Good evening.
Established 25 years ago to stop the loss of Canadian talent to other countries, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, or CFI, invests in state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure.
We thus enable researchers at Canadian universities, colleges and hospitals to think big, innovate and lead. The CFI is an independent not-for-profit organization operating at arm's length from the government. We invest, on behalf of the Government of Canada, 40% of the total cost of infrastructure projects, with the provinces's private and not-for-profit sectors covering the remaining 60%. This is an important contribution to nation building that creates at the same time a world-class research ecosystem.
Since its creation, the CFI has committed more than $9 billion for over 12,000 projects at 170 research institutions in 80 municipalities across the country. Adding partner contributions, this translates into over $20 billion. CFI investments have supported the emergence of fields of research as diverse as clean energy, quantum computing and precision medicine.
For example, the Centre d'optique, photonique et laser at Université Laval is at the heart of a new industrial sector focused entirely on the use of sophisticated lasers and comprising 70 companies and research centres. It employs over 3,000 highly qualified people in Quebec City.
We work collaboratively with the research granting councils, which fund individuals, while the CFI funds institutions. Growth in our largest research institutions means that Canada can rival the best in the world. The University of Toronto, UBC and McGill University rank among the top 50 in the world, demonstrating the talent, creativity and global reputation of our researchers.
The cumulative impact of our investments has the power to catalyze and transform the economy of regions. For example, vintners in British Columbia and the Niagara region depend on research to develop mould- and cold-resistant vines. The CFI was one of the first investors in the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, then a largely agricultural region. Today, this extraordinary facility welcomes researchers from around the world and is surrounded by a prosperous high-tech community where quantum research is poised to break new ground in collaboration with researchers in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Vancouver.
The provinces have been central to the success of the CFI. When we consulted about the possibility of a biomedical research fund, they all wanted to make sure that their researchers were equipped to respond to future outbreaks of infectious disease and to lay the groundwork for a vibrant life science sector in Canada.
Today, we've learned that we must do more than collaborate internationally. At times, when borders close, we need to be independent and develop a supply chain that goes from ideas and discovery to manufacturing and the commercialization of innovation.
Nations around the world are investing hugely in research and pinning hopes on significant research investments for rapid economic recovery. Our neighbour to the south of the border encourages young researchers to take risks and to expect and learn from failure. In Canada, we do not have a sufficient population or resources to permit investment at such a scale, nor do we have the luxury of failure. We must invest wisely and continue to foster research through a combination of competition and collaboration, building networks and partnerships both across the country and globally. By creating opportunities for convergence among disciplines, for bringing together the diversity of our population and for the meeting of minds across our vast geography, we stand the greatest chance of success.
Canada is once again facing a shortage of skilled and highly skilled employees. There is a global race for talent and every effort is required to keep our best minds in Canada. We believe the solution lies partially within our borders. We recently conducted a national survey of youth to learn how they view science and what influences and shapes their attitudes and perceptions. The good news is that 70% said that science can be relied on because it is based on facts, not opinion. Even better, 77% think science is a good field to pursue as a career. We need to be sure they can follow this dream.
For the CFI, that means providing the spaces for learning hands-on research fundamentals and techniques, spaces where they'll be inspired and motivated to be like Donna Strickland, or Mona Nemer, or your chair, Kirsty Duncan.
There is also a message for all of us here tonight. Fifty-seven per cent of young adults believe it is critical for Canadian politicians and governments to rely on science when making policy decisions. I would like to recognize your leadership in supporting research that offers us not only real solutions to global problems but hope, which is perhaps the gift the world most needs to move from its postpandemic state to new heights of achievement.
Thank you for your kind attention. I look forward to your questions.