By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Compton-Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau and Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière, along with other local dignitaries, visited the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS) May 27 to announce substantial federal support for local university research.
A total of 50 researchers and students from the (UdeS) have been awarded roughly $10 million in grants, scholarships, and programmes from recent federal investments. Two researchers from Bishop’s University (BU) have been awarded a total of $35,000.
Nationally, 7,700 researchers and projects have received $1.7 billion to support their work, demonstrating the government’s commitment to the scientific community, according to a May 27 release.
These funds will facilitate the acquisition of advanced tools, particularly in quantum research, and the development of cutting-edge research infrastructures. Research projects in genomics, psychoeducation, and green chemistry will also benefit from these investments.
This funding aims to attract and retain exceptional talent while fostering national and international collaborations, strengthening Canada’s position as a global leader in addressing major challenges.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation has invested nearly $4.8 million to equip the UdeS’ Department of Physics and the Quantum Institute with new state-of-the-art equipment. This will support a project led by Louis Taillefer, alongside professors Éva Dupont-Ferrier, Patrick Fournier, Jeffrey Quilliam, Bertrand Reulet, and André-Marie Tremblay, in collaboration with scientists from McMaster University and the University of Toronto. Their project, “At the Frontiers of Quantum Materials and Circuits,” seeks to understand materials and explore their potential for new quantum technologies.
The Canada Research Chairs Programme is providing $3.3 million for the renewal of chairs in psychoeducation (Prof. Alexa Martin-Storey) and chemistry (Prof. Jérôme Claverie), and for the creation of a new chair in non-coding RNA bioinformatics. Professor Michelle Scott, the new chairholder, aims to understand how non-coding RNAs contribute to cellular function in both diseased and healthy tissues, potentially leading to new biomarkers for personalised treatments.
At the announcement, Bibeau expressed that the government’s $16 billion investment in research and science since 2016 underscores its belief in innovation as a key economic driver for Canada. She congratulated the UdeS and BU researchers and students for their remarkable achievements.
Brière highlighted the UdeS’ role as a pillar of scientific and economic development in the region. She expressed pride in the government’s support for researchers and students who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
UdeS Vice-Rector Jean-Pierre Perreault expressed delight at the federal support, which he said confirms the university’s world-class research. He sees the funding as a vote of confidence in the researchers’ ability to find concrete solutions to societal challenges.
BU Associate Vice-Principal for Research Matthew Peros acknowledged the significant support for high-level research at smaller regional universities. He noted that, despite Bishop’s focus on undergraduate education, the university has developed a leading research programme thanks to federal support.
Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin welcomed the new investments, which she said will drive promising research projects. She praised the strengthening of research development at the University of Sherbrooke and the university’s growing international influence.
