The Manitoba government is investing an additional $5 million in operating funding for Research Manitoba to enhance Manitoba’s technology sector through research and development in artificial intelligence, information technology and data.
To assist in positioning Manitoba as a leader in 21st-century digital governance and economic competitiveness, oversight of Research Manitoba will now fall to the Department of Innovation and New Technology.
“We’ve heard from members of the research community the cuts made by the previous government set our province back and this investment was necessary to rebuild the foundation for innovation and research in our province,” said Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz, “This funding, and a renewed focus on recruiting new researchers and retaining the ones that already call our province home, is an important new step in our ministry. Manitoba will now be an attractive jurisdiction for those looking to join an already impressive team of Manitoba-based scientists and researchers.”
Currently a major hub for engineering and health research, this new funding will maximize Manitoba’s position in the global economy and expand research into such areas as cloud computing, data analytics and emerging technologies.
“This historic investment signals a turning point for research in Manitoba,” said Jennifer Cleary, CEO, Research 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.”
Additional investments in research chair positions will encourage high-calibre, Manitoba-based researchers wanting to remain in their home jurisdiction to stay here and attract an anticipated influx of researchers from the U.S., the minister noted.
Funding for an intellectual property collective is an important addition to Research Manitoba that will enhance the protection of intellectual property for research developed in Manitoba, the minister added. This is a significant development that will assist academic and private-sector researchers by ensuring their made-in-Manitoba discoveries will benefit the local scientific community and everyday Manitobans for many years to come, he noted.
Research is an essential component to Manitoba’s economic growth, innovation and global competitiveness. For 2025-26, the base operating grant is $13.954 million. The injection of $5 million more in funding brings the budget for Research Manitoba this year to $18.954 million.
For more information on the importance and the benefits of Research Manitoba, visit researchmanitoba.ca.
