NEW YORK, July 20 - Genome Canada, a not-for-profit corporation that provides support for Canada's genomics industry, announced the beginning of a competition that will provide $165 million Canadian ($107 million) in funding for a number of research projects.
"Genome Canada is continuing to look for ambitious and innovative large-scale research projects that will propel Canada to the forefront of genomics discovery," Martin Godbout, CEO of Genome Canada, said Thursday in a statement.
"As part of our objective to ensure that Canada becomes a world leader in genomics, up to $165 million could be invested in innovative and exciting proposals in Competition II," he said.
Competition II will look to support projects in the areas of health, forestry, agriculture, the environment, and fisheries, which are central to the Canadian economy. It will also award money for research projects focused on the ethical, environmental, legal, and societal issues related to genomics.
Last year, through its first competition, Genome Canada provided $135 million to 17 research projects and 5 related science and technology platforms being developed across Canada.
Guidelines for Competition II can be found at Genome Canada's website at www.genomecanada.ca . Eligible applicants include researchers from Industry, government laboratories, academic institutions and research institutes.
Winners will be announced in March 2002.