The University of British Columbia welcomes today’s announcement of the $1.5-billion Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), designed to significantly enhance the capabilities and competitiveness of Canada’s post-secondary institutions, says President Arvind Gupta.
“Thanks to this investment by the Government of Canada, our universities have an extraordinary opportunity to foster globally significant research on issues that have the capacity to change people’s lives and shape our future,” said Gupta. “Excellence in research makes our reputation, and enables us to attract the best faculty, students and staff from around the world.”
UBC will be among Canada’s top universities competing for up to tens of millions of dollars annually in CFREF funding over the course of the 7-year program. These new funds could support UBC’s emerging research and innovation strategy, designed to put students at the cutting edge of knowledge, providing access to the latest discoveries and revelations, noted Gupta.
“The Canada First Research Excellence Fund ensures innovation on a global scale, while maximizing our capacity to conduct research that benefits all Canadians and the wider world community.”
UBC is internationally recognized for research excellence in such areas as: Quantum materials; translational genomics and precision oncology; economics; neurosciences; biodiversity; bio-economics; and microbial diversity, among others.
Gupta credits former UBC president Stephen Toope for his role in conceiving and advocating for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. “Prof. Toope was instrumental and tireless in his collaborations to establish this program which will have a major impact on Canada’s research universities,” Gupta said.
More information about the announcement can be found here.
Note to editors / reporters: President Arvind Gupta is available for comment about the Canada First Research Excellence Fund this morning.