Feb 14 (Reuters) - Canadian authorities on Tuesday
announced new restrictions on research grants designed to block
funding to projects that include researchers who are affiliated
with institutions with ties to foreign governments posing a risk
to national security.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Health
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos have instructed federal grant-making
officials and an innovation fund to institute new limitations on
researchers seeking research investments.
"This new action is one of many significant steps the
Government of Canada is taking to protect our country, our
institutions and our intellectual property," the officials said
in a statement. "Protecting Canadian research is our top
priority."
The announcement comes months after Canada launched a C$2.3
billion ($1.7 billion) Indo-Pacific strategy to boost military
and cyber security in the region. Canada also said it would
tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual
property and prevent Chinese state-owned enterprises from
snapping up critical mineral supplies.
As part of the new rules announced on Tuesday, funding will
be denied to applicants seeking to conduct research in sensitive
subjects if any researchers are affiliated with a university or
entities connected to foreign militaries or security agencies
that are viewed as a threat to Canada.
The order was directed to the Canada Foundation for
Innovation and the country's federal research granting councils.
The ministers also urged that Universities Canada and the
U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities adopt similar
guidelines.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York; Editing by Stephen
Coates)
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