EDMONTON, Alberta, January 13, 2009 — The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today welcomed the significant investments of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in the University of Alberta.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadian researchers and innovators in developing new ideas,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “That is why we are investing in infrastructure here in Alberta, to ensure an improved quality of life for all Canadians and a strong economy for future generations.”

Minister Goodyear spoke at the University of Alberta to formally celebrate more than $1.1 million in funding allocated to the University of Alberta. The investment in state-of-the-art labs and equipment will jump-start eight projects in key areas of research, such as environment, energy, health and agriculture.

The investments are being made as part of CFI's Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF), a program designed to help attract and retain the world's best researchers at a time of intense international competition for leading faculty. The LOF puts into action the vision and priorities of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy announced by Prime Minister Harper in May 2007.

The CFI is an independent corporation created by the federal government to fund research infrastructure and is funded by the Government of Canada.
For a complete list of the projects funded, please visit www.innovation.ca.