University of British Columbia research in nanotechnology, neuroscience, social work, the environment and consumer psychology received a $2.8-million boost today from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
Sixteen research projects received grants from CFI’s Leaders Opportunity Fund for equipment, facilities and other infrastructure required for their research.
The UBC grants were part of $61 million in new funds for 246 projects in 48 institutions across Canada announced in Guelph, ON, today by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).
“The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s support for research excellence has been instrumental in helping UBC and universities across Canada to recruit and retain talented researchers from around the world,” said John Hepburn, UBC Vice President Research and International. “We are grateful to the Government of Canada for its continued support of research, and we congratulate all researchers at UBC and across British Columbia who have received funding in today’s announcement.”
Hepburn was joined by Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Dan Muzyka, Dean of the UBC Sauder School of Business, and Darren Dahl, professor and Chair of the Marketing Division at the Sauder School of Business, at an event at UBC Robson Square, where the B.C. grants were announced.
Among the funded projects is Prof. Dahl’s research into the most efficient models for businesses and consumers to “co-create” the next hit product.
“New technology has empowered consumers to play a larger role in new product development and businesses are actively engaging consumers through cash rewards, prizes and public recognition,” said Dahl, the Fred H. Siller Professor in Applied Marketing Research.
Dahl will take an experimental approach to identify ways for businesses to interact with consumers. His finding will contribute new knowledge about consumer psychology and provide insight to managers on how to facilitate the co-creation process more effectively.
For a complete list of the projects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca.