Polytechnique Montréal hosted a presentation by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, on the research and innovation support measures contained in the 2018 federal budget.
During a meeting held in the laboratory of the Centre de recherche, développement et validation des technologies et procédés de traitement des eaux (Centre for Research, Development and Validation of Technologies and Processes in Water Treatment — CREDEAU) and the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Drinking-Water Treatment and Distribution, Minister Joly reported on the main scientific research and innovation support measures announced in the recent federal budget. Over the next five years, the Canadian government plans to spend $3.8 billion on scientific research funding and $2.6 billion to support innovation and skills.
“Montréal is home to some of the most talented researchers and cutting-edge technological facilities in the country and in the world,” said Ms. Joly on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. “With budget 2018, our government is making historic investments to drive innovation, support good jobs and help the next generation of scientists meet the challenges of the changing economy.”
She added: “This includes empowering girls and women to pursue careers in the sciences, which will help ensure that these industries better represent and can benefit from diverse voices and perspectives, while growing our economy and supporting the middle class.”
Positive impacts
Philippe A. Tanguy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montréal, indicated that the federal government’s reinvestment in scientific research and innovation will have a positive impact on the institution’s researchers and professors’ ability to carry out projects, and by extension, on the development of society in various fields.
“Every day, in laboratories and in the field, researchers, professors and students collaborate on innovative projects in science and engineering. This work, carried out through partnerships, has tangible impacts on knowledge production and technological advancement,” Mr. Tanguy noted. “One of the key factors in this work is the Canadian government’s support, through various agency programs, in developing infrastructure, hiring qualified resources and carrying out promising projects.”
He added: “The measures the Canadian government has planned for science and innovation in the 2018 federal budget will help institutions and their researchers achieve their goals and take new initiatives.”
Strong support
Michèle Prévost, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, spoke about the Canadian government’s support for the CREDEAU laboratory, established in 2003 with the help of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), as well as for the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Drinking-Water Treatment and Distribution, which she holds. Active for more than 25 years, this chair is the longest-running NSERC Industrial Chair.
“I would like to acknowledge the Canadian government’s continued support for the combination of industrial chair and Canadian programs, research grants and the CFI, which has been transforming research in Canada for 15 years. This combination has boosted research and made it possible to recruit the best talent,” Ms. Prévost commented.
“It’s clear that Canadian diversity, particularly the representation of women, is not reflected in Canadian science and engineering research. I’m therefore pleased with the clear equity objectives in this budget. It’s by drawing from this diversity that we will ensure the growth of engineering and science in Canada.
“The renewed support for fundamental research is great news. Unconstrained fundamental research is essential to science, including applied sciences. It ensures its vitality and growth.”
At the end of the speeches, student researchers from the CREDEAU laboratory and the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Drinking-Water Treatment and Distribution presented their research and innovation work to Minister Joly.
Polytechnique Montréal has 25 Canada Research Chairs, 17 industrial chairs—13 of which are NSERC Industrial Chairs—and a Canada Excellence Research Chair. Over the past 10 years, Polytechnique professors have supervised 2,000 master’s theses and doctoral theses. During this same period, professors and researchers at Polytechnique have published more than 10,000 scientific and technical publications.
To learn more
Expertise profile of professor Michèle Prévost
Website of the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Drinking-Water Treatment and Distribution
Website of the CREDEAU
Front row, from left to right: François Bertrand, Chief Research, Innovation and International Officer at Polytechnique Montréal; Philippe A. Tanguy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montréal; Sarah Dorner, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal; the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Ahuntsic–Cartierville; Michèle Prévost, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal; Yves Comeau, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal.
Back row, from left to right: Carl-Éric Aubin, full professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, and Gilles L’Espérance, professor in the Department of Mathematical and Industrial Engineering at Poytechnique Montréal (centre), surrounded by students and researchers from Polytechnique Montréal.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Ahuntsic–Cartierville, delivering a speech at the CREDEAU laboratory of Polytechnique Montréal.
From left to right: Carl-Éric Aubin, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal; Michèle Prévost, Professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal; the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Ahuntsic–Cartierville; Philippe A. Tanguy, Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnique Montréal.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Ahuntsic–Cartierville (centre); Sarah Dorner, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal (fourth from right); and Michèle Prévost, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal (first from right), surrounded by student researchers at the CREDEAU laboratory of Polytechnique Montréal.
Michèle Prévost, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal; Sarah Dorner, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal; and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Ahuntsic–Cartierville, surrounded by students and professors from Polytechnique Montréal.
