The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation issued the following press release yesterday:
FREDERICTON, N.B.—The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) today announced $900,000 in funding to support 34 undergraduate and 73 graduate student research assistants at the province’s universities. The funding was awarded in partnership with the New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training & Labour (PETL).
Working with one of the Foundation’s funded applied researchers, each student will earn wages while they learn valuable experience in the lab.
“To build an innovation-based economy for the province, organizations need more than funding, they need a cultural change as well,” says NBIF Chair Bob Hatheway, “putting students to work in their professors’ labs allows them to earn while they learn, and be inspired by the innovations being developed. It opens their minds to the possibility of a career in applied research or entrepreneurship right here in New Brunswick.”
"Our government is focused on putting our resources to work by investing in people, skills and jobs," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr. "The province's contribution to NBIF's Research Assistantship Initiative demonstrates our commitment to innovation and ensures that students with an interest in applied research get the training they need to find work in their field or go onto higher levels of study."
The provincial government’s recent $80 million investment in innovation has allowed NBIF to nearly double the amount of this longstanding program for 2014. Since 2003, NBIF and PETL have worked together to award over $8 million to create 1,054 research assistantships in New Brunswick.
Awards by institution:
UNB $615,000
U de M $215,000
M.A. $30,000
NBCC $15,000
IRZC $25,000
Total $900,000
About NBIF:
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that invests in new growth-oriented companies and applied research activities. With over $120 million under management, plus $275 million leveraged from other sources, NBIF has helped to create over 50 companies and fund 350 applied research projects since its inception in 2003. All of NBIF’s investment returns go back into the Foundation to be re-invested in other new companies and research initiatives.
