News Release

For Immediate Release
November 25, 2005

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

Early Researcher Award Supports 64 Projects

QUEEN'S PARK -- The McGuinty government is strengthening the province's economic advantage by investing in Ontario's innovative thinkers and providing them with the financial support they need to flourish, Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty announced today.

"We need to attract and retain the best and brightest people to ensure that Ontario can compete in the marketplace of ideas," said Premier McGuinty. "Now it will be easier for outstanding researchers to stay in Ontario and recruit promising young researchers to their teams. Their discoveries will be made right here at home, providing jobs and prosperity for Ontarians well into the future."

Under the newly created Early Researcher Award program, the government is investing $30 million over three years. In this round of awards, $6.4 million will support 64 researchers working at 13 universities in 10 communities across the province. Recipients receive up to $100,000 from the Ontario government and $50,000 from their institutions.

Some of the researchers who have won awards are:

• Dr. Prosenjit Bose, who is leading research at Carleton University to design more efficient routing methods to improve speed and reliability for wireless devices such as cellphones, computers and personal digital assistants.
• Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde, who is conducting a study at Laurentian University to see how wildlife adapts to environmental influences, to help develop strategies to ensure the survival of Ontario's wildlife.
• Dr. Kevin Gorey, of the University of Windsor, who is examining how social factors affect the health of Canadians and Americans, and the differences between the two health care systems.
• Dr. Sheena Josselyn, who is leading research at the University of Toronto on the potential treatments for memory decline caused by Alzheimer's disease.

A call for proposals, which will close January 26, 2006, was issued today for the second round of the Early Researcher Awards. Details are posted on the Ministry of Research and Innovation website.

The Ministry of Research and Innovation was created in June 2005 to ensure that Ontario is competing and winning in the marketplace of ideas. The creation of this new ministry signals the importance the government places on strengthening Ontario as a leading, innovation-based economy and society. The government has committed $1.8 billion over four years to support research and commercialization.

"People are our greatest asset. By creating a culture of innovation, we can unlock the potential of Ontarians," Premier McGuinty said. "This will ensure our future success by keeping us on the cutting edge of research and innovation."

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