TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 19, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today delivered a keynote address at the third annual International Commercialization Forum, where he highlighted the benefits of investing in programs that support partnerships between companies and research institutions to help move ideas from university, college and government labs into the marketplace.

"Our government's investments in recent years have significantly strengthened Canada's capacity for conducting world-leading research," said Minister of State Goodyear. "Capitalizing on the momentum generated by these investments, we will continue to improve commercialization performance by transforming research outcomes into economic benefits for Canadians."

Hosted by the Centre for Commercialization of Research, the annual forum brings together international leaders to discuss global collaborations and share best practices to bring scientific discoveries to market.

This year, representatives from Germany, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. will discuss such issues as connecting companies to global markets, industry-organization partnerships and commercialization models.

Since 2006, the Harper Government has invested nearly $8 billion in initiatives supporting science, technology and the growth of innovative firms in Canada, including $5 billion for advanced research, education and training; $2 billion for post-secondary infrastructure; and $1 billion for applied research and financing. This funding has helped to make Canada a world leader in post-secondary education research and to create the knowledge and highly skilled workforce that are required for a more prosperous economy.

As outlined by the Prime Minister, the Harper Government remains focused on what Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, pride in being a citizen of this country, and personal financial security.

For more information on the Government of Canada's science and technology initiatives, visit the Science and Technology for Canadians website (www.science.gc.ca).