August 13, 2007

ONTARIO RESEARCH FUND – RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

The McGuinty government is helping researchers obtain the tools they need to stay on the forefront of innovation, including lab space, equipment and computer software through the Research Infrastructure program of the Ontario Research Fund. This round of funding under the program will provide $127,512 to support two world-class projects in St. Catharines.

Brock University

Facilities for Organometallic and Catalytic Research
A catalyst for transformative growth

Lead researcher: G. I. Nikonov
Total project cost: $146,496
Provincial funding: $58,592

Breakthrough products, from solar panels to iPods, are made possible by the development of advanced materials and chemical compounds. At Brock University, new state-of-the-art equipment will provide Dr. G.I. Nikonov and his team with the tools needed to pursue leading-edge chemical research that could spark innovations in Ontario’s plastics, pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing industries. This new research facility also represents a key step in Brock’s transformation from a primarily undergraduate school to a comprehensive university offering PhD programs that help young researchers learn the advanced skills they need in academic or industrial careers.

The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute's Consumer Behavioural Research Laboratory
Cultivating a taste for finer wines

Lead researcher: Isabelle Lesschaeve
Total project cost: $172,302
Provincial funding: $68,920

Isabelle Lesschaeve, Director of Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, is seeking a better understanding of what determines consumers wine preference by studying their purchase behaviour and attitudes related to wine quality. She is establishing a facility that will be dedicated to preparing test samples of wines and presenting them to consumer groups in different contexts using good sensory evaluation practices. Her findings should provide the information necessary to increase sales of premium Canadian wines, bolstering the industry’s overall VQA sales.

Ontario Research Fund

The McGuinty government is investing $527 million over five years through the Ontario Research Fund. The fund is a key part of the government’s plan to promote scientific excellence by supporting research that can be developed into innovative goods and services that will boost Ontario’s economy. The fund also helps researchers move new ideas from Ontario’s labs to the global marketplace.

The fund provides one window for research funding. Proposals for funding are evaluated through a competitive, peer-review process.

The province matches funding commitments made by the Canada Foundation for Innovation through the Research Infrastructure program. Project funding is shared among the Canada Foundation for Innovation (up to 40 per cent), the province (up to 40 per cent), and the research institutions and industry partners (at least 20 per cent).

For more information about the Ontario Research Fund, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation.