Canada’s university presidents bring innovation message to Parliamentarians

OTTAWA - Canada’s university presidents are on Parliament Hill today to talk with MPs and senior civil servants about the role universities play in building a culture of innovation in Canada. The day’s activities and discussions are focused on the benefits gained by Canadians through investments in innovation, and the impressive results of university and private-sector partnerships. Close to 30 university presidents are participating.

“Our country’s future growth and prosperity depend on our ability to be more innovative and globally competitive,” says Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “The federal government is responding to this imperative, and universities are active partners.”

Canada’s universities do more than $1 billion in research each year with the private sector, and almost $1 billion of research for health and social service non-profit groups annually. A number of private-sector partners are joining the university presidents in their “Day on the Hill.”

The day begins with the “Big Thinking Lecture” on Parliament Hill, co-hosted with the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, on the topic of re-thinking innovation. The closing event is an evening reception to demonstrate the university and private-sector partnerships that energize Canadian innovation.

AUCC is the national voice of Canada’s universities, representing 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and degree-level colleges.

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Media Contact:

Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
hmurphy@aucc.ca
613-563-1236, ext. 238