University of Alberta gets $83M in infrastructure funding from province and feds

It was all smiles at the University of Alberta Thursday when the provincial and federal governments announced the school is getting $83 million in infrastructure funding.

The money will go towards improving 10 facilities and infrastructure that focus on research and innovation.

The provincial government said the funding will help commercialize spaces where students turn innovative ideas into reality and breathe life into start-up ventures.

“These significant investments help Alberta students put their best foot forward by maximizing the number of new, modernized learning spaces, while also creating much needed jobs to spur economic growth,” Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "These significant investments help Alberta students put their best foot forward by maximizing the number of new, modernized learning spaces, while also creating much needed jobs to spur economic growth," Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt said.

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Some of the money will go towards upgrades at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Facility, which the province said “will put Alberta at the forefront of research in electrical-power generation and transmission.”

“SIF funding will help to establish critical infrastructure, enabling Alberta’s best minds to pursue new ideas, tackle global issues, and build a better university and province,” University of Alberta president David Turpin said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "SIF funding will help to establish critical infrastructure, enabling Alberta's best minds to pursue new ideas, tackle global issues, and build a better university and province," University of Alberta president David Turpin said.

There are nine other U of A projects approved for funding:

• Chemistry Lab modernization and renewal
• Chemical Materials Engineering Building redevelopment
• Biological Sciences and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences expansion and enhancement
• Innovation and Incubator Space development
• Research Network Infrastructure upgrade
• Augustana Science Lab renewal
• Campus Saint-Jean Lab renewal
• Clinical Sciences – Mechanical System renewal
• Medical Sciences Building infrastructure upgrade

The federal government is providing $56 million and $26.5 million is coming from the province.