Province adds $5M to Research Manitoba funding

Research Manitoba is getting $5 million more annually to create “an intellectual property collective” and support scholars who specifically study artificial intelligence, information technology and data.

A total of $18.9 million has been earmarked for the grant-collection agency in 2025-2026, the province announced in a news release Wednesday.

A provincial spokesperson confirmed a portion of that funding will be designated to establish a collective that ensures Manitoba researchers can retain intellectual property related to major scientific breakthroughs.

Jennifer Cleary, chief executive officer of the agency, called the changes “a turning point for research in Manitoba.”

“It strengthens our foundation, accelerates innovation and ensures that Manitoba’s brightest minds have the support they need to thrive right here at home. We are not just keeping pace — we are setting the pace,” Cleary said in a news release.

Research Manitoba had lost significant spending power over the last decade.

In 2015-2016, it received $17 million to support local research projects. The agency’s annual allotment was $13.6 million when the NDP was elected in 2023.

Local researchers have been calling on the Kinew government to reinstate Research Manitoba’s funding in recent months as their colleagues in the United States grapple with budget cuts and political interference.

Premier Wab Kinew invited disgruntled U.S. scientists to relocate north during a scrum with reporters at the legislature on March 28.

Multiple petitions were launched in response to his comments. Hundreds of signatories urged the government to address status-quo research funding and local workforce challenges before recruiting international scholars.

“Research is not a luxury, but a vital investment in economic growth, resilience, and opportunities for all Manitobans,” said Robert Beattie, an assistant professor of biochemistry and medical genetics at the University of Manitoba.

Beattie said he was “thrilled” to learn the developments Wednesday.

Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz said a $5-million top-up for Research Manitoba is necessary “to rebuild” capacity for scientific breakthroughs.

Moroz said additional investments in research chair positions will encourage high-calibre researchers to stay put and attract an influx of experts from the U.S.

Research Manitoba, previously housed under the department of advanced education and training, has been moved to his department.

The shift is being touted as a way to position the province as a leader in 21st-century digital governance and expand research into cloud computing and data analytics, among related areas.

Every dollar spent on research in Manitoba is estimated to yield upwards of $4 in economic benefits.

Based on a review of its grants between 2010 and 2015, Research Manitoba has pegged the return on the dollar at $4.77.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca