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Canada’s $2.3 Billion Investment in University Research Chairs

On Feb. 23, the Honorable Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Minister for State (Science & Technology), announced the Government of Canada was distributing $120.4 million (all figures are Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated) to 37 universities to support 134 new and renewed Canadian Research Chairs. The awards, the first for 2009 in the program started in 2000, include $6.6 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for research infrastructure to facilitate the work of 42 of the chairholders.

The Canadian Research Chairs program supports the recruitment and retention of up to 2,000 star faculty in a broad range of scientific and technological disciplines, all with significant importance to the nation’s economy. Since 2000, the Canada Research Chairs Program has invested between $200 million and $300 million annually to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds.

With the new announcement more than 1,900 chairs are currently supported by the program’s awards. More than 30 percent of the Research Chairs have been recruited from outside of Canada, including 366 from the U.S. (some expatriates are included in this figure).

"Our government recognizes the important role that research excellence plays in furthering innovation and competitiveness, two main elements in our science and technology strategy," noted Minister of State Goodyear.

With one-ninth of the U.S. population and current currency exchange rates, the $120 million the Canadian government invested in the Canadian Research Chairs program during this funding cycle alone is the equivalent of the U.S. federal government spending $900 million (USD) for innovation-driven faculty positions.

More information on the Canadian Research Chairs program is available at: http://www.chairs.gc.ca/web/home_e.asp

©2009 State Science and Technology Institute. All rights reserved.

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