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Montreal, December 4, 2006 - Quebec’s universities welcomed the Québec Research and Innovation Strategy-An Innovative, Prosperous Québec, launched today by the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Raymond Bachand, together with Quebec Premier Jean Charest.

“The strategy announces measures that we are delighted about”, enthused Daniel Coderre, Chair of the CREPUQ Research Committee and Vice-President of Teaching and Research at the Université du Québec. “The increased budgets for Quebec research funds are particularly welcome; they will rise from $151 million in 2006-2007 to over $184 million in 2009-2010. This additional funding will provide significant support for consolidation of the centres of excellence constituted by the university research consortiums. And they will especially enable a substantial increase in the number of scholarships available to masters’ and doctoral students or those doing postdoctoral internships. This is a crucial aspect of the strategy, considering the importance of training the next generation of scientists for the future of Québec.”

In addition, a major investment of $104 million over the next three years has been earmarked for the development of strategic technologies in optics, genomics and nanotechnologies.

Furthermore, support for research infrastructures, for which the Quebec government has set aside $140 million per year over the next three years, will enable Quebec’s universities to improve their national and international competitiveness in research.

As an instrument of economic development, the strategy is intended to improve the performance of Quebec’s innovation system and contains a series of measures that apply to all the links in the innovation chain. “The development process enables researchers to contribute to the advancement of the society that provided the means to conduct their research and that may, in return, benefit from the results of their discoveries”, noted Mr. Coderre. From this standpoint, the allocation of an additional $18 million over three years to achieve technological maturity and start up technology businesses is significant. Likewise, the increased support for such university/business research partnerships as CRIAQ, PROMPT-Québec and HEXAGRAM, as well as the liaison and transfer centres, will facilitate the transfer of the research results and provide access to the expertise of university researchers.

“Note also that the various measures will provide an opportunity to encourage participation in innovation everywhere in Quebec, through the improved workplace scholarship program, the financial support for operating and maintaining research infrastructures in the regions, and the assistance that will encourage new research professors to settle in outlying regions”, added Mr. Coderre.

Another $15 million over three years will encourage Quebec researchers to network with researchers in other countries and facilitate their participation in international research projects. ”Such a measure is natural for a society that aspires to a knowledge economy”, concluded Mr. Coderre.

For information:

Réginald Lacroix

Assistant Executive Director

514 288-8524, ext. 235