McGill researchers net $30.5M in NSERC funding

Grants and scholarships to fund cutting-edge research in natural sciences and engineering
McGill University researchers have just been awarded a total $30.5 million in grants and scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The grants and scholarships, aimed at boosting cutting-edge research in natural sciences and engineering, are part of a $535-million package awarded to 9,900 professors and students at 75 institutions across Canada.

McGill’s share of the funding will be allocated to research projects in Agriculture, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Management, Medicine, Music and Sciences.

“There are three challenges at the heart of science, technology and innovation today: attracting the best minds, funding the most cutting-edge research and commercializing the best ideas,” said Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper released Canada’s Science and Technology Strategy, which identifies four areas of focus: the environment, natural resources and energy, information and communication technologies, and health and life sciences. The strategy also sets out a number of goals, including strengthening our knowledge base, focusing on excellence and attracting the best talent to come to or remain in Canada.

“McGill University is extremely well positioned to deliver cutting-edge research in the four areas the federal government has identified in its Science and Technology Strategy,” said Denis Thérien, Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations). “With this funding from NSERC, our world-class professors and students will continue to create knowledge and opportunities for growth that are essential to our economy and community.”

NSERC is a federal agency that supports some 25,000 university students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC funds more than 11,000 university professors every year and encourages more than 1,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.