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News Release:
Ontario Investing In Science To Strengthen Economy
Backgrounder:
Global Leadership Round In Genomics And Life Sciences
Backgrounder:
Support For The Global Leadership Round In Genomics And Life Sciences

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Listen to Dr. Mick Bhatia as interviewed by John Biggs of Hamilton’s Talk 820

Remarks made during event to announce that Ontario is launching a new fund to attract and retain world-leading genomics researchers in the province.

Transcript

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
May 4, 2009

ONTARIO INVESTING IN SCIENCE TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMY

McGuinty Government Launches New Fund For Genomics Research

NEWS

Ontario is launching a new fund to attract and retain world-leading genomics researchers in the province.

The $100-million Global Leadership Round in Genomics and Life Sciences will support globally-significant, collaborative research projects that are headquartered in Ontario. This fund will create high-skilled jobs in research and technology, and brings Ontario’s commitment to funding science since 2003 to a historic high of $1.4 billion.

Focused on genomics and gene-related research, the new fund will aim to accelerate new knowledge that could lead to cures, better treatment and prevention for diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It will also support innovation in agriculture, environmental protection and clean technologies.

Investing in research and innovation has been a cornerstone of Ontario’s economic planning since 2003 and Ontario’s Innovation Agenda. The agenda is a $3.2 billion plan to make Ontario one of the best places in the world to turn world-class research into world-class jobs.

QUOTES

“At a time when economic challenges are tempting some governments to scale back on their innovation spending, Ontario is more committed than ever to its vision of global leadership through collaboration. The McGuinty government is committed to growing an innovation economy that supports the groundbreaking work of our leading scientists and their teams. New discoveries and breakthroughs will continue to be made – and we want those people, those ideas, and those jobs right here in Ontario,” said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson.

QUICK FACTS

Ontario currently has the most highly skilled workforce in the G7.
Ontariois the largest hub of biomedical activity in Canada and the fourth largest biomedical research centre in North America.
Ontario is leading and partnering on many global research projects including the International Cancer Genome Consortium , the International Consortium on Anti-virals, the International Barcode of Life and the Structural Genomics Consortium.
Between 2005 and 2008, provincial investments in research and innovation leveraged $1.1 billion while helping to advance the knowledge, skills and training of close to 30,000 individuals.