Dough Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

U of A

Province says investment leverages $130 million to boost innovation

Nov 26, 2021 | 11:06 AM

Officials with the Alberta government say new funding for research infrastructure at the University of Alberta will strengthen the province’s position as a leader in research and technology development.

The University of Alberta is receiving close to $27 million over four years through the Alberta government’s Research Capacity Program to help build the facilities and infrastructure needed to support 11 new research projects.

This investment is said to leverages $130 million in project funding from partners, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation, other participating institutions, non-profit organizations and industry collaborators.

Together, these projects are expected to support ground-breaking discoveries across the pharmaceutical, health, oil and gas, agriculture, environment and space industries that are hoped to help attract new talent and investment.

“We want Alberta to be a dominant player in the global innovation arena. That’s why we’re investing in research at the University of Alberta – paving the way for our technology and innovation highway to create cutting-edge technologies and solutions that will create jobs and secure our economic future for our children and grandchildren,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, on Thursday.

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“This new investment will add laboratory equipment and other tools to help the University of Alberta deliver high-quality research. Alberta’s government wants to promote research and innovation on our post-secondary campuses and this funding will help achieve this important goal,” added Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education.

“Thank you to the Government of Alberta for this vital funding and commitment to research excellence at the University of Alberta. As partners in innovation, together we are driving forward discoveries that will build social, cultural and economic prosperity in this province and beyond,” exclaimed Bill Flanagan, president and vice-chancellor, University of Alberta.

“Bringing U of A innovations to the world requires not only the best minds but the right facilities and tools. The funding announced today will help build the infrastructure that researchers need to find solutions for tomorrow,” suggested Aminah Robinson Fayek, vice-president (research and innovation), University of Alberta.

Government officials say the Research Capacity Program helps Alberta’s post-secondary institutions get the small equipment and large research infrastructure they need to attract, retain and develop researchers in the province.

The research projects supported by this new funding will span a variety of areas, including:

• testing new chemical processes in pharmaceuticals and oil and gas and developing new environmental technologies for application in the oilsands and mining industries
• developing potential treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, as well as new health diagnostic tools
• assessing space radiation on the atmosphere to better understand its impact on the Earth’s climate
• researching water availability and quality in Alberta
• enhancing our understanding of dark matter, as well as quantum materials used in devices like solar cells
• investigating the impact of prescription drugs on the long-term health of mothers and their children
• building an experimental telescope that will establish Alberta as a leader in advanced astronomical software
• improving the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of livestock production in Alberta

Quick facts

• This new funding is in addition to $1.8 million in Research Capacity Program funding for the University of Alberta announced in October 2020 to:
  • develop a world-class facility to study the use of lasers in potential treatments for skin diseases and cancer, and in remote sensing solutions for the oilsands
  • support research on the role carbohydrates may play in diseases and allow for the creation of a data portal for research, care and innovation related to seniors
• Other previous examples of Research Capacity Program funding include 3D printers for SAIT, new smart infrastructure for Olds College and funding for artificial intelligence research.