November 7, 2006

EARLY RESEARCHER AWARD PROGRAM

The Early Researcher Award (ERA) program is the Ontario government’s $51 million, five-year investment in the next generation of researchers with big ideas.

To be eligible for an award, a researcher at an Ontario university, college, hospital or research institute must be within the first five years of his or her independent academic research career.

As well, all ERA projects are required to develop a youth outreach plan to connect tomorrow's researchers with today's leaders in science and technology.

In the second round of Early Researcher Awards, more than $14 million has been awarded to 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 an additional $50,000 from their institutions. The funding covers operating costs of the researchers’ teams and the facilities and infrastructure required to perform the research.

A call for proposals, which will close on January 31, 2007, was issued today for the third round of awards. Applications are peer-reviewed and judged according to the excellence and potential of the applicant, quality of the research and training of the members of the research team. The Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board’s recommendations for funding are forwarded to the Minister of Research and Innovation for final approval.

The program is a key component of the province's research and innovation strategy, which aims to strengthen Ontario's economic advantage by helping to attract, retain and develop the best and brightest researchers in key economic sectors.