Fostering Discoveries and Creating Jobs in Mississauga-Erindale

Province Announces Successful Recipients of Research Awards

NEWS

The Ontario Government is investing $144,602 in world-class research to build Ontario’s knowledge-based economy in Mississauga-Erindale.

This funding will boost the province’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled researchers and innovators and will help sharpen Ontario’s competitive edge by fostering discoveries and supporting knowledge-based jobs.

John Ratcliffe at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus (UTM), in Mississauga-Erindale, will receive Early Researcher Awards of $144,602.00 through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure Small Infrastructure Fund (SIF)

John Ratcliffe at the University of Toronto Mississauga, whose work focuses on the Multisensory Integration Laboratory (MIL) will improve our understanding of visual and auditory information integration in vertebrates, including humans. The lab’s primary focus will be to visual capture and cross-modal recognition, using an interdisciplinary, multi-level approach to MIL and will be unique to Canada.

Building our knowledge economy is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get as well as create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUOTES

“Our government recognizes the importance of investing in our innovation ecosystem. We are proud to support the work of people in Mississauga-Erindale who are at the forefront of scientific discovery. Their research will pave the way for future advancements that will help Ontario compete and win in the global economy.”

— Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science

“We are proud to invest in ground-breaking, world-class research right here at UTM in Mississauga-Erindale. Our researchers are pivotal to building a knowledge-driven economy in Ontario, one that will draw investment and strengthen our province’s competitive edge. We are proud to have one of these researchers work within our own community and want to congratulate and wish Mr. Ratcliffe the best in his research.”

— Harinder Takhar MPP, Mississauga–Erindale.

QUICK FACTS

• Projects were evaluated through a rigorous peer review process involving Canadian and international academic and industry experts. Successful projects were chosen based on their research excellence and their economic and societal benefits to Ontario.

• Ontario’s Early Researcher Awards program is providing $11 million to support 79 research projects at 22 research institutions across the province. The program helps promising and recently appointed researchers make new discoveries while creating jobs for graduate and undergraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates and technicians.

• Through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure program, the province is investing $34.7 million to support 161 state-of-the-art and industry-relevant infrastructure initiatives at 25 institutions.

• Ontario is promoting the use of genomics-derived solutions to address sector challenges by investing $3.4 million in five research projects through the Genomic Applications Partnership Program.

• Through the Large Scale Applied Research Project, Ontario is providing $1.8 million to support five genomics research projects in the agri-food and fisheries/aquaculture industries.