CFI awards support operations and maintenance of 12 major science facilities

Compute Canada tops list with $69.5 million

The Canada Foundation has awarded $328.5 million into 17 research facilities at 12 universities across the country, leveraging $492.75 million for a total of $821.25 million. The funding was made through the CFI’s Major Science Initiatives (MSI) Fund, a key mechanism for operations and maintenance (O&M) support of major science facilities.

The successful projects were selected from a field of 41 applicants.[rs_related_article slug="CFI announces results of special $25-million competition for major science facilities"]

The competition is the third held under MSI, which was created in 2010 by the previous Conservative government. In 2012, $177 million was up for grabs, while a special competition in 2014 provided $25 million. That funding came from interest on CFI funding that was provided by the former Liberal government during a period when CFI was not funded on an as-needed basis.

[rs_related_article slug="CFI seeking predictable funding as it rolls out initiatives under new strategic roadmap"]Compute Canada, the Canadian Light Source and Ocean Networks Canada received the largest awards, representing 50% of the competition total (see chart).

The MSI program is a key component of the CFI’s efforts to take a systematic approach for evaluating and addressing the O&M funding needs and the scientific performance of national “big science” research facilities.[rs_related_article slug="Office of National Science Advisor sends science framework out for consultation"]

The creation of the MSI program capped years of advocacy by major facilities such as the Canadian Light Source and TRIUMF, and was the subject of a 2005 framework developed by the Office of the National Science Advisor. That was followed up two years later by a position paper jointly written by the CFI, National Research Council and the three federal granting councils.

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