Jim Roche, president and CEO, CANARIE
Canadian researchers and innovators had reason to celebrate last week: Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network, known as CANARIE, will receive funding from the Canadian government to take it through the next three-year term. CANARIE’s network of high speed fibre optic cables stretches across 19,000 kilometers and connects research institutions across the country. With this announcement, CANARIE will receive $62 million from the federal government for its continued development.
The Canadian government has supported CANARIE since the network’s inception in 1993 and distributes funds over periods of several years. The government makes the decision to renew funding at the end of each mandate. Jim Roche, CANARIE’s president and CEO, added that funding from provinces and universities complements what the organization receives from the federal government.
Since the government decides whether or not to renew funding at the end of each mandate period, Roche noted that the research community is always concerned about
CANARIE’s future. Given the current economic climate, funding renewal has been an especial concern this time around. However, the Canadian government has always supported CANARIE, Roche pointed out. He also stressed that CANARIE constantly works with the Canadian government to better explain how the organization can help deliver on government goals.
