Prof. Keith Brimacombe, director of UBC’s Centre for Metallurgical Process
Engineering, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the
Canada Foundation for Innovation.
The foundation was created in the 1997 federal budget as an independent
organization to support innovation and research. It will provide financial
support for the modernization of research infrastructure at Canadian
post-secondary educational institutions and research hospitals in the areas of
health, environment, science and engineering.
Brimacombe forged his reputation in industry and academia by combining complex
mathematical modelling with fundamental studies of physical and chemical
phenomena, and direct measurement of industrial processes, particularly in
Canadian steel mills.
Earlier this year he was awarded the Canada Gold Medal for Science and
Engineering, the nation’s top award in the field, sponsored by the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Foundation Chair John Evans also announced the appointments of nine new members
of the foundation including UBC microbiology Prof. Julia Levy, a founder of QLT
Photo-
therapeutics Inc. UBC President Martha Piper was appointed as a
member earlier this year.
Brimacombe will be responsible for developing and implementing policies and
programs designed to modernize Canada’s research infrastructure. They will also
build partnerships with the private, voluntary and public sectors to invest in
research infrastructure projects in Canadian institutions.
