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

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.

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."

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.