Government of Canada Investment to Benefit Manitoba Researchers

March 18, 2009

Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of Manitoba researchers and students will benefit from a new High Performance Computing facility thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).

"Advances in science and technology are essential to strengthen the competitiveness of Canada's economy", said the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.  "Our Government will continue to support Manitoba researchers and innovators by investing in new world-class research facilities."  

High Performance Computing (HPC) is an integrated computing environment used in science, engineering and business.  The HPC supercomputer solves complex problems in a matter of hours and days, instead of weeks or months. It offers researchers a way to improve computer simulations of weather patterns, to model the behaviour of lifesaving drugs, and to do complex astronomical calculations.

"The University of Manitoba is thrilled to be home to the new High Performance Computing facility," said Dr. David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. "We take our role as a research, education and innovation leader in the community very seriously. This new facility is further proof of that commitment."

Results from this project will be an increase in economic activities, which will help to strengthen the western Canadian economy.  Emerging areas of HPC applications, including medical sciences, transportation, and advanced human-computer interface, such as virtual reality, represents a significant economic opportunity for Manitoba companies to bring new products, technologies, and services to market.

The WD funding of $2.1 million announced today will be used to construct a special facility at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus to house the HPC technology, which will become part of the Western Canada Research Computing Grid, a regional HPC consortium, and will contribute to Canada's national HPC infrastructure.
 
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations, and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinate federal economic activities in the West and represent the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.