Research, What does the Future Hold?
Arthur J. Carty
National Science Advisor
AUCC Board of Directors and Membership Meetings
Westin Hotel, Ottawa
27 October 2004
“The National Science Advisor is assisting the Government to ensure that
investments are strategic, focused and delivering results, and is working to
bring about a fuller integration of the Government’s substantial in-house
science and technology activity.” Speech from the Throne, October 2004
- Position created in April 2004
- Provide sound, independent, non-partisan advice on directions and
priorities
- Commercialization and innovation
- Balance excellence in S&T with benefits to society and the economy
- International S&T and challenges of the developing world
- Horizontal collaborations between various departments, agencies,
institutions, and business
Canadian R&D Overview
- In 2003-2004, total Canadian R&D expenditures were $22.5 billion
- Total Canadian federal S&T expenditures in 03-04 were $8.5 billion of
which 65% (5.5 B) was for R&D
- R&D spending per capita in universities and research institutes is the
highest in the G-8
- $13 billion in new Federal funding has been injected into the R&D
system in Canada over the past 7 years
How Does Canada Rank Internationally in Scientific Research
& Development?
“The Scientific Impact of Nations 1993-2002”
David A. King, Nature, July 2004
- Analyses publication, citation and related data for a selected group of 31
countries (the comparator group) containing G-8 nations and 15 member
countries of EU
- Group accounts for 98% of world’s highly cited papers
- Rank order (by share of top 1% cited publications), has Canada as 6th in
the world Canada also ranks 6th in share of total publications.
Rank Order of Nations Based on Share of Top 1% Highly Cited Publications
(1997-2001)
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Country
ranked by share of top 1% cited publications (1997-2001)
|
|
1
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USA
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11
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Sweden
|
|
|
EU15(net
total)
|
12
|
SPAIN
|
|
2
|
UK
|
13
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BELGIUM
|
|
3
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GERMANY
|
14
|
DENMARK
|
|
4
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JAPAN
|
15
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ISRAEL
|
|
5
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FRANCE
|
16
|
RUSSIA
|
|
6
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CANADA
|
17
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FINLAND
|
|
7
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ITALY
|
18
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AUSTRIA
|
|
8
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SWITZERLAND
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19
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LUXEMBOURG
|
|
9
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NETHERLANDS
|
20
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CHINA
|
|
10
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AUSTRALIA
|
21
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SOUTH
KOREA
|
Value for Money Invested: Inputs and Outputs/Outcomes
- Important considerations in terms of value for money are: outputs (publications,
citations) per researcher; per unit of GDP; per unit of investment
- The Footprints provide a snapshot of value for money as measured by
international impact of research outputs
- Canada is second only to the UK on citations/researcher; citations/unit of
GDP; publications/ researcher
- Canada is # 1 on HERD/GDP – highest Higher Education Expenditure on
R&D/per capita of G8
Canada’s Research Input-output Footprint in the G8
Canada’s Research Footprints in the G8 disaggregated by discipline &
share of citations
Industry Science Relations
- Should indicate extent of knowledge/technology transfer between sectors
- One measure is level of investment by private sector in higher education
research i.e. Business investment as % of PUBERD
- UK (11%)
- Canada and Germany (7%)
- France (5.5%)
- USA (3.5%)
Indicators of R&D Activity Related to Innovation and Economic Growth
- Ranking of G-8 nations for BERD (Business Expenditure on R&D)/GDP is
very different from rankings based on research impacts
- JAPAN is # 1, USA # 2, GERMANY # 3, UK # 5, CANADA # 6 In terms of PhD’s
awarded per capita, CANADA ranks 5th (ahead of JAPAN, ITALY, RUSSIA)
- For FTE researchers per 1000 employed CANADA ranks higher than UK, almost
equal to GERMANY and FRANCE but well below JAPAN and USA
* NOTE: Knowledge based-economic performance of a nation is developed and
driven by HQP
S&T and Innovation: Policy Challenges for Canada
- Maintain and build on the strong research base
- Harvest economic and social benefit to Canadians of R&D investments
through knowledge transfer and commercialization
- Stimulate industrial R&D expansion and collaboration
- Increase international collaborations across the innovation spectrum
- Revitalize government science to respond to the priority policy challenges
facing Canadians
- Develop national strategies in emerging areas - nanotechnology,
biotechnology, alternate energy technologies, northern science
Government Priorities
- Children, Caregivers and Seniors
- Canada’s Cities and Communities
- Role of Pride and Influence in the World
- Governing in Common Purpose
A Strong Economy
- People and Skills
- Innovation & Commercialization
- Smart Government
- Regional and Sector Development
- Trade and Investment
The Economy and Fiscal Management
Speech from the Throne
“The Government will develop policies to foster Canadian capabilities in
key enabling technologies-such as biotechnology, information and
communications, and advanced materials-which will be drivers of innovation and
productivity in the 21st century economy.” -Speech from the Throne, October
2004
Innovation & Commercialization :
- Utilize NSA to focus and coordinate investments
- Early stage venture capital
- Emphasis on key enabling technologies
- Biotechnology
- Information and Communications
- Advanced Materials
Commercialization of Research Results: Key interventions
- Enhance Canadian skills and training for commercialization
- Facilitate partnerships, collaboration and sharing of information and
resources
- Facilitate linkages of Canadian firms to international markets
- Foster early use and adoption of new technology based products and
processes
- Ensure the regulatory and tax environment supports commercialization
- Generate effective indicators and measures
Commercialization of Research Results: Risk Financing
BDC budget announcement (March 2004)
- $100 million for fund of funds
- $100 million for direct investments in “A” round financing
- $50 million for direct investment in start-up and seed stage funding
ACST paper recommendations (July 2004)
- $305M ($240M to be directly invested in Seed/Pre-Seed innovation, and
follow-on “A” and “B” rounds, to leverage another $465M from private
investors:
- Second Roundtable to discuss proposal with institutional investors
- $100M pilot program in 2004 (BDC money announced in budget)
- $65M in Budget 2005 for training and mentoring
- $140M in 2005 Budget to implement the remainder of the financial gap
portion of the initiative
Commercialization Funds
- Additional $25 M to IRAP for SME innovation
- Two funds announced in 2004 Budget
- $50 M/5 years for commercialization of University and Hospital Research
- $25 M/ 5 years for commercialization of federal lab research
- Advisory Committee, representing private sector expertise (VC, angel,
entrepreneurs, scientific experts) to adjudicate competitive process
- Committee met in October 2004 to agree on scope and process
- First call for proposals winter 2005
- Process managed by Industry Canada
Smart Regulation
- External Advisory Report released in September
- Comprehensive (73 recommendations)
- Integration, unification and coordination of Federal-provincial
regulations
- Elimination of “unique to Canada” regulations
- Strive for a North American regulatory regime
- Focus on clarity, consistency and efficiency of regulations
Canada’s International Legacy
- How best to mobilize Canada’s S&T assets in support of foreign
policy goals especially with respect to international development
- Prime Minister’s challenge to devote 5% of S&T investments to the
developing world issues
- Roundtable on October 15, 2004 brought together 40 participants to begin
the dialogue on the Prime Minister’s challenge
- Need to bring together the leaders of research community in Canada to
discuss issues and opportunities
- Embedding S&T in International Policy Review as an essential driver of
trade and investment
- Potential to partner with the UK in lead up to the G8 summit in 2005;
Canada-UK-Africa workshop on partnerships for science and technology
development
International Polar Year 2007-08
- A major, exciting opportunity to show national and international
leadership in this field
- Focus on human dimensions will provide a unique opportunity to link social
and natural sciences
- Commitment for the creation and support of a national steering committee
and secretariat
- A key horizontal and integrating initiative
- Milestone for delivering on a Northern Research Strategy for Canada
Integration and Horizontality
S&T Policy and Management
- Two parallel DM level working Groups (monthly)
- Science based performers and S&T policy departments
- Extramural R&D funders – Councils, Foundations and Agencies
- Overall goal is to map out an integrated science agenda for the Federal
government that pulls together the ensemble of the Science and Innovation
system in Canada through partnerships
- Need for greater mutual understanding, cooperation, and partnership.
Should develop a common front and approach on issues.
The Canadian Academies of Science
- Federally -incorporated, not-for-profit organization which joins together
Canada's three internationally recognized national academies
- A contribution announced by the Prime Minister in his reply to the Speech
From the Throne of $35M over 10 years to:
- Carry out government requests for independent expert assessments on
the state of scientific knowledge underpinning policy issues facing
Canadians
- ensure that Canada is represented effectively in international fora
where important questions of scientific methods and findings are being
discussed.
- CAS will have its own Board of Governors , corporate officers and
professional staff
- NSA will coordinate government requests for assessments
Big Science
- Large scale scientific projects and facilities have become more complex,
costly, interdisciplinary and international
- Poses important science policy challenges for governments and academia on
how we agree on priorities, make decisions and manage investments to ensure
that we are active participants in leading research fields
- Need for an accountable and transparent procedure to manage major science
investments including evaluation, revision, approval, prioritization, and
monitoring of projects from creation, through operation to decommissioning
- Process to be managed by a central body (Major Science Investment Panel
and small secretariat)
- Discussion paper under development and to be released for comment in
coming weeks.
Challenges for University Research
- Horizontal partnerships
- academia, government and private sector
- Integration and cohesion
- universities, medical establishments and colleges
- Outreach – communities, the developing world
- Improve interface and interactions between social and natural sciences
Commercialization and intellectual property
- IP integration and partnerships within and across universities
- Long-term common vision and goals for Canadian science
Conclusion
- Canada’s university and college community can continue to be a major
force in the supply and transfer of knowledge and HQP for the benefit of
Canadians
- In the coming years there will be both opportunities and challenges facing
the research community in Canada to sustain and improve its performance and
value
- The answers will be found through partnerships among universities, across
disciplines, across sectors and internationally
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