Laurier poised to capitalize on federal budget
University hopes to reap benefits of science-friendly spending plans from Ottawa
WATERLOO — In recent years, Wilfrid Laurier University has placed considerable emphasis on research in key areas such as the environment, health and wellbeing, and economics.
And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Last fall, Laurier was named the top Canadian undergraduate university in terms of research income growth, with a 23 per cent increase in sponsored research funding in 2015-2016 over the previous year. The school has also been named one of the most efficient when it comes to producing peer-reviewed scholarly publications as a result of the research it undertakes.
So it stands that the school has much to gain in light of this week’s federal budget and its nearly $4 billion in new science and research funding over the next five years.
“Laurier is well-positioned to take advantage of this incredible opportunity,” university president Deborah MacLatchy told an audience Wednesday as she welcomed federal minister of innovation, science and economic development Navdeep Bains to campus.
“We are thankful this government recognizes the value that research ... brings to our communities,” she said. “Research is a vital part of our future.”
With significant investments in fundamental research and infrastructure, “this is a historic budget when it comes to science,” Bains said.
There will be additional funding for the Canada Research Chairs program, and support for a program that helps smaller companies make investments in research and development. A budget-wide focus on gender equity and diversity will also be reflected in the hallways of academia, Bains said. “This budget is
about equality, about fairness, but it’s also about being competitive as well,” he told the audience.
Speaking with reporters following the event, Bains spoke of the desire to ensure that fledgling firms have the tools and resources they need to thrive on a global stage.
“We take enormous pride in the fact that we are a startup country, a startup nation, but we want to be a scaleup nation.”
When it come to retaining talent, Bains said the government is pursuing a strategy that will not only help develop intellectual property within Canada, but keep it here as well.
Laurier’s vice-president of research, Rob Gordon, said it’s important for Laurier to play a role as well in encouraging homegrown talent to stay here after graduation.
“That’s really important for us as a leading, forward-thinking ... university, a commitment to making sure that we create mechanisms so that our graduates see roles for themselves here in our community locally, in our province and in our country.”