Speeches

Science and Technology for the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities for Canada

Arthur J. Carty

Check against delivery.

Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
07 March 2005

• Printable version (PDF)

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Introduction

Bonjour à vous tous et merci beaucoup de m'avoir invité à l'Institut océanographique de Bedford. Ça me fait un très grand plaisir d'être parmi vous aujourd'hui et d'avoir l'occasion de visiter les laboratoires et de mieux comprendre les programmes de recherche.

Good afternoon. I am honoured to have this opportunity to speak to the staff and friends of the Bedford Institute for Oceanography about some of the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian science in the 21st century.

Aim is threefold:

1. Perspective on my mandate as NSA.
2. Look at where Canada stands in international science.
3. Look at challenges facing us and in particular in federal science, with a focus on oceans S&T.

Role of National Science Advisor

I'd like to start with a few words about my role as National Science Advisor and the government's vision for science and innovation in Canada.

As National Science Advisor my mandate is a broad one, and covers the full spectrum of the sciences to provide sound, unbiased, non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister on science issues, directions and priorities.

I've also been asked to help ensure that the government's investments in this area are strategic, focused and delivering results.

The overall goal is to develop a vision and a long-term plan for S&T that will build on Canada's strong research base and the pursuit of excellence while ensuring economic and social benefits to Canada.

Some of the key priority areas I am focusing on so far include:

• Improving Canada's capacity to transform new ideas and discoveries, through commercialization and innovation, into competitive products and businesses in the global marketplace.

• Mobilizing Canada's scientific and technical expertise to address the pressing challenges facing the developing world.

• Strengthening horizontal collaborations across the innovation system and finding ways to achieve a fuller integration of the federal government's in-house science and technology activity. I'll be speaking more about this later.

• Improving our science culture in Canada and acting as an ambassador for Canadian Science abroad.

• And finally, developing an overall strategy for major science investments.

Science, Technology and Innovation in the 21st Century

It is almost a cliché now to say that science and technology have become key drivers of economic growth and quality of life the world-over.

In government and in industry alike, science and technology are embedded in almost every decision we make, plan we put in place, or product or service we take to market.

From HIV/AIDs to climate change, we are looking to science, technology and innovation to provide the solutions to an increasingly wide range of global challenges.

And as United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently said: "Recent advances in information technology, genetics and biotechnology hold extraordinary prospects for individual well-being and humankind as a whole."¹

This is particularly true when it comes to understanding and managing our relationship with the earth's oceans.

A great deal more fundamental science and technological development is needed before we will even begin to understand the complexity of the many ocean ecosystems and their interactions with each other. I was very impressed this morning with the Comprehensive Approach to Ecosystems Management described by Ken Frank.

This knowledge is a prerequisite if we are going to harness the oceans' resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.

As the French scientist and philosopher, Pascal, once said: "The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble." Oceans are a sensitive environment - even a slight perturbation such as a small warming can have very real effects.

Canada's Position Internationally in Science, Technology and Innovation

So how does Canada stack up internationally in terms of S&T performance and capacity for innovation?

In my view, we are well positioned for a country of our size.

Canada performs extremely well in comparisons of international scientific metrics, ranking among the top countries in the world on several measures - as these next two slides show.

Canada ranks 6th in the world in its share of the top 1 percent of most frequently cited publications. And it is second only to the United Kingdom in the number of citations per researcher, citations per unit of GDP, and publications per researcher.

Indeed, in 2002-2003, Canada's R&D spending per capita in universities and research institutes was the highest in the G8.

In the past seven years, the federal government alone has invested $13B in Canada's science base. Last month's budget added a further $1.2B to this total.

The federal government has also made important investments in Canada's innovation capacity, including spending on higher education, communications infrastructure and green technologies for an environmentally sustainable economy.

Budget 2005 announced $2.4B in new initiatives with a substantive science, technology and innovation component - particularly under the themes of Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Meeting our Global Responsibilities.

The results of this commitment are increasingly evident.

Canada has developed internationally-competitive strengths in a growing number of sectors, from information and communications technologies through genomics and to biotechnology, aerospace and automotive manufacturing, geomatics, energy, environmental and ocean technologies.

Canada's S&T Challenge For the 21st Century

But we can't afford to rest on our laurels. In an increasingly competitive, global knowledge-based economy we must continually to ask ourselves whether this is enough?

The reality we must face is that Canada currently produces only 4 percent of global knowledge. And very often, we don't reap the full value of its potential for commercialization and application to the public good.

What's more, the competition is intensifying. Countries like China, India, Brazil and South Africa are emerging as potential powerhouses in science and technology.

Take China as a case in point. Last year, China surpassed Canada in numbers of scientific publications in the natural sciences and engineering. It is also currently graduating 200,000 engineers per year - three times that of the U.S.

Canada is going to have to play at the very top of its game if it is to continue to be seen as a leader and a partner of choice within the international scientific community.

Canada must build a strong science culture and highly effective knowledge and innovation system if it is to prosper and fully deliver the benefits of advances in science and technology to Canadians.

This is one of Canada's key challenges for the 21st century.

S&T and Innovation: Policy Challenges for Canada

How do I see this happening?

In my view, our efforts must begin with a concerted - and sustained - effort to address the following challenges.

Briefly these are:

• Maintaining Canada's leading position in the G-8 in higher education R&D - or HERD/GDP - and to build on our strong research base.

• Ensuring that we harvest the economic and social benefits of Canada's R&D for Canadians through knowledge transfer and commercialization.

• Stimulating the expansion of industrial R&D and collaboration.

• Revitalizing and investing in government science to respond to priority policy challenges facing Canadians.

• And increasing national and international collaborations across the innovation spectrum.

The federal government has a role to play in responding to some of these challenges. But ultimately, industry and academia must be part of the solution as well.

Each player in Canada's knowledge and innovation system has a vital role to play in providing the science, technology and innovation required to support the economic and social aspirations of our nation. And if we want to maintain and enhance our investments in S&T we must show that science is delivering results!

Revitalizing Federal Science

Rather, what I'd like to do is to zero in on the role of federal science and some of the key strategies for revitalizing this important component of our knowledge and innovation system.

Government is, of course, the key performer of R&D and related scientific activities in support of the public good. This ranges from support for policy development and decision-making to standards development and regulation; the protection of public health, safety, security and the environment; and enabling economic and social development. In general this is not well understood as I have learned from discussions with Presidents of Councils and Foundations. We must do a better job of articulating this.

The work of many of you here at the Bedford Institute in monitoring Canada's coastal zones, shelf seas and deep ocean waters for the purposes of climate change modelling and integrated ocean management is a fine example of how federal science supports the public good.

The federal government also plays an essential role as a leader, facilitator, collaborator and regulator.

However, we are all aware of the challenges facing the federal science community today. Knowledge is created and discarded at an ever increasing pace. Or as a Newfoundlander once said to me - knowledge is like fresh fish - it has a short shelf life! Changes in the S&T enterprise have heightened the complexity of "doing" science, making it increasingly fast-paced, multi-disciplinary, collaborative and international in nature. I think it's fair to say that managers across the federal S&T community are grappling with how they can make the best use of their scarce resources in this increasingly demanding environment.

So I'd like to state very clearly that I am a strong believer in the value of federal science. And that as National Science Advisor, I intend to do all that I can to champion the rebuilding of the federal government's science base.

That said, however, I believe we also have to ensure that federal science is closely aligned with the social and economic goals of Canadians.

Our resources are not infinite, so it is very important that we consider our priorities carefully and focus our efforts on the mission critical science that will have the most impact. This also means building on our strengths and concentrating on areas of national and international importance.

The federal S&T community must also have both the capacity and the drive to deliver high quality, relevant, ethical, innovative science in an open and transparent manner.

And finally, we must ensure that federal science connects and engages with the full capacity of the national and international innovation systems in order to achieve optimal results. Indeed, I was very pleased to see that international S&T cooperation was flagged as a priority in last month's budget (20 M for S&T agreements).

Government is increasingly funding R&D around issues and problems not disciplines or existing structures. However, I think it is clear that Government will not reinvest in government science and infrastructure unless we can clearly identify current and future priorities and mobilise the science capacity needed to tackle the issues.

If I can use a schematic, I see the decision-making process working this way:

• First, we start by defining our priority issues, in response to public policy needs and concerns.

• Second, we specify the outputs we are going to need to respond to these priorities.

• Third, we identify the mission critical science that will have to be undertaken to achieve or support these outputs.

• And fourth, we assemble the human resources and infrastructure needed to deliver that science through in-house capacity and partnerships.

In keeping with these objectives, I have been working with the federal science Deputy Ministers on a long-term plan and vision for renewing federal science.

Our vision would see the Government of Canada recognized nationally and internationally for the quality and productivity of its science in support of the public good.

In order to achieve that vision - the future state we aspire to -- involves five key elements:

• We have to be able to show that we have focused research programs aligned with mission critical goals; not just replacing the old infrastructure which is outdated but creating new facilities which are crucial to our new goals and priorities;

• A talented and committed workforce dedicated to government science;

• State-of-the-art equipment and clusters of core infrastructure - CFI-like program for government science. Based on excellence and peer review with strategic directions and goals, and matching from departments or partners;

• Commitment to partnerships and networks with others to lever resources and research capacity; and

• An enabling administrative and fiscal environment.

Fuller Integration of Federal S&T

As part of that commitment to revitalize federal S&T, I have been tasked with helping to achieve the fuller integration of federal S&T resources.

We no longer live in a world where we can afford to only look internally within our own departments and agencies for the resources we need to tackle our mission critical science and emerging science issues of the future.

Integration is an essential element of building a truly world class federal science system in this country.

What do I mean by integration?

To me, integration involves taking disparate functions and melding them into a unified whole. It is collaboration made more coherent, more coordinated and more complete.

In the case of S&T, it includes the joint identification of research priorities, the sharing of information, resources and expertise -- and where appropriate -- integrated program management.

I don't see integration as a one-size-fits-all solution. Nor is it an end point in itself. But when applied where it makes sense, it can catalyze progress and deliver significant benefits.

Integration can open up opportunities to make more efficient use of equipment and facilities and to increase the impact of partnerships - both within the federal S&T community and with other players in the national and international innovation systems.

Integration can also help build a closer relationship between science and broader government policy, bring new diversity and creativity to the federal S&T workforce, lever resources, and in some cases, reduce costs.

The recent report by the Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA), Linkages in the National Knowledge System, puts forward a strong case for making integration a core way of doing business in federal science.

As the CSTA puts it, we must demonstrate that "collaboration is not a "corner of the desk" endeavour, constituting "extra work" … but a legitimate means of achieving the objectives of the organization."²

I recommend that you take a look at their report.

Integration was the focus as well of the recent Federal S&T Forum.

At the Forum, I made a commitment to work with the Committee of Deputy Ministers, science Assistant Deputy Ministers and the ADM S&T Integration Board to identify specific actions to translate integration from theory to practice.

It is my intention to report back to the federal S&T community with some concrete plans by June.

I believe this is doable. Thanks to the efforts of the ADM S&T Integration Board we already have an excellent inventory of existing multi-agency collaborations and a head start on a list of science issues that would benefit from enhanced horizontal collaboration - and integration such as oceans management and public security.

I also sense a greater willingness to look at and embrace collaborative models in the federal science community than at any time in the last decade.

So what does integration look like in action? Let me give you an example or two.

The first is the hugely successful National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in the United States -- a model of large-scale, multi-agency integration.

A $1 billion program, the National Nanotechnology Initiative brings together 22 federal agencies in a coordinated and integrated, multi-disciplinary program to support research and development in nanotechnology, as well as infrastructure development, education, knowledge diffusion and commercialization.

Participating agencies collaborate on research in one or more of seven program component areas -- or PCAs -- that cut across the interests and needs of participating agencies.

This approach has enabled the NNI to greatly advance the development and application of nanotechnology in the U.S. in a relatively short period of time.

The other example I wish to highlight is Canada's CBRN Research & Technology Initiative. A joint, interdepartmental initiative, the CRTI uses an integrated approach to priority setting, planning and program management to strengthen Canada's preparedness for a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.

Together the 14 federal departments and agencies involved in CRTI are coordinating the use of a five-year, $170M fund to create a federal laboratory response network that will accelerate technology transfer and fill gaps in Canada's S&T capacity to respond to high risk terrorist attack scenarios.

There are other fine examples, of course, of integration within the federal S&T community, including the Bedford Institute itself. A model of co-location, you have proved the value of bringing together scientists, engineers and technicians from different backgrounds and agencies to work on problem-focused research.

Your linkages with DFO's St. Andrews Biological Station, NRC's Institute for Ocean Technology, Dalhousie University and a range of international partners have also extended the benefits of this approach.

Ocean Science - The New Frontier

It seems to me that the Bedford Institute - and ocean science in general - are at an important crossroads.

I understand that DFO science is going through a tough restructuring process. This kind of change is not easy, but sometimes it is necessary in order to ensure that your work is contributing optimally to national goals.

Overall, however, I believe recognition is growing across government that ocean science has a vital contribution to make to Canada's environmental sustainability and prosperity, especially in its coastal regions.

The support for the Oceans Action Plan in the last Speech from the Throne - with its multi-agency involvement - is evidence of this. The decision to allocate $28M to ocean health in last month's budget is also encouraging.

Certainly, for my part, I consider ocean science and the development of ocean-related technologies as a critical new science frontier - as important at least as space science.

Ocean science and innovation have the capability to make a tremendous contribution to the quality of life of all humanity. It can help to protect marine biodiversity, develop new sources of energy, meet our growing requirements for food, create much-needed pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, and ensure that ocean transportation is safe.

It's hardly surprising, then, that many countries - including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia - are taking a fresh look at the strategic importance of ocean science and the development of their marine and ocean technology industries.

Some of you will be familiar with - or will have participated in - Canada's Marine and Ocean Technology Roadmap. This industry-led exercise that has opened up a very useful dialogue about Canada's ocean industries and led to a greater synergy among ocean sector players.

Canada's Strengths in Ocean S&T

So how is Canada doing in terms of ocean science and technology?

Well, while not an across-the-board powerhouse, Canada is a leader in several key niche areas of ocean-related science and technology development.

Canada's government labs - including the Bedford Institute - and its universities and marine industries have developed internationally recognized expertise in fields as diverse as ocean mapping and modelling, sea ice properties, fisheries research, cold-water engineering, and autonomous underwater vehicles or AUVs.

For example, the recent decision to designate the Sable Gully, off Nova Scotia, as a Marine Protected Area under the Ocean Act has given Canada profile as an international leader in science-based ecosystems management.

Canada is also involved in a growing number of leading-edge international ocean science and related research collaborations.

Here at BIO, for example, scientists are participating in the CLIVAR (pronounced KLI-var) study on climate variability, the ARGO floats project, the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans, the Deep Sea Drilling Program and the Census of Marine Life.

And out on the west coast, Canada is a key player in the
$300M NEPTUNE project that will create a 3,000 km cabled ocean observatory off the coast of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Once up and running, the observatory will provide the international research community with unprecedented access to the deep sea.

Another of Canada's ocean S&T assets is the international reputation of its small, but growing marine and ocean technology industry.

Increasing numbers of Canadian firms - many of which are small and medium sized enterprises (or SMEs) - are making their mark in unique global markets. Canadian businesses are competing successfully in a range of specialized areas from modular drilling units to integrated ship and onshore information systems.

A typical example is Clearwater Fine Foods. Working closely with the Geological Survey of Canada and the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the firm has used multibeam sonar charts and GPS technology to visualize the seabed and identify prime scallop habitat and concentrations.

In addition to Bio and the Halifax cluster, Canada is also home to three other growing or emerging ocean-based technology clusters - in St. John's, Rimouski and Victoria. Federal and provincial research facilities, universities, colleges and industry alike are working together to increase multi-sectoral linkages in these centres, and to position Canada as a leader in a variety of ocean and marine technologies.

A Vision for Canada

Keeping these strengths in mind, I'd like to put out a challenge for Canada's ocean science community.

The world's oceans are busier than ever, including Canada's - placing increasing pressure on ocean ecosystems and threatening marine biodiversity.

The dynamics of the marine economy are changing - with new activities such as aquaculture, oil and gas development and tourism and other activities taking their place beside the traditional fisheries as generators of wealth.

And sophisticated ocean technologies are becoming increasingly part and parcel of all of our ocean-related activities - from acoustic monitoring and marine mammal observations to the surveillance of busy shipping lanes and human impact studies of sensitive coastal areas.

Canada must ensure that it has the scientific and technical capacity needed both to protect its ocean and coastal ecosystems and to sustainably explore and tap the potential of its resources.

My question is this: why not take this a step further? Why not challenge ourselves to make Canada a global leader in integrated ocean management, ocean science and ocean technologies?

The realization of such a vision would help to significantly advance Canada's objectives under the proposed Oceans Action Plan - protecting the health of our oceans and generating wealth, jobs and improvements to our quality of life, especially in coastal communities.

Success would also go a long way in enabling us to fulfill our international commitments - such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the FAO Responsible Fisheries Agreement and the Convention on Marine Biodiversity.

If we want to make certain that we achieve these goals and aspirations, we need to set the bar high. And then go for it.

Our strategy can be quite simple to begin with: namely building on existing strengths and identifying additional opportunities in related areas.

Already, there are a number of possibilities on the horizon - many with links to your research mandates here at the Bedford Institute.

Take oil and gas for example. Canada's expertise in cold-water engineering, sea ice monitoring and environmental modelling can give us a definitive edge as energy exploration and production move into deeper waters and environmentally sensitive Arctic areas.

Canada is recognized as an international leader in methane hydrate research. Methane -- or gas -- hydrates are clathrates - substances in which methane or other hydrocarbons are trapped in the lattice of ice. Located beneath large portions of the world's arctic and marine continental shelves, they have the potential to yield more energy than all other forms of hydrocarbons - oil, gas and coal - combined.

In 2002, research efforts in the McKenzie Delta indicated for the first time that gas production from gas hydrates is technically feasible. Expertise developed through this work - and other offshore hydrate research in Canada -- should be in demand for further research collaborations around the world.

Another possibility lies in the great interest in gaining a better understanding of unique life forms and energy systems associated with deep-sea vents and volcanic activity at extreme depths. This is an area ripe for scientific exploration and discovery with potential longer-term spin-offs.

And there are similar opportunities waiting to be explored in ocean mapping, environmental modelling, integrated data management, aquaculture, wild fish capture and more.

The key will be to decide where we want to go and to build the research networks capable of getting us there.

Commercializing our successes will also be critical if we are to see our discoveries and technologies put into play.

Key Challenges

Of course, all is not likely to be clear sailing. There are barriers to overcome.

Some of the main barriers or areas for action that I can see are:

• The intricacy and sensitivity of ocean ecosystems.

• The need to work further to raise the awareness of decision-makers and the public of the potential for ocean science and technologies to contribute to sustainable economic growth and quality of life of Canadians.

• The complexity of Canada's ocean innovation system. The diversity of players requires a significant effort to coordinate and exchange knowledge and information.

• And many of the typical barriers to commercialization for SMEs.

In my view, it is not just up to government to address these issues.

For example, when it comes to commercialization, industry has the prime responsibility for getting new products and processes to market. Government's role is principally to set the appropriate tax and regulatory environment.

However, there are other important ways in which government can help - especially by drawing on its ability to bring key players together, to facilitate the sharing of information, and to catalyze new initiatives, such as the cluster building efforts I mentioned a moment ago.
It can also be influential as an early-adopter of new technologies through procurement.

Government has an essential role to play in the international arena as well - working with other governments to protect the environmental integrity of the oceans, update international marine safety regulations, and promote international scientific cooperation in ocean research.

Looking Ahead

This is my vision for Canada's ocean science community.

As National Science Advisor, I consider Canada's ability to protect the environmental integrity of its oceans and to sustainably develop its ocean resources over the long-term an important national priority. Doing all that we can to achieve this objective is a worthwhile goal.

Looking ahead, then, I see several opportunities to advance this vision for growth.

The first of these lies in the government's commitment to move forward with the Oceans Action Plan and its four pillars:

• International leadership, sovereignty and security;

• Integrated oceans management for sustainable development;

• Oceans health; and

• New oceans science and technologies.

This is an opportunity for the ocean science community - government, industry and academia - to link with the policy development process and to identify the scientific activities that will be needed to support these important national priorities.

The ocean science community must work together to speak with a strong voice in support of initiatives under the Plan that can advance Canada's research capabilities or capacity to commercialize Canadian technologies.

The second opportunity I'd like to alert you to is the International Polar Year (IPY), scheduled to take place in 2007-2008.

The first International Polar Year in 50 years, IPY 2007-2008 is expected to feature an intense, international campaign of research that will be a landmark in international polar science and lay the foundations for decades of future polar research. In total, the projected global IPY research budget is expected to exceed $1B, with about 100 countries participating.

From an oceans perspective, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

And there other initiatives on the horizon that have the potential to create a healthy momentum in favour of Canada's ocean science community and industries.

The current focus on Tsunami warning systems may create opportunities to showcase and further develop Canada's ocean science and technologies.

As may Canada's involvement in the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.

The key here, as always, is to think creatively about how to get the message out - both nationally and internationally - that Canada's ocean science and ocean technologies can play a leading role in helping to sustainably manage the world's ocean resources and marine activities.

The other absolute must is to use opportunities to build partnerships and networks that can leverage support and resources. Again, collaboration and linkages can help to ensure relevance, excellence and opportunity.

For my part, you can count on me to be a strong advocate for Canadian ocean science and the growth of an internationally competitive marine and ocean industry. You also have important champions in my colleagues Larry Murray, Peter Harrison, George Anderson and Samy Watson.

Conclusion

I've covered a lot of ground this afternoon, from the challenges facing Canada's innovation system to the work underway to harness the federal government's S&T capacity more effectively through integration.

But in closing, I'd like to emphasize one key point: that Canada's future economic growth and quality of life depends on our ability to excel globally in science, technology and innovation.

As members of the federal science community, we each have a role to play in assuring that Canada meets this goal.

For my part, as National Science Advisor, you can expect me to continue to work to strengthen Canada's knowledge and innovation system. And to build the capacity of federal science to fully deliver the social and economic benefits of science, technology and innovation to Canadians.

For your part, I hope you will seize on my vision for ocean science and look for new opportunities to advance and connect your own mission critical science to Canada's goal of being a global leader in ocean ecosystems management and sustainable development.

Healthy oceans, world-class science and sustainable development - we must all work together towards this goal.

Thank you.

¹ Science, March 7, 2003

² Council of Science and Technology Advisors, Linkages in the National Knowledge System (Links), 2004, p.5.