The Government of Canada’s investments in scientific research through Budget 2018 supports the University of Waterloo’s innovation and gender equity efforts
The budget, which provided $1.4 billion dollars towards basic science, introduced a new program to help early career researchers and encourage more women to enter and advance in scientific and research careers. The University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing also received a commitment of $15 million in renewed funding for the next three years. The government also committed significant funding to Canada’s digital infrastructure and to maintain the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
“The research investments announced in Budget 2018 are vital contributions to universities across Canada,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “This level of support will allow Waterloo to attract the best talent possible from around the world to develop homegrown breakthroughs in science, engineering and math that will help solve global challenges facing society today.”
Waterloo is a leading supporter of the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign and has numerous initiatives that support women in science and women in leadership positions. Waterloo attracts nearly $200 million per year in external research funding, has over 40 research centres, two Canadian excellence research chairs, 100-plus funded research chairs and four Killiam prize winners.
Tuesday’s budget announcements follow the federal government’s announcement of successful bids for the $950 million Innovation Supercluster Initiative. Waterloo is a key research partner in two of the initiatives, which involve an AI-powered global supply chain platform as well as a supercluster focused on advanced manufacturing.
“We welcome the federal government’s recent investments in groundbreaking research in Canada,” said Hamdullahpur. “These investments will greatly support research efforts at universities like Waterloo allowing us to continue to produce innovations that will drive our society for generations, and train our citizens to be leaders in the new economy.
“Thank you to our government partners for responding to the current and future needs and aspirations of diverse research communities across Canada through the short and long-term commitments in Budget 2018.”
