Thanks to provincial funding, 23 interdisciplinary research projects at Simon Fraser University (SFU) will be able to further their studies.
B.C. has awarded the Burnaby post-secondary with roughly $6.1 million for the projects, which the school says helps ensure researchers have access to state-of-the-art scientific equipment and infrastructure.
The funding comes from the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF).
Projects include neuroscience and neurotechnology, understanding of infectious disease and action on climate change among others.
“BCKDF funding allows SFU's researchers to continue their work in vital areas such as health sciences, clean tech and advanced computing, while enabling the development of enhanced infrastructure to better serve and attract researchers and industry to B.C.,” SFU research and international vice president Dugan O'Neil said in a news release.
“This support helps our scientists pursue new collaborations and drives innovation that contributes to the social, environmental and economic well-being of the province.”
Eight universities in B.C. have been given $30 million to support 120 post-secondary research projects. In addition to SFU, UBC, the University of British Columbia-Okanagan (UBCO), the University of Northern B.C. (UNBC), Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria have received provincial support.
“We are fortunate to have world-class talent at many of our post-secondary institutions,” Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA and Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Kang added.
“By providing funding for new infrastructure through the BC Knowledge Development Fund, our researchers are able to acquire new state-of-the-art equipment that will help people and industry be future ready.”
Since its creation in 1998, the government says more than $850 million has been given to 1,500 projects.
