CanadaResearchFunding.org

Canada’s research community will receive billions of dollars from Ottawa in a mixed-bag of spending and saving announcements unveiled in yesterday’s federal budget. Science-related spending focuses heavily on much-needed improvements and upgrades on infrastructure and short-term increases in student funding, while federal granting agencies will see their budgets cut.

The big spending announcements included $2-billion dollars for infrastructure upgrades at colleges and universities, $87.5-million for new graduate student scholarships, and $750-million for the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), a major source of infrastructure funding.

One major source of concern in the budget is the status of federal granting agencies. The budget states that CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC will be “streamlining operations and aligning programs with the objectives of the Government’s Science and Technology Strategy and national research priorities.”  The budget suggests that $147.9-million will be cut from these budgets in the next three years, which will be used to help pay for the new spending initiatives. Given the strong support for science voiced by American President Obama, there is concern that Canada may find it hard to retain top researchers.

Health Research Budget details:

• $2-billion spending to “repair, retrofit, and expand” infrastructure at colleges and universities. The budget states: “Preference will be given to projects at universities that can improve the quality of research and development at the institution. Projects at colleges will strengthen their ability to deliver advanced knowledge and skills training.” Seventy percent of the funds will be allocated to universities, and 30% to colleges and will be administered through Industry Canada. These funds, though, must be matched by a minimum of 50% from outside sources.
• $750-million spending to fund “leading-edge research infrastructure” through the CFI. $150-million will be allocated in 2009 for Leading Edge and New Initiative Funds competitions. The remaining $600-million will be for future activities of the CFI, which is drafting a new strategic plan for 2010, and will fund “one or more” new funding initiatives.
• $250-million spending over two years to “address” deferred maintenance at federal research labs. This funding will be focused on labs that contribute to regulatory responsibilities of the government, such as health and food safety. Interestingly, the budget also states that this money will be used to modernize government labs that submit a “realistic business plan” for their transfer to university, business, or non-profit group, suggesting the government is seeking to divest itself of some of its research capabilities.
• $87.5-million spending over three years for graduate student scholarships via the Canada Graduate Scholarships program. This includes $35-million each for NSERC and CIHR, and $17.5-million for SSHRC. These will support a further 500 doctoral students at $35,000/yr for three years and 1,000 master’s students at $17,500 for one year. The expanded scholarship program is explicitly stated to be temporary.
• $3.5-million spending over two years for internships in business and science, to be administered by Industrial Research and Internship program.
• “Strategic reviews” at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada result in cuts of $167.8-million over three years, including $6.3-million through “refocusing research to take advantage of advancements in science”.
• The granting councils (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) will see budget cuts of $147.9-million over three years. The bulk of these cuts will be due to “aligning funding with actual needs and making better use of other programs with similar objectives”. The government will also save money by “streamlining research support activities to
  reduce overlap in granting programs” and “reducing programs that overlap with the mandate of other federal organizations to focus on priorities”.
• The NRC will see its budget cut by $27.7-million, with the money used to “increase support for small and medium-sized businesses to innovate.” The NRC will also be expected to continue to “[consider] alternative service delivery models for certain activities that are not aligned with its core role.”

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