Canada recruited 64 professors with new research fund. Three

Canada recruited 64 professors with new research fund. Three-quarters are from U.S. schools

Initiative provides each professor with at least $1 million in research funding annually

Canada has brought in 64 professors to lead scientific research at universities across the country, providing them with millions of dollars in funding.

Speaking at the University of British Columbia (UBC) on Thursday, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the government is giving $541 million in research funding to an initial tranche of research leaders recruited into Canadian institutions.

The academics have been recruited as part of the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada and the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders programs, both key parts of Ottawa's $1.7-billion Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative it launched in December.

The research chairs program was renamed in honour of the late Eddie Goldenburg, who was chief of staff to former prime minister Jean Chrétien and died in July. In a statement following his passing, Chrétien said Canada owes Goldenberg a debt for his public service work, including his investments in "the brains and talents" of young people.

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Of the funding, $504 million is for those first 64 professors and the remaining $37 million will go toward supporting universities in recruiting another 63 "emerging leaders" over the next year.

Sylvie Lamoureux, a vice-president of the federal government's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, said these academics have "a proven track record of leading large-scale, ambitious research programs."

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"While certain countries are cutting research and turning their back on academic freedom, we're doubling down on science and we're doubling down on research," Joly said.

48 profs recruited from U.S. schools

According to Joly, three-quarters of the professors recruited so far are coming from the United States.

"We thought that there was an opportunity to seize," Joly said. "At the same time, we were in competition also with other countries that have launched similar initiatives including France, including also the EU."

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Because Canada was competing with other countries, Joly said Canada had to beef up the initiative's allure.

Each professor is set to receive $1 million of funding or more per year toward their research over eight years.

Joly said the money "obviously doesn't go into their pockets" and that the aim is to allow star academics to bring in professors, students, lab co-ordinators and others to work with them.

"It's not only a research chair, not only one professor coming from the U.S. or elsewhere," Joly said. "It's an entire team."

Canadian prof 'coming home' from U.S.

Peter Caravan completed his undergraduate degree at Acadia University and a PhD in chemistry at UBC. Caravan's career later led him to Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he worked for two decades as a researcher and a professor.

"It's really an honour to stand here today and it's great to be back in Canada," said Caravan at UBC on Thursday.

As part of Canada's research funding initiative, Caravan, who grew up in Newfoundland, was named as one of the program's four distinguished research chairs, specifically in translational molecular imaging and therapy. Caravan is receiving $1.5 million in research funding.

"When I say I'm honoured to be named a distinguished Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair, I mean it in a very literal sense: I'm coming home," Caravan said, tearing up.

Caravan said he wasn't approached by Canada or by any other countries, but rather attracted to the "outstanding program."

"This is doubling down on this investment in science and in reason and in evidence," Caravan said. "It's really making this a very welcoming place to come."

Is Canada poaching U.S. talent?

At Thursday's announcement, a reporter asked Joly if she views the initiative as poaching talent from U.S. Ivy League schools and whether she thinks U.S. President Trump might see it as an escalation of the current Canada-U.S. trade war.

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"The U.S. administration is taking its own decisions and we're taking ours," Joly said.

South of the border, Trump has cut billions of dollars from scientific research since the start of his second term as president and ignited an open feud against his country's higher education institutions.

"We're very glad that these fantastic professors are coming," Joly said. "And you know what, there's going to be a second tranche because the second intake for the Eddie Goldenberg chairs is starting today."

David Cummings is a reporter for CBC News.