Ottawa/IBNS, Dec. 11 -- Canada will spend $1.7 billion over 12 years to attract more than 1,000 leading international and expatriate researchers, the federal government announced Monday in Montreal.

The funding launches the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, one of the largest research recruitment programmes worldwide.

Officials said the investment aims to strengthen Canada's innovation capacity amid rising global competition.

The initiative includes four funding streams - the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program will receive $1 billion over 12 years to help institutions recruit world-leading researchers and support their salaries and infrastructure.

The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program will provide $120 millio...