Major investment in innovative, world-class research to benefit all Canadians
OTTAWA, ON – Today, the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced more than $518 million in research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The funding will support 102 state-of-the-art projects at 35 post-secondary institutions and research hospitals across the country, and will help Canada remain at the forefront of exploration, innovation and discovery.
Read the Prime Minister’s announcement: New investments to support research and science across Canada
Following the announcement, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, highlighted three funded projects from the competition in conversation with researchers from Université de Montréal and the affiliated pediatric hospital CHU Sainte-Justine, the University of Calgary and York University.
Some of the projects the CFI is supporting with research infrastructure funding include:
- Ocean sensors to track climate change. Climate change is threatening the health of our oceans and the fisheries that rely on them. A team of researchers, led by Dalhousie University, will deploy a group of innovative floating sensors in the North Atlantic Ocean, a first for the region, to collect information that scientists need to answer urgent questions about ocean warming and carbon capture. This information could help ease the effects of climate change on our oceans, prevent the collapse of local fisheries and position Canada as a leader in ocean sensor technology.
Read: Probing the North Atlantic for clues to climate-change impacts
- Studying medications for expectant mothers and children. More than 75 percent of pregnant women take medications for which we do not know the risks or benefits to mother or baby. To fill this knowledge gap, researchers at the Université de Montréal and the affiliated pediatric hospital CHU Sainte-Justine, will gather and analyze data from more than four million pregnant women as well as children across the country. The work aims to improve how we use and prescribe medications during pregnancy and childhood.
Read: Weighing risks and benefits of medication use during pregnancy
- Speeding up Canadian vaccine production. There is an urgent need in Canada to produce vaccines more quickly and efficiently. Currently, there is no program within Canadian academia to help researchers gauge whether vaccine production and commercialization are realistic. Moving vaccines developed by academia to the manufacturing and production stages is challenging and costly. A team of researchers from the CHU de Québec and Université Laval in Québec City, Que., aim to create a public vaccine production program to serve Canadians. They will build a research platform to address these challenges by developing and testing vaccines, helping researchers launch start-up companies, and supporting existing start-ups.
- Smart cities of the near future. To build the homes, campuses and cities of the future, researchers need to be able to create and test a variety of technologies. Ryerson University, in Toronto, Ont., will build a new, smart-campus testing lab made up of a “smart home” and “smart office” that will allow researchers to test new smart building, security, lighting, construction, and energy efficient technologies. Two remote installations in buildings at the University of New Brunswick, and the University of Victoria in B.C., will feed valuable information into the system. This project will help smart building researchers develop sustainable construction methods, new cybersecurity strategies, smart building technologies, and encourage the development of made-in-Canada technology to make the smart cities of the near future healthy, safe and sustainable.
- Archives to support reconciliation. We are what we choose to remember; but we are also what we choose to forget. A groundbreaking initiative led by the University of Manitoba will establish the digital architecture for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s archive of unique records. This digital archive will allow researchers to, among other things; identify the children lost at residential schools, which builds on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It aims to create a new model of decolonizing archives to promote healing, learning and relationship building.
Read: New digital archive will be a record of Canada’s residential school history
Discover more stories on projects funded in this competition
Quotes
“Canada's researchers and scientists are some of the brightest and most skilled in the world. Today’s investments will ensure that they have what they need to help us build a Canada that is healthier, cleaner, and more competitive.”
- The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Great science and research is the first step in driving innovation. Now more than ever, Canadians are looking to their researchers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. The Government of Canada is proud to support today’s funding recipients, who are harnessing their expertise and dedication to make the important discoveries that will serve Canadians now and in the future.”
- The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Investing in research is an investment in the future of Canada. Discoveries will lead to economic growth and will help solve the challenges the world faces today. These projects demonstrate the breadth and depth of Canadian expertise and excellence, and these awards are a tribute to the innovative researchers across the country.”
- Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation
Quick facts
- The investments were made through the CFI’s Innovation Fund. This fund supports 40 percent of infrastructure costs across the full spectrum of research, from the most fundamental to applied, to technology development, with the remaining portion coming from partners such as provincial and territorial governments and the institutions themselves. These investments will help Canada remain at the forefront of exploration and knowledge generation, and to support researchers in addressing global challenges and making meaningful contributions to social, health, environmental and economic benefits for Canadians.
- The total investment of $518,101,899 includes $118,111,261 for associated operating costs through the Infrastructure Operating Fund.
- Many of the funded projects demonstrate collaboration among research institutions. Of the 102 proposals, 49 (48 percent) include at least one collaborating institution.
- The 2020 Innovation Fund competition is the first of its kind since Budget 2018 announced permanent funding for the CFI. The move to permanent funding will allow the CFI to hold Innovation Fund competitions approximately every two years. These regular competition intervals will allow institutions to plan strategically and to propose mature projects, while continuing to develop promising ones for future competitions.
Quick links
More about the Canada Foundation for Innovation
Details on the CFI’s Innovation Fund
Discover the CFI Research Facilities Navigator: An online database of labs and facilities that are open to working with business
About the Canada Foundation for Innovation
For more than 20 years, the CFI has been giving researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. Fostering a robust innovation system in Canada translates into jobs and new enterprises, better health, cleaner environments and, ultimately, vibrant communities. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI also helps to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers and to support world-class research that strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life for all Canadians.
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Contacts
|
Malorie Bertrand
Media Relations |
John Power Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry john.power [at] canada.ca (john[dot]power[at]canada[dot]ca)
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Innovation Fund Backgrounder - By Project
Innovation Fund / Fonds d’innovation
Institution / Établissement |
Number of Projects / Nombre de projets |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Université du Québec - Institut national de la recherche scientifique |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
Total Institutions / des établissements 35 |
102 |
Aurora College
| Western Arctic Research Centre (WARC) Warehouse: Supporting Research in the Western Arctic |
$1,686,897 |
|
1 project / projet |
$1,686,897 |
Carleton University
|
Development of Next Generation Liquid Argon Dark Matter Detector and of an Underground Argon Storage Facility at SNOLAB |
$6,902,590 |
|
Abilities Living Laboratory (ALL) |
$2,370,000 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$9,272,590 |
Concordia University
| Toward Intelligent and Resilient Smart Cities with Energy-Vehicle-Human Interactions |
$723,417 |
|
1 project / projet |
$723,417 |
Dalhousie University
|
Cancer risks of Arsenic and Radon environmental Exposures (CARE) |
$2,296,995 |
|
A BGC Argo Program for the NW North Atlantic Ocean |
$3,511,591 |
|
Advanced Sustainable Energy Technology (ASET) Research Program |
$2,725,393 |
|
Artificial Intelligence meets Ocean Science |
$1,157,188 |
|
Next Generation Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics (NG-MAC) |
$3,578,741 |
|
5 projects / projets |
$13,269,908 |
École Polytechnique de Montréal
|
Atomistics of Engineering and Natural Materials |
3 109 552 $ |
|
1 projet / project |
3 109 552 $ |
McGill University
|
SecureData4Health Collaborating / Partenaire: The Hospital for Sick Children, Sinai Health System , Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval |
7 924 202 $ |
|
Quantum Dynamics Laboratory: Tools to Visualize Advanced Materials at Work |
2 570 856 $ |
|
Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio transient Detector (CHORD) Collaborating / Partenaire: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Calgary, University of Toronto |
9 071 532 $ |
|
Next Generation Dopaminergic Cell Modeling and Therapeutics for Movement Disorders |
3 420 697 $ |
|
Nanotools III |
2 884 120 $ |
|
Building Architecture Research Node/Nodule de recherche architecturale du bâtiment |
7 682 961 $ |
|
Centre for Applied Nanomedicine (CAN) – Studies into Extracellular Vesicle Heterogeneity, Biomarkers and Function |
1 365 228 $ |
|
Functional Atomic-scale Materials Engineering ( FAME ) |
3 244 132 $ |
|
Advanced Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing Facility |
3 775 027 $ |
|
9 projets / projects |
41 938 755 $ |
McMaster University
| Towards Dynamic Materials Characterization with Electrons and Photons in Extreme Environments |
$5,737,458 |
|
Building a Future for Canadian Neutron Scattering |
$14,250,000 |
|
Transformative Nano-manufacturing Enabled by Programmable Assembly, Self-alignment and Direct-write Technologies |
$2,137,090 |
|
3D Multi-scale Correlative and Time-lapsed Microscopy: A Canadian Platform for Materials Acceleration |
$3,413,793 |
|
Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA): A Platform for Interdisciplinary Research |
$9,578,643 |
|
5 projects / projets |
$35,116,984 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland
|
ACESCentre: Atlantic Canada Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry Centre |
$6,773,058 |
|
1 project / projet |
$6,773,058 |
Queen’s University
|
ExCELLirate Canada: Expanding CELL-based Immunotherapy Research Acceleration for Translation and Evaluation Collaborating / Partenaire: McMaster University, University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa, Université de Montréal, University of Calgary |
$5,187,685 |
|
Climate Adaptive infraStructure Testing and Longevity Evaluation (CASTLE) Innovation Cluster |
$4,470,000 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$9,657,685 |
Ryerson University
| Smart Campus Integration and Testing Lab |
$1,962,000 |
|
1 project / projet |
$1,962,000 |
Simon Fraser University
| ATLAS Tier-1 Data Centre |
$2,169,811 |
|
1 project / projet |
$2,169,811 |
Sinai Health System
| Probing the Molecular State of Rare Cell Phenotypes |
$5,830,254 |
|
A Center for Quantitative Ultrastructural Analyses |
$2,091,119 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$7,921,373 |
St. Joseph’s Health Care London
| Revealing the Functional and Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Disease with Better Imaging Tools |
$2,008,333 |
|
1 project / projet |
$2,008,333 |
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
| Artificial Intelligence Platform for Precision Medicine |
$485,676 |
|
1 project / projet |
$485,676 |
The Hospital for Sick Children
|
Advanced Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy Program |
$2,845,545 |
|
Single Particle Cryo EM Analysis Project (SPaCEMAP) |
$7,604,234 |
|
CGEn – A National Platform for Genome Sequencing and Analysis |
$11,151,793 |
|
The Continuum of Protein Interactions in Health and Disease |
$1,678,236 |
|
4 projects / projets |
$23,279,808 |
The University of British Columbia
| Cancer Single Cell Dynamics Observatory |
$2,396,810 |
|
Used-Water to Resources (U-WatR) |
$1,591,394 |
|
Momentum-resolved Electron-pair Spectroscopy (2e-ARPES) |
$2,628,802 |
|
Enabling the Search for Neutrinoless Double-beta Decays in Xe-136 with nEXO |
$6,523,155 |
|
MiDAS - Microbial Diversity Expansion for Applied Sciences |
$3,276,459 |
|
HAICU: Hydrogen Antihydrogen Infrastructure at Canadian Universities for Quantum Innovations in Antimatter Science |
$4,559,274 |
|
iMAP in vivo Mesoscale Assessment of neuroProjectomes |
$2,315,582 |
|
AM+: Mobilizing Additive Manufacturing for Automotive, Aerospace and Clean Energy |
$3,001,460 |
|
Rapid Air Improvement Network (RAIN) |
$2,028,080 |
|
9 projects / projets |
$28,321,016 |
Thompson Rivers University
| The TRUbI/O Network, a hub for genomics and bioinformatics innovation in the British Columbia interior |
$848,698 |
|
1 project / projet |
$848,698 |
Université de Montréal
|
Canadian Mother-Child Cohort Active Surveillance Initiative (CAMCCO) |
$1,195,586 |
|
CHUSJ IMAGE Centre: Imaging for neurodevelopment and Mental health across Age, Genes and Environments |
2 865 100 $ |
|
Auditory-Motor Skill Learning and Brain Plasticity |
3 665 701 $ |
|
Innovative Program in Gene, Cell and Tissue Engineering for the Treatment of Pediatric Monogenic Diseases and Cancers |
2 748 480 $ |
|
MIIRCIC: Multimodal Intelligent Infrastructure for Research in Critically Ill Children Collaborating / Partenaire: Université du Québec - École de technologie supérieure |
923 461 $ |
|
Neurodevelopmental Basis of Nervous System Disorders: NeuroBasis |
3 134 615 |
| T-cells and Cancer Immunotherapy |
3 976 787 $ |
|
PURE: Particles in URban Environments |
4 877 303 $ |
|
8 projets / projects |
23 387 033 $ |
Université de Sherbrooke
| PYRIDINE: PolYmeR bIg Data INtErface |
2 646 985 $ |
|
Distributed Digital Intelligence Network (D2IN): Development of disruptive and low-cost microsystems for edge computing |
6 699 774 $ |
|
Multidisciplinary Observatory for Arctic Climate Change and Extreme Events Monitoring (MOACC) |
1 601 614 $ |
|
3 projets / projects |
10 948 373 $ |
Université du Québec - École de technologie supérieure
|
Intelligent Cyber Value Chain Network (CĒOS Net) |
4 552 405 $ |
|
1 projet / project |
4 552 405 $ |
Université du Québec – Institut national de la recherche scientifique
| Upgraded-Laboratory of Micro- and Nanofabrication (U-LMN) |
3 249 940 $ |
|
1 projet / project |
3 249 940 $ |
Université du Québec à Montréal
| SPAR Lab: a Research Laboratory To Develop and Assess Smart Process Applications |
722 423 $ |
|
1 projet / project |
722 423 $ |
Université Laval
| Baffin Island Environmental Research Stations
Partenaires / Collaborators: Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières |
7 003 049 $ |
|
A cGMP Facility for Personalized Tissue Engineering |
4 709 800 $ |
|
Manufacturing of Antigens and Adjuvants for development of Vaccines (MAAV) |
1 889 630 $ |
|
Une foresterie agile face au climat: De l'écosystème jusqu'aux marchés Partenaires / Collaborators: Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
3 268 715 $ |
|
4 projets / projects |
16 871 194 $ |
University Health Network
| The Toronto Liver Research Centre: A Multi-disciplinary Concentration of Liver Research |
$1,350,035 |
|
1 project / projet |
$1,350,035 |
University of Alberta
| ELEMENTS: Earth, Life, Energy and Materials with multi-Elements for Nano to Terrestrial Structures |
$5,079,691 |
|
Ultrafast Nanoscale Quantum Dynamics (UltraNanoQD) |
$3,881,218 |
|
Canadian Analytics Network for Outcome Prediction In Exposures (CANOPIE) |
$3,145,322 |
|
RADiation Impacts on Climate and Atmospheric Loss Satellite (RADICALS) Mission |
$8,131,497 |
|
“Protein Misfolding Scientific Exploration” (ProMiSE) Team: Infrastructure support for remediation of protein misfolding |
$3,851,724 |
|
5 projects / projets |
$24,089,452 |
University of Calgary
| QDiamond: Accelerating the Second Quantum Revolution Collaborating / Partenaire: University of Alberta |
$5,215,539 |
|
Centre for Cell Therapy Translation (CTT) |
$1,831,803 |
|
Imaging the Development of Brain Circuits for Early Detection and Intervention in Mental Illness |
$3,320,000 |
|
Wild Microbiome and Immunity Centre |
$4,860,000 |
|
Durable Materials for Electrolyzers, Fuel Cells, and Batteries |
$2,992,600 |
|
5 projects / projets |
$18,219,942 |
University of Manitoba
| NCTR Digital Architecture |
$2,411,773 |
|
The MOLLER Detector: Expanding our understanding of matter in the universe with a new, precision electron detector |
$2,336,900 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$4,748,673 |
University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa
| Transformative nanophotonics |
$7,688,879 |
|
Center for Hybrid Interfaces and Intelligent Thin-Films (HIIT) |
$8,016,085 |
|
Operation Heat Shield Canada – Protecting Human Health on a Warming Planet |
$1,986,842 |
|
Hub of Excellence for Cardio-Neuro-Mind Research – HCNMR |
$5,856,907 |
|
A Multi-Hazards Simulator (MHS) for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure |
$2,623,339 |
|
5 projects / projets |
$26,172,052 |
University of Regina
| Mitochondrial Systems (mitoSYSTEMS) Research Centre for Chronic Disease |
$1,403,288 |
|
1 project / projet |
$1,403,288 |
University of Saskatchewan
|
Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship Collaborating / Partenaire: Saskatchewan Polytechnic, University of Alberta |
$6,765,155 |
|
The Canadian Agricultural Centre for Engineering Biology (CACEB) |
$3,199,272 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$9,964,427 |
University of Toronto
| A Massive Transformation of the Dragonfly Telephoto Array |
$1,819,000 |
|
AcDC: Accelerator for Donnelly Collaboration |
$1,957,650 |
|
Mega-Scale Multi-Dimensional Experimental Facility for Enhancing Canada's Infrastructure Resilience |
$6,861,818 |
|
An Integrated Platform for the Analysis of Brain Inflammation |
$13,961,537 |
|
4 project / projet |
$24,600,005 |
University of Victoria
|
Intermediate Detector for the Hyper-Kamiokande Neutrino Oscillation Experiment Collaborating / Partenaire: University of Regina, The University of Winnipeg, British Columbia Institute of Technology |
$5,400,000 |
|
Belle II Canadian Research Data Centre Collaborating / Partenaire: The University of British Columbia, McGill University |
$2,000,000 |
|
2 projects / projets |
$7,400,000 |
University of Waterloo
| Developing Innovative Technologies for Predicting and Remediating Environmental Contamination |
$3,313,077 |
|
Waterloo Aquatic Threats Environmental Research (WATER) Facility |
$780,000 |
|
forWater AID: Advanced Infrastructure Development for forested drinking water source protection technologies in Canada |
$3,522,752 |
|
CCAT-prime: A Submillimetre Wavelength Survey Telescope in Chile |
$4,900,000 |
|
Advanced Materials Ontario: Harnessing the Power of Multifunctional Materials for New Technologies |
$2,667,473 |
|
Ontario Centre for Battery and Electrochemical Research |
$2,088,832 |
|
6 projects / projets |
$17,272,134 |
Women’s College Hospital
| Women's Virtual Care Research Laboratory |
$1,184,061 |
|
1 project / projet |
$1,184,061 |
York University
| Tabletop probe of PeV-scale new physics Collaborating / Partenaire: University of Toronto |
$3,360,000 |
|
Technology-Enhanced Drug Development and Manufacturing: MirrorLab |
$2,090,000 |
|
Intelligent Additive Manufacturing Technology for Space Exploration Collaborating / Partenaire: The University of Western Ontario |
$3,573,206 |
|
3 projects / projets |
$9,023,206 |
|
102 projects / projets |
$393,704,204 |
NOTE / Â NOTER
As part of this announcement, an additional $118,111,267 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF), a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure. / Cette annonce comprend l’attribution d’une somme additionnelle de 118 111 267 dollars du Fonds d’exploitation des infrastructures. Les établissements utilisent ces montants pour assumer une partie des coûts d’exploitation et de maintenance de la nouvelle infrastructure.
An additional contribution of $6,286,434 was awarded to 22 multi-institutional proposals involving three or more collaborating CFI eligible institutions, to cover incremental administrative costs associated with the management and governance of those proposals. / Une contribution supplémentaire de 6 286 434 dollars a été octroyée à 22 propositions multiétablissements impliquant au moins trois établissements admissibles selon les critères de la FCI, pour couvrir les coûts administratifs croissants liés à la gestion et à la gouvernance de ces propositions.