Canada Foundation for Innovation 15 Years of State-of-the-Art Research Infrastructure Funding Austria Connect Canada Canadian Austrian Networking Conference on R & D Gilles Patry President and CEO June 15, 2012
OUTLINE Introduction The CFI funding model Examples of research infrastructure Role of research infrastructure in building international collaboration Conclusions 2
INTRODUCTION
CANADA FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION Created by the Government of Canada in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation has a legislated mandate to build our nation s capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. The CFI fulfills this mandate by investing in the research infrastructure necessary for Canada s leading researchers to discover, develop and apply new knowledge in all areas of science, the humanities, health, engineering and the environment. 4
THE CFI FUNDING MODEL
OUR MANDATE Our Funding Agreement with the Government of Canada stipulates that our mandate is to: Enhance the capacity of Ultimate Recipients to: a) attract and retain the world s top research talent; b) enable researchers to undertake world-class research and technology development that lead to social, economic and environmental benefits for Canada; c) support private sector innovation and commercialization; and d) train the next generation of researchers. 6
A UNIQUE FUNDING MODEL Provides 40% of infrastructure costs (with remainder provided by provinces, institutions and private sector); Supports all areas of research; Awards based on merit and excellence.
THE STRENGTH OF THE CFI The Canada Foundation for Innovation derives its strength from fostering the full breadth of innovation, from basic to applied. Basic is the art of detecting hidden patterns in nature. The applied every bit as challenging is to make the basic work for us. Globe and Mail April 25, 2012 Dr. John C. Polanyi, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Toronto
CFI AWARDS TO DATE $5.5 billion to 7,538 projects at 131 institutions Engineering 1,506 projects $826,110,000 Health 3,177 projects $2,238,295,000 Environment 736 projects $269,615,000 Sciences 1,615 projects $1,066,505,000 Humanities & Soc. Sc. 504 projects $108,080,000
AWARDS BY AREA OF RESEARCH Area of Application - Sector # Awards % Awards CFI Amount % CFI Amount Engineering 1,506 20% $826,110,000 18% Environment 736 10% $269,615,000 6% Health 3,177 42% $2,238,295,000 50% Science 1,615 21% $1,066,505,000 24% Social Sciences and Humanities 504 7% $108,080,000 2% 7,538 100% $4,508,605,000* 100% * Does not include Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF)
AWARDS BY RANGE OF FUNDING Size of request # Awards % Awards CFI Amount % CFI Amount <200K 5,037 67% $576,500,000 13% 200K-1M 1,894 25% $648,360,000 14% 1M-4M 369 5% $808,300,000 18% 4M-10M 178 2% $1,079,330,000 24% 10M-20M 41 1% $537,595,000 12% 73% 55% >20M 19 0% $858,520,000 19% 7,538 100% $4,508,605,000 * 100% * Does not include Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF)
EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE Equipment and facilities Specimens Scientific collections Computer hardware and software (middleware) Information databases
PERIMETER INSTITUTE THEORETICAL PHYSICS CFI Investment: 15.5 million dollars Ministers Flaherty & Goodyear participated in opening ceremonies at Waterloo on September 16 & 17, 2011 Science and technology enrich our country s economic growth and create good, rewarding jobs for Canadians. Minister Flaherty, Sept. 16, 2011
SNOLAB Sudbury Neutrino Observatory SNOLab surface facility CFI Investment: 50 million dollars Underground clean lab 2km below ground The original SNO detector
International Vaccine Centre InterVac Saskatoon, SK History shows that our world becomes safer, healthier and more stable through advances made in science and technology. Prime Minister Harper, June 2010 CFI Investment: 46 million dollars Prime Minister Harper attends official opening on September 16, 2011
NEPTUNE AND VENUS, VICTORIA, BC First regional cabled underwater observatory CFI investment: 50 million dollars Minister Goodyear visits Ocean Networks Canada, Aug. 28, 2011 Home to Ocean Networks Canada a CECR
CENTRE D OPTIQUE, PHOTONIQUE ET LASER Université Laval, QC Investissements de la FCI : 35 million dollars 40 entreprises dans le secteur de la photonique 2 500 employés 350 millions de dollars de chiffre d affaires
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CFI is the only federal granting agency dedicated solely to funding research infrastructure - tools, equipment and facilities You can t do world-class research without access to state-of-the-art research tools, equipment and facilities.
FUNDING AGENCIES 20
THE ROLE OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUILDING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
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Robotics Visual communication Nursing Social science Journalism Forensics Technology Philosophy Anthropology Semiotics Toxicology Cardiology Biotechnology Materials science Arts
FACTORS MOTIVATING SCIENTISTS AND SCIENCE POLICY MAKERS... Implementing projects that exceed the funding capacity of individual countries; Optimizing the global inventory of state-of-the-art scientific facilities while avoiding unnecessary duplication; Accessing a unique geographical location, or other unique local resource; Binging together the best scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrators; Accessing data and other resources that are distributed world-wide; and Providing international experience for young researchers
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES Delays and expenses associated with protracted international negotiations; Adoption of sub-optimal technical solutions due to "local" sourcing/contracting requirements; Creation of sub-optimal financial or organizational arrangements due to the diverse reporting and oversight requirements of international partners; Exclusion/isolation of certain national scientific communities whose countries are not part of the collaboration; Creation of new administrative structures that may take time to come up to desired standards of efficiency; and Potential transformation of large international infrastructures into conservative, self-perpetuating entities that may not respond optimally to new scientific needs.
BROADER PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE Opportunities the stimulation and synergy that international networking can bring to the benefit of the research undertaken; the reduced financial burden to individual partners through the sharing of resources; additional cultural input at both the scientific and the personal level; and the capability to provide and share facilities, or information, that would be beyond the reach of participants individually Challenges the loss of national sovereignty and control; the loss of home team advantage ; the added administrative complexity; and the potential difficulties for scientists (and their families) of working abroad
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NEPTUNE NEPTUNE / VENUS / VENUS
NEPTUNE / VENUS SPALLATION NEUTRON SOURCE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
NEPTUNE / VENUS CANADA-KENYA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
NEPTUNE / VENUS TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION
NEPTUNE / VENUS AUCC INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION REPORT
Thank you. Questions? 35