On May 21, 2009, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Canada's Minister of State (Science and Technology), Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, joined by the Honourable Diane McGifford, Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education, announced a $20 million federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment for 3 projects at the University of Manitoba: the Art Research Technology (ART) Lab, Smartpark Phase Two, and the Regenerative Medicine Laboratory. This announcement builds upon previously announced provincial funding for the Domino Project at the University of Manitoba. The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Canada's Minister of State (Democratic Reform) and Marilyn Brick, MLA (St. Norbert) were also at the announcement.
This investment is part of the federal government’s two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. The program will provide economic stimulus by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians, generating the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.
Lt. to Rt.: Rod Bruinooge, MP (Winnipeg South); the Honourable Steven Fletcher, P.C.M.P., Canada's Minister of State (Democratic Reform); David Barnard, UM President and Vice-Chancellor; the Honourable Diane McGifford, Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education & Literacy; Sid Rashid, President, University of Manitoba Students' Union; Marilyn Brick, MLA (St. Norbert); Digvir Jayas, UM's Vice-President (Research)
Lt. to Rt.: Dr. Barnard, Minister McGifford, Ms Brick, Mr. Rashid
Mr. Bruinooge and Dr. Barnard
Art Research Technology (ART) Lab, Fort Garry Campus
The largest of the three investments announced is the Art Research Technology (ART) Lab, a multidisciplinary art and technology centre that will be the first “tile” of the much-anticipated Domino Project that will reshape and reframe the University of Manitoba. The federal government is contributing $15 million towards the new 60,000 sq. ft. facility that will give undergraduate and graduate students and faculty access to digital technologies and upgraded space for collaboration, experimentation and research, including animation and advanced computer-aided expression. This new facility will be located next to the centrepiece of the Domino Project, the redevelopment of Tache Residence into a new home for the Faculty of Music and the School of Art. The $150 million Domino Project will create more than 500 jobs, and generate more than $9 million in tax revenue.
Smartpark Phase Two, Fort Garry Campus
Over in Smartpark, the University of Manitoba’s industrial collaboration and research development centre, a $2.5 million contribution towards infrastructure will allow the growth and development of Phase Two of the park. Canada’s fastest growing university technology park, Smartpark is a jewel in Winnipeg’s crown as a hub of business and research innovation partnerships. During its first five years, Smartpark has stimulated over $100 million in capital developments. Today, 1,000 people are employed by 20 technology-based companies and organizations fully occupying seven research commercialization facilities in Smartpark. The Phase Two expansion will lead to enhanced university-industry research and technology collaborations and innovations, the retention in the park of successful companies that have outgrown their existing spaces, the attraction to the park by other companies (local, national and international) who wish to be part of this high-tech productive cluster, and the nurturing of an environment and culture that assists in attracting and retaining highly skilled students, researchers and employees to the region instead of moving elsewhere for opportunities.
Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Bannatyne Campus
At the Bannatyne Campus, $2.5 million will be invested in the new Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, allowing the University of Manitoba to hire six new internationally-renowned researchers. This 9,000 sq. ft. facility builds upon the storied, 125-year Faculty of Medicine history of excellence in medical research and service to the community. Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of medicine focused on repairing and replacing damaged cells and tissues. Often, this involves harnessing the power of stem cells which can renew themselves and differentiate into many other cell types. The research done here will provide the basis for the development of new medical procedures for the regeneration of muscles, heart tissues, nerve tissues and brain tissues in various diseases.
This investment is in addition to $1.7 million received through Western Economic Diversification funding to purchase equipment for the laboratory. This Centre of Excellence for Regenerative Medicine will be the only such facility in the prairie region and will position the University as a leader in this emerging field. This program will initially support 7 professors, 36 graduate students, 20 new technologists and 10 new postdoctoral fellows with the first five years.
KIP announcement part of multimillion dollar growth
In addition to the Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment announced today, funds for additional programs and facilities have been recently announced. These include:
$2.1 million in funding from Western Economic Diversification to build the High Performance Computing Centre, creating an integrated computing environment used in science, engineering and business. The HPC supercomputer will solve complex computational demanding problems in a matter of hours and days, instead of weeks or months. It offers researchers a way to improve computer simulations of weather patterns, to model the behaviour of lifesaving drugs, and to do complex astronomical calculations.
Four Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships each worth $50,000/year to scholars studying medical microbiology, biological sciences and the environment. The scholarships attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health, as well as leadership skills.
The University of Manitoba has been short-listed from 135 proposals nationally to nominate a world leader for the new Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Arctic Geomicrobiology and Climate Change. The new federal program was created in 2008 to establish up to 20 prestigious research chairs in universities across the country. The program will dedicate $10 million over seven years to each chairholder and their research team to support the pursuit of excellence in research.
$20 million in federal and provincial commitment to new athletic facilities at the University, including a new athletic centre, renovation of the University Stadium and improvements to outdoor sports fields.
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