Monsieur le ministre, mesdames et messieurs les députés; mesdames, mesdemoiselles, messieurs.

Thank you for taking part in this meeting. The purpose of the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering is to promote the importance of research and innovation to the continued well being of Canadians.

Nous sommes convaicus que dans l’économie du savoir la recherche, sous tous ses aspects, est un facteur incontournable dans nos efforts pour maintenir la qualité de vie dont jouissent les citoyens et citoyennes de notre pays.

At the recent World Conference on Science held in Budapest delegates were given a document entitled: "The World Bank’s Millenium Science Initiative: Assumptions and Expectations". In it the authors Lauritz B. Holm-Nielson and Michael F. Crawford state that: "Knowledge is the most important factor in economic development". As pointed out by David Strangway this represents a major shift by the World Bank which, for decades, has been denying any role for higher education and research. This policy statement by the World Bank underlines once again how essential investing in research is not only vital for world bodies but also for individual countries.

La réunion d’aujourd’hui va permettre à d’éminents spécialistes de différents secteurs d’expliquer pourquoi la science et la technologie, et les innovations qui en découlent, sont des moteurs de croissance économique au Canada.

It is very important, in fact essential, for the continued well being of all Canadians but particularly for the youths of this country, that our elected representatives and other decision makers are kept fully aware that research and innovation are fundamental to Canada maintaining a competitive edge in the knowledge economy in which we now live.

We are deeply grateful to our distinguished speakers who have agreed to address this meeting on this important subject. I would also like to thank those responsible for the preparation of this meeting in particular Joyce Groot of BioteCanada and the organizing committee which she chaired and Anne corriveau who did all of the work as many of you know.