For Immediate Release
November 7, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENING ONTARIO’S ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE BY DEVELOPING THE BEST RESEARCH TALENT

Early Researcher Award Program Supports 104 Projects

LONDON -- Ontario's talented academic researchers are getting a $14 million boost from the McGuinty government, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson announced today.

"Our government is doing its part to make it easier for outstanding researchers to stay in Ontario and recruit talented young researchers to their teams, " said Wilkinson, on behalf of Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty.

The government is investing $51 million over five years in the Early Researcher Award program. This second round of the awards will support 104 leading early career researchers working at 22 institutions in 10 communities across the province. Awardees receive up to $100,000 from the Ontario government and $50,000 from their institutions. 

John Wilkinson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Research and Innovation, learned about joint replacements from Dr. Cynthia Dunning when he visited her laboratory at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) as part of the Round II Early Researcher Awards (ERA) announcement. Dr. Dunning is one of UWO’s ERA recipients.

Applications are now being accepted for the next round of Early Researcher Awards. The deadline is January 31, 2007. Details are posted on the Ministry of Research and Innovation website.

Investing in early career researchers and attracting world-class research talent is the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working on the side of businesses and families to strengthen Ontario's economy.

Other initiatives include:

• Encouraging strong job creation, with almost 268,000 net new jobs since taking office
• Helping to generate almost $7 billion in automotive investments that retain and create thousands of high-value jobs
• Launching a $500-million Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy to help manufacturers develop cutting-edge technologies
• Investing $6.2 billion in our universities, colleges, student financial assistance and training programs.

"By investing in early career researchers, we're making Ontario a great place for innovation," said Wilkinson.  "Their discoveries will be made right here at home, providing jobs and prosperity for Ontarians well into the future."

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