008.
• Dr. Paul Edward Garrett, who is using advanced techniques in nuclear physics to gain a better understanding of the universe.
• Dr. Jaideep Mathur, who is studying how plants adapt to climate change, pollution and other environmental effects.
• Dr. Ryan Norris, who is researching how environmental changes in Ontario and globally are affecting Ontario’s migratory animal populations.

In total, 66 projects across the province worth $9.24 million will receive 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

“From tackling climate change to better understanding global biodiversity, the research taking place by bright people living and working right here in our community is truly world-class. Guelph is home to researchers whose groundbreaking ideas are improving our health care and our environment and keeping our community at the forefront of the global innovation economy. Today’s investment will ensure that we can continue to attract, retain – and train – many of the top research minds in the world,” said Guelph MPP Liz Sandals.

“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 healthcare, protect the environment, and ignite growth in the industries that will shape Ontario’s future,” said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson.

QUICK FACTS

• The Early Research 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
• The Guelph research projects will create jobs for 20 graduate students and two post-doctoral researchers.
• Today, as a result of Ontario’s investments in skills and education, Ontario has one of the highest postsecondary enrolment rates in the G8 group of industrialized nations. More than 90,000 more young people are going on to college or university than five years ago.

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

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Podcast:

Listen to ERA recipient Dr. Jaideep Mathur, Associate Professor, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph Remarks made during event to announce fourth round funding for MRI’s Early Researcher Awards on July 31, 2008.