Canada invests $412 million for university research in Montreal

The federal minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, announced $1.4 billion for Canadian universities in funding for innovative research at Concordia University in Montreal Friday morning – with $412 million specifically for three Montreal schools.

“These historic investments are helping to cement our position as Canada from world class to world leading,” said Champagne, who spoke at the press conference.

The funds support 11 research projects in universities across Canada. McGill, Concordia and l’Université de Montréal were selected for a total of $412 million in funding that will be divided between the three universities over the next seven years. Projects include research into responsible artificial intelligence, genomic-based RNA therapeutics and electrifying society to decarbonize communities.

“You’ll see that some of the projects are going from cutting carbon emission to brain art, diseases, to responsible AI that I think is going to be done at l’Université de Montréal. We are going to be leading, and my goal, our goal should be to be at the forefront of discoveries for the 21 century economy,” added Champagne.

Ted Hewitt, president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, who was also present at the announcement, spoke about the impact this investment will have on students. “When we think about of research funding, we think about buildings, we think about equipment, we think about the brilliant minds and the researchers that develop these,” he said, adding, “but think how many students will be funded by this money over the course of seven years, literally thousands. And this is an awesome awesome fact.”

The funds are part of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund that aims to support research leading to important social and economic benefits for Canadians.