TORONTO, March 5, 2002 -- York University Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Stan Shapson, today welcomed a $3.7-million investment from the federal government in the indirect costs of federally funded research at the university.

"We are very pleased with the investment that has been made today in the world-class research at York that is made possible by federal grants," said Shapson. "I look forward to York playing a strong role in Canada’s Innovation Strategy and to working with the Minister of Industry on an ongoing funding model."

Secretary of State Maurizio Bevilacqua announced the funding today in Toronto on behalf of Industry Minister Allan Rock, delivering on a commitment made in the government’s innovation strategy released last month. The federal government first announced this funding provision in the December 2001 federal budget. It provides for a one-time investment of $200 million to Canadian universities to help alleviate financial pressures associated with federally supported research. Until now, the indirect costs of research, such as space and institutional administration, research support services, knowledge and technology transfer and commercialization services, have been borne entirely by the university.

The recent Industry Canada paper, Achieving Excellence, indicated the government’s willingness to work with the university community to define a basis for ongoing support for indirect costs.

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For further information, please contact:

Chris Buhagiar	Susan Bigelow
Research Policy and Government Relations	Media Relations
Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation	York University
York University	416-736-2100, ext. 22091
416-736-5296	sbigelow@yorku.ca
buhagiar@yorku.ca

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