OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/22/13 -- The Government of Canada, through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), is investing in maintenance and operating support for Canada's high-performing, internationally renowned research facilities. Canada's synchrotron research installation, a national high-performance computing platform, and a world-class underground neutrino and dark matter physics laboratory are all receiving funding from CFI's Major Science Initiatives fund. The investment will enable Canada's best and brightest researchers to carry out internationally competitive research, which will benefit Canadian families and businesses.

"Canada is a world leader in innovation," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). "By investing in major research facilities, such as these, our Government is helping Canada's research community reach new heights, address national priorities and meet global challenges."

The $145 million in funding announced today will help sustain scientific excellence at three major facilities:

--  The Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan, where
    researchers are working with the scientific community to promote the use
    of synchrotron light, creating industrial partnerships and innovation,
    and engaging in scientific and educational outreach in sectors ranging
    from mining to healthcare; 
    
--  Compute Canada Calcul Canada, a national network of computing resources
    designed to keep Canada competitive in digital research and analysis,
    working to ensure that Canadian researchers have the computational
    facilities and expert services necessary to advance scientific knowledge
    and innovation; 
    
--  SNOLAB, a world-class neutrino and dark matter physics laboratory
    located two kilometres below the Earth's surface in Sudbury, Ont., which
    is expected to generate $93 million in economic activity for the Ontario
    economy over the next five years. 

The funding announcement is in addition to the $32 million announced for Ocean Networks Canada in October 2012.

"These facilities are all major drivers of economic and scientific productivity in Canada," said Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. "We are pleased to be playing a role in their continued success."

About Major Sciences initiatives (MSI)

A major science initiative addresses a set of significant leading-edge scientific problems or questions. The scope of these areas of research-ocean and earth sciences, for example-is so significant and complex that it requires unusually large-scale facilities and equipment, substantial human resources, and complex operating and maintenance activities. These projects have a lifecycle extending many years. The funding for MSIs announced today is part of Budget 2010.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada's universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world's top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit www.innovation.ca.