Research and development in the Fraser Valley region received a significant boost today, thanks to $465,000 in federal funding announced for Trinity Western University.
With $465,000 in funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), TWU will acquire equipment for its new Advanced Analytical Laboratory. The Canada Foundation for Innovation also contributed funding of $398,251.
"Innovation is an important engine of economic growth and job creation,” said Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Canada. “By supporting our academic institutions in innovation and applied research our Government is working to ensure the continued prosperity of the Fraser Valley and Canada.”
The University plans to purchase two new powerful spectrometers and a Fourier Transform InfraRed (an important instrument for chemical research), both of which are currently unavailable in the Fraser Valley region. The equipment will strengthen TWU’s applied research role in chemical manufacturing, particularly in working small and medium-sized businesses across a number of industrial sectors in the area.
TWU hopes the new resources will better train students and researchers for work in the burgeoning field of green chemistry. Green chemistry encourages the design of products and processes in ways that minimize the involvement of hazardous substances.
“The significant funding support from Western Economic Diversification Canada and the complementary support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) provides a much appreciated opportunity for faculty scientists to pursue cutting edge research,” said TWU President, Jonathan S. Raymond. “The acquisition of new equipment will raise the University’s capacity to contribute new scientific knowledge to the world. Just as importantly, it means TWU research labs will bring practical innovations and discoveries that have direct applications to real world issues to the economic benefit of Western Canada and the nation. We are grateful for this tangible support from WD and CFI.”
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and advances the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
Read the address that Chad Friesen, Ph.D., gave at the Federal Funding Announcement.