Ontario budget supports applied research

Yesterday's budget by the Ontario government includes $10M for the continuation (for three years) of CONII. This is in addition to the tax cuts for businesses and infrastructure spending to match federal money form Budget 2009. Combined, this represents a favourable environment for industry-focused applied research and other avenues for "Accelerating Innovation." Funding for programs such as CONII are excellent vehicles for what I have termed P3RD - the Public Private Partnership R&D investment required for increasing productivity. Other highlights of the budget include the infrastructure spending for colleges and universities, and funding for skills training.