Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy Creating Jobs and Opportunities, Says Minister of State Holder

"During a keynote address at the Economic Club of Canada today, the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), outlined how the Harper Government's updated science, technology and innovation (ST&I) strategy is building on Canada's strengths in science to provide Canadians with a better quality of life while creating jobs and prosperity through new discoveries and business opportunities. The Minister of State marked the occasion by announcing the new harmonized Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. This policy ensures that the results of research funded by the federal granting councils are freely available online within 12 months of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. A key commitment in the ST&I strategy, the policy will make federally funded research more open and accessible to Canadians, providing greater opportunity for researchers, entrepreneurs and the wider Canadian public to develop new ideas that benefit Canadians. The Minister of State also highlighted several of the government's commitments to position Canada as a global leader through the three pillars of the ST&I strategy-people, knowledge and innovation. Under the first pillar, he indicated that the government will continue to develop, attract and retain the most talented researchers in the world while quadrupling investment to inspire young Canadians to develop a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Under the second pillar, he highlighted the government's new Canada First Research Excellence Fund, a legacy $1.5-billion investment to move Canadian university and college research from world-class to world-leading. Under the third pillar, he stressed the importance of supporting partnerships between Canadian businesses, universities and colleges to accelerate business opportunities and build on a number of actions that the government has already taken, including strengthening Canada's entrepreneurial culture, improving support for business and increasing the availability of venture capital ..."