Carleton University President Roseann O’Reilly Runte praised the federal government’s decision to establish the Canada First Excellence Research Fund to support university research as part of the 2014 Economic Action Plan.
“Increasing funding for research is a very positive contribution to Canada’s future as a leader on the world stage in every domain, from theoretical science and global thinking to social innovations and technological inventions which will boost the economy and continue to make Canada one of the best places in the world to live,” said Dr. Runte.
“I am grateful to the Government of Canada for making this significant investment and I am particularly grateful to Minister Flaherty for his increased investments in research and his attentiveness to our concerns as we work to build strong universities and better opportunities for all Canadians.’’
The budget will allocate $1.5 billion over 10 years to support the creation of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund to advance research competitiveness, with $50 million in funding beginning to flow in 2015.
Also included in the budget is roughly $37 million for the granting councils, including $15 million for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $15 million to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, $7 million to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and an additional $9 million for the Indirect Costs of Research funding (ICOR).