ORDCF Supports Basic and Applied Research

Dr. Calvin Stiller, the Chair of the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, and Ken Knox, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, are on a one-day tour of the city. They will be meeting with senior officials, leading faculty and students from Western as well as key members of the business community.

"We live in a knowledge-based society and basic research is vital to the economic well being of London in the next century," says Western President Paul Davenport. "Nothing will do more to ensure we have good, high-paying jobs and a strong local economy. Today's meetings are all about finding ways in which we can work together."

Renowned researcher Dr. Cal Stiller said universities "will be at the very heart of economic growth. Knowledge will be the key resource and public-private partnerships will be the vehicle for success in the future."

Ken Knox said he was delighted to be in London to discuss how the Province can contribute to economic growth. "The recent report from the Ontario Jobs and Investment Board, A Road Map to Prosperity, describes the key roles of education, research and knowledge in Ontario's future. The investments of the Ontario Research & Development Challenge Fund will support and expand areas of research excellence and, in the long run, lead to jobs and growth for all Ontarians."

Western will be hosting a meeting this evening for Dr. Stiller and Mr. Knox with some key leaders of London's business community such as John Kime, President and CEO of London Economic Development; Hank Vander Laan, President and CEO of Trojan Technologies Inc.; Bob Burgstahler, President and General Manager of 3M Canada; Dr. Chandra Panchal, President of CEO of Procyon Biopharma Inc.; John O'Neill, CEO of Sonometrics Corporation and; Graeme McRae, Vice-Chairman of Bioniche Inc.

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For more information, please contact Paul Davenport, President, at (519) 661-3106 or Marcia Daniel, Communications and Public Affairs, at (519) 679-2111 ext. 5165.