Montréal ranks first for university research in Canada

[mtlurb]

Montréal ranks first for university research in Canada - Montréal universities received $1 billion in funding

 

 

MONTREAL, Nov. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Greater Montréal ranked first among all

metropolitan areas in Canada, both in terms of funding allocated to university

research and in number of university researchers.

Such were the findings of an analysis conducted by Montréal International

based on ranking issued by the Research Infosource firm on research funding

attributed to Canadian universities by federal and provincial organizations,

and the private sector.

The study also found that in 2006, six of Montréal's main university

establishments managed research funds totalling a billion dollars, i.e. 18% of

the country's total research budget.

Greater Montréal is also the national champion in terms of number of

university researchers, who numbered close to 5,500 in 2006, i.e. over a

thousand more than its closest competitor, Toronto.

These statistics once again confirm Montréal's vocation as Canada's

capital of university research. Montréal has held on to the lead position in

this respect since 1999. During the 1999-2006 period, Montréal universities

alone had over $6.5 billion at their disposal, i.e. 20% of the Canadian total.

 

Pierre Brunet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montréal

International, underscored the pivotal role of university research in the

context of today's knowledge-based economy: "Research activities and the

spinoffs of our university system help make Greater Montréal more competitive

on the world stage. Because innovation is a powerful driver of economic

development and a key element of the drawing power of urban centres,

particularly in the high-technology sectors, Montréal's universities can

certainly be considered as extremely strategic assets."

 

Recognized as a world-class centre for academic instruction, Montréal

boasts 11 university establishments, notably McGill University, Concordia

University, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal, Institut

national de la recherche scientifique and Ecole de technologie supérieure, all

of which are mentioned in the study.

 

About Montréal International

 

Montréal International was created in 1996 as a result of a

private/public partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic

development of Greater Montréal and to enhance its international status. Its

mandates include attracting foreign investment, international organizations

and strategic workers, and supporting the development of innovation and

high-technology clusters in the region. Montréal International is financed by

the private sector, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, the City of

Montréal and the governments of Canada and Québec.

Since 2000, Montréal International has been involved in 379 direct

foreign investment projects totalling $5.6 billion. From these investments,

28,186 jobs have been created and 5,459 jobs have been maintained.

 

 

For further information: Céline Clément, Communications Advisor,

Montréal International, (514) 987-9390,

celine.clement@montrealinternational.com, www.montrealinternational.com

[Habsfan]

Rien de nouveau là! ça reste que c'est quand même une bonne chose!

[Gbx]

Semble toujours qu'on a de la difficulté à capitaliser sur cette force de recherche en la transformant en innovation industrielle. Le Québec est la province qui consacre, de loin, la plus grosse part de son PIB en R&D, pourtant on figure en bas de liste pour ce qui est de la productivité. Peut être manque-t-il un chainon entre les chercheurs et les entrepreneurs? Cette situation est inquétiante par sa persistance.