U of S Researchers Awarded $2 Million

Posted October 25, 2001


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 25, 2001 2001-10-15-OTHER

U of S Researchers Awarded $2 million

The University of Saskatchewan, the Government of Saskatchewan and the
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced today over $2M million in
funding support for the U of S Canada Research Chairs.

The money will support five of the university's eight Canada Research Chairs
by providing updated facilities and equipment for the Veterinary Infectious
Disease Organization, and the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Physics
and Engineering Physics, Biochemistry, and Computer Science.

The enhancements will accelerate research efforts at the university and
support the recruitment of quality faculty and graduate students well into
the future.

"In providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to the Canada Research
Chairholders, the CFI is enabling some of the best researchers in the world
to stay in Canada," said National Resources Minister Ralph Goodale, speaking
on behalf of the Honorable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry. "It will also
contribute to strengthening the research training environment for young
Canadians at the University of Saskatchewan."

CFI and the Saskatchewan government will each provide $666,400 in matched
funding to projects of the researchers.

"Our universities are contributing to a culture of research excellence in
Saskatchewan," Saskatchewan Economic and Cooperative Development Minister
Eldon Lautermilch said. "We are committed through our Partnership for
Prosperity strategy to ensuring that such leading-edge research continues to
the benefit of knowledge-based industries and businesses."

"Our contribution complements the Chairs Program's support of these
outstanding researchers by providing them with cutting-edge infrastructure,"
said CFI President and CEO David Strangway. "The results from their research
will no doubt help advance knowledge in many areas that are critical to the
quality of life of Canadians".

The U of S contribution was almost $533,000 and a total of $195,800 was
provided by other external sources.

"Today's financial support from CFI and the provincial government will play
an important role in supporting the University as it continues with
leading-edge research," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.

The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit organization established by the
Federal Government in
1997 to address an urgent need of Canada's research community: new
state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

The Chairs Program is a $900-million initiative of the federal government
designed to create 2,000 new research chairs at Canadian universities by
2005. The University of Saskatchewan was
allocated 31 of these chairs.

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For more information, contact:

Peter MacKinnon OR Michael Atkinson
President Vice-President Academic and Provost
University of Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612 (306) 966-8484

Martin-Denis Morais
Canadian Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-4403

Natalie Beaudoin
Canada Research Chairs Communications
(613) 995-3205

Bob Ellis
Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development
(306) 787-1691