Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Minister of Science Wraps Up Successful Visit to Sweden

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 11, 2015) - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, met with her Swedish counterparts for the first time to discuss science matters of importance to both countries.

Minister Duncan met with Kristina Persson, Sweden's Minister for Strategic Development and Nordic Cooperation, Helene Hellmark Knutsson, Sweden's Minister for Higher Education and Research, and other senior officials. During discussions, Minister Duncan underscored Canada's ongoing commitment to making evidence-based decisions and using science to help create sustainable economic growth. The Minister also toured the Karolinska Institutet, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious medical universities.

While in Sweden, Minister Duncan announced the conclusion of a new five-year Arctic science cooperation arrangement between Canada and Sweden, which aims to enhance scientific cooperation in the Arctic through collaborative activities. The Minister also had the opportunity to celebrate with Canadian researcher Dr. Arthur McDonald as he received the Nobel Prize in Physics medal.

Quick facts

  • Minister Duncan announced the conclusion of a new Arctic science cooperation arrangement between Canada and Sweden. The primary objective of this arrangement is to establish a framework for cooperation between the two countries for collaborative science and innovation activities in the Arctic, and specifically in the Arctic Ocean.
  • Sweden's science and innovation profile is one of the strongest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). While Canada's higher-education sector is relatively strong in its research spending intensity-the highest in the G7-our business sector is underperforming. Canada has an opportunity to learn from Sweden's business innovation policies and to apply them to the Canadian context.
  • In May 2010, Canada and Sweden signed a memorandum of understanding on science and technology, whose objectives included developing more effective industry-university partnerships and greater leveraging of R&D funding from a wider range of sources. This agreement has led to more interest on the parts of Swedish and Canadian firms and organizations in working together.
  • Dr. Arthur McDonald of Queen's University and Takaaki Kajita of the University of Tokyo won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for their key contributions to experiments demonstrating that neutrinos have mass.

Quote

"The Government of Canada believes in science and values international science collaborations with partners like Sweden because they help enhance sustainable economic growth. It was a pleasure to meet with my Swedish counterparts to discuss cooperation on science discoveries that will benefit our countries and people around the world. Furthermore, I was honoured to accompany Dr. McDonald in Stockholm to celebrate his Nobel Prize. His team's work has contributed greatly to realizing Canada's leadership in astrophysics and is setting a path for new directions in physics and astronomy."

- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

Associated links

Canada and Sweden conclude Arctic cooperation arrangement

Photo gallery

Follow the Minister on Twitter: @ScienceMin

Contact Information:

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca