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News Release:
Ontario Turning Ideas Into Stronger Economy
Backgrounder:
Supporting Basic and Applied Research
Backgrounder:
Basic and Applied Research Projects
Recipients

Listen to ORF recipient Dr. Alex Ellery, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University.

Remarks made during event to announce research support aimed at strengthening the province’s global competitiveness via MRI’s Ontario Research Fund on October 17, 2008.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2008

ONTARIO TURNING IDEAS INTO STRONGER ECONOMY

McGuinty Government Supporting Research To Strengthen Global Competitiveness

NEWS

The McGuinty government is helping Ontario attract and retain the top researchers who will strengthen the province’s competitiveness in the global innovation-driven economy.

Ontario is investing almost $7.6 million in research that is helping invent the future of health care, wireless communication and environmental technologies – while pushing the boundaries of science in fields such as space robotics, quantum physics and nanotechnology.

Promising projects receiving funding include:

Developing the next generation of planetary explorers and satellites, led by Dr. Alex Ellery (Carleton University)
Applying photonics – the science of light – to create new devices with applications ranging from wireless communications to energy conservation to medicine, led by Dr. Karin Hinzer (University of Ottawa)
Efforts by Ontario’s top particle physicists to create world-leading sensor and detector technologies, led by Dr. David Asner and Dr. Kevin Graham (Carleton University) and Dr. Mark Boulay (Queen's University).

The funding from the Ontario Research Fund will support 13 institutions and 46 projects and involve nearly 342 scientists and researchers across the province.

Supporting innovation is part of the McGuinty government’s five-point plan for growing Ontario’s economy.

QUOTES

“Research is the foundation of innovation – and in the 21st century, innovation is the key to stronger global competitiveness, good jobs and better lives for Ontario families. And that’s why our government has made innovation a key part of our five-point economic plan,” said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson.

“Ottawa is home to some of the brightest minds in the world. Our support will help them bring about a better future for all of us,” said Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi.

QUICK FACTS

Today’s announcement is part of $37 million worth of investments that the government is making this fall through the Ontario Research Fund. The funding will support the efforts of more than 1,800 researchers working on more than 200 projects at 17 institutions across Ontario.