As a member of Polytechnics Canada, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning welcomes the federal government’s recent budget, with its direct recognition of the role that Polytechnics Canada members play in advancing Canadian innovation through applied research and commercialization activities.
Budget 2010 contains several strategic announcements that will advance college and polytechnic research for the benefit of Canadian companies:
- Doubling the support for research collaborations between colleges and local firms;
- Support and direction for the federal granting councils to accelerate the translation of knowledge into practical applications;
- Encouraging federal departments and agencies to adopt and use innovative prototypes from small and medium-sized Canadian businesses;
- Continued support for enhancing regional innovation and commercialization through funding for regional economic development agencies;
- Direction to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to partner with colleges in an effort to encourage private sector innovation, and
- A review of federal funding for research and development to ensure commercialization success and economic development in Canada.
“We are encouraged that the government and the Minister of Industry are sending strong signals to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to include college and polytechnic research needs for infrastructure and equipment to enhance private sector innovation,” said Nobina Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnics Canada. “This budget makes clear that the research-ready colleges and polytechnics are now integral players in the innovation agenda of this country. Canada is moving beyond theoretical research into supporting industry-driven research that will create the jobs of tomorrow.”
Bob Carley, Conestoga’s Executive Dean of Academic Administration, added, “Along with the other member institutions of Polytechnics Canada, Conestoga is very pleased to see the budgetary support offered by the federal government for applied research and commercialization activities. We see these two activities as a very important part of our institutional mandate, in terms of our commitment to our community.”
Polytechnics Canada is a national alliance of Canada’s leading research-intensive, publicly-funded colleges and institutes of technology. Located in Canada’s key economic regions, the current nine member colleges and institutes of Polytechnics Canada are: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), SAIT Polytechnic, Olds, Conestoga, Sheridan, Humber, George Brown, Seneca and Algonquin.
CONTACT: Nobina Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Polytechnics Canada, 613-688-0899, nrobinson@polytechnicscanada.ca