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Honourable Andrew Thomson Funding Announcement
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Minister Thomson, Dr. Atkinson, Members of Parliament and of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Saskatchewan, ladies and gentlemen: We are extremely grateful to you, Mr. Minister, and your Government for being partners with VIDO over the years in providing research funding to our institution. The Government of Saskatchewan was one of the initial partners in supporting VIDO by providing $200,000 per year for the first five years of our existence…. Although bricks and mortar are important, without a steady stream of operating funds to help pay for scientist salaries and infrastructure costs such as intellectual property management, financial management, etc., which are impossible to secure through research grants, VIDO could not achieve its full potential. Thus, this announcement of $1.8 million a year for operating activities at VIDO marks a very significant milestone in the partnership between the Province of Saskatchewan and VIDO…. |
The Hon. Andrew Thomson, Minister of Learning, |
At VIDO, we look at research as an investment, and with every investment, we look for a return on our investment. We feel the return on this investment will be very significant….
This return on investment does not only come from being able to lever provincial funding with funding from outside the province, which in itself is a great investment, but numerous studies have demonstrated that research dollars bring a multiplier effect in economic activity, ranging between 3- and 5- fold. Therefore, using the lowest multiplier of 3 results in over $30 million in economic activity in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan as a result of VIDO’s presence.
Secondly, Saskatchewan producers and consumers benefit from the vaccines that are developed at VIDO. They are being used by the producers to improve the health of their livestock and thereby improve their bottom line as well as providing healthier food for consumers and improving our export potential.
Additional returns come from training and retaining talent in Saskatchewan that will continue to benefit Saskatchewan people. Indeed, one of the greatest challenges in the years ahead as a province and as a nation, will be to compete for the best and the brightest minds if we hope to compete and succeed in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century. Unless we create attractive opportunities, many of Saskatchewan’s best and brightest individuals will be tempted to go elsewhere....
In closing, I want to thank you, Minister Thomson, once again for this important contribution to VIDO and we look forward to working with you and demonstrating to you and all Canadians that your faith and trust in us was warranted. The investment in research at VIDO will be returned manyfold.
