Marie-Eve Sylvestre, the University of Ottawa's President and Vice-Chancellor, participated in the announcement of Phase 1 resultsnorth_eastexternal link of the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awardsnorth_eastexternal link that promise to bolster Canada's economic sovereignty and global competitiveness, alongside Minister Joly, Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.
From left to right : Marie-Eve Sylvestre (President and Vice-Chancellor, uOttawa), Karim Bardeesy (Parliamentary Secretary), Jennifer Ogilvie (Professor, Faculty of Science), Mélanie Joly (Minister of Industry), and Maggie Chi (Parliamentary Secretary).
The $84.3 million investment in Canada's innovation ecosystem announced today (May 28) at uOttawa's STEM Complex represents a key pillar of the federal government's Talent Attraction Strategy that aims to welcome home international and expatriate researchers at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels.
"Minister Joly's historic investment in the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative sends a clear signal: attracting and retaining top research talent is essential to Canada's competitiveness on the world stage. This investment ensures that leading research universities can continue to drive Canada's resilience, economic growth, and broader impact," said Marie-Eve Sylvestre, the University of Ottawa's President and Vice-Chancellor. "As Canada's only bilingual research-intensive university, located in the heart of the national capital, the University of Ottawa is uniquely positioned to attract and retain global talent. This milestone in the Government of Canada's commitment to science and innovation will strengthen our research enterprise and accelerate the discoveries and policies that will shape the country's future."
The University of Ottawa confirms its international influence: candidates from 16 different countries were awarded 17 doctoral and 10 postdoctoral government scholarships, the seventh best allocation in Canada. The University's results reflect its research excellence and ambition, its strong partnerships across Canada and abroad, and its ability to attract top talent.
The $1.7 billion Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative has the mandate to attract more than 1,000 international and expatriate researchers, including Francophone researchers, to Canada with the objective of driving innovation, strengthening strategic industries and safeguarding Canada's long-term economic security and global competitiveness.
"Canada's new Talent Attraction Strategy is delivering real results. We are investing strategically to attract the world's top talent who will pursue bold research that will strengthen Canada's industrial and research base. While other countries constrain academic freedoms and undermine cutting-edge research, we are doubling down on the scientific discoveries that will power the strongest economy in the G7," said the Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Administered by Canada's three federal research funding agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards represent one stream of the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative.
Shaping the Future at uOttawa
Powered by research, the University of Ottawa is shaping the future by transforming ambition into action for its students, community, and the world.
Located in a heart of a critical G7 capital and only steps away from Canada's most important democratic institutions, uOttawa draws strength from its community, its people and an extraordinary ecosystem that includes networks of embassies, world-renowned hospitals, national research agencies, a major arts corridor and a thriving business community. The world's largest bilingual (French-English) university and Canada's exclusive research-intensive bilingual university, the University of Ottawa is a place of power, leadership, and transformation at the intersection of science, commerce, and policy.
