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The following section outlines NSERC’s activities and provides financial and contextual information regarding NSERC’s programs and services. Planned spending figures in this section do not include administration expenses. In 2006-07, NSERC will spend $40.6 million on the administration of the programs below, which represents less than five per cent of NSERC’s total budget. For more information on planned administration expenses, refer to the financial tables in Section III. Full-time equivalent (FTE) figures are calculated based on planned program spending, as many employees are responsible for functions across multiple program activity areas.
NSERC is reviewing its program activity structure to ensure programs’ classifications reflect their primary objective, as well as to harmonize the Program Activity Architecture (PAA) with recent program changes. To this end, NSERC will be updating its PAA for 2007-08.
NSERC Program Activity Architecture
|
Strategic outcomes |
Highly skilled science |
High quality Canadian-based competitive research |
Productive use |
Activities |
1.1 Promote Science and Engineering |
2.1 Fund Basic Research 2.2 Fund Research in Strategic Areas |
3.1 Fund University-Industry-Gov't Partnerships |
Programs |
1.1.1 Science Promotion and Education Research 1.2.1 Undergraduate Student Research Awards 1.3.1 Canada Research Chairs* |
2.1.1 Discovery Grants 2.2.1 Strategic Project Grants |
3.1.1 Collaborative Research and Development Grants 3.2.1 Intellectual Property Mobilization* |
NSERC will ensure a reliable supply of HQP for Canadian industry, government and academia by promoting science and engineering to Canadian youth, supporting students and fellows at Canadian universities and abroad, and providing support to university faculty.
1.1 Promote science and engineering |
Program
|
2006-2007
|
2007-2008
|
2008-2009
|
Science Promotion and Education Research |
$3.9
|
$3.9
|
$3.9
|
Total |
$3.9
|
$3.9
|
$3.9
|
2006-2007
|
2007-2008
|
2008-2009
|
2 FTE
|
2 FTE
|
2 FTE
|
This program activity promotes popular interest in science, mathematics and engineering and aims to encourage more Canadian youth to pursue studies in these fields.
Stimulating young Canadians’ interest in science and engineering and assisting in the development of pedagogical methods are critical to help develop tomorrow’s discoverers and innovators.
NSERC programs within this activity include:
The performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of these science promotion programs will be student interest and abilities in science, mathematics and engineering, as determined through surveys, progress reports and other program evaluation information collected by NSERC.
1.2 Support students and fellows |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Undergraduate Student Research Awards |
$19.2 |
$19.2 |
$19.2 |
Postgraduate Scholarships |
$58.2 |
$58.0 |
$58.0 |
Canada Graduate Scholarships |
$31.5 |
$31.5 |
$31.5 |
Postdoctoral Fellowships |
$17.0 |
$17.0 |
$17.0 |
Industrial R&D Fellowships |
$5.0 |
$5.0 |
$5.0 |
Total |
$130.9 |
$130.7 |
$130.7 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
53 FTE |
54 FTE |
54 FTE |
This program activity addresses NSERC’s priority of developing tomorrow’s discoverers and innovators. Specifically, NSERC’s direct financial support for the most promising students and fellows provides Canada’s next generation of researchers with the means to continue their advanced studies, ultimately leading to a reliable supply of HQP for Canadian industry, government and academic institutions.
NSERC also offers students and fellows the opportunity to conduct research with Canadian firms engaged in R&D activities. Industrially based award holders gain valuable experience in using their training in an industrial context, and participating companies benefit from a highly trained resource who can help increase their R&D capacity. In addition, this experience often results in students pursuing a career in a relevant industry. In all cases, the host company contributes to the financial support of the awardee.
NSERC provides direct financial support to students from the undergraduate to the postdoctoral levels through programs such as:
The evaluation of these programs will consider the number of students and fellows gaining research and professional experience, the employment and salary levels of past award recipients compared to the general population, and the average degree completion rate and time to completion of award recipients compared to the general population.
1.3 Attract and retain faculty |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Canada Research Chairs |
$133.2 |
$133.2 |
$133.2 |
Industrial and Other Research Chairs |
$29.5 |
$28.6 |
$28.7 |
Prizes |
$2.1 |
$2.1 |
$2.1 |
Total |
$164.8 |
$163.9 |
$164.0 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
22 FTE |
23 FTE |
23 FTE |
This program activity includes a number of Chair programs that strengthen research excellence and teaching at Canadian universities by providing support for faculty in specific fields.
Such programs address NSERC’s priority of building on Canada’s strength in discovery by creating the conditions that will attract world-class scientists and engineers to develop and continue their careers in Canada. Furthermore, research chairs in areas of interest to particular industries enable Canadian-based businesses to build long-term relationships with university faculty and more rapidly realize the benefits of public investment in university research.
These faculty support programs include:
Faculty support programs will be evaluated based on performance indicators such as the number of researchers attracted to and retained by Canadian universities, the impact of supported faculty on the research teams with which they work, the number of continuing collaborations established through such support, the number of students and fellows trained by the supported researcher, and the number of publications, patents and new products developed by supported researchers.
Support for basic research provides the foundation for scientific and technological advances, and ensures Canadian universities train new researchers in a world-class research environment. Furthermore, funds for research in areas of strategic importance enable Canada to develop research capacity in these fields of research. These programs also support the creation of knowledge in Canada and the ability to draw on knowledge generated around the world.
2.1 Fund basic research |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Discovery Grants6 |
$327.8 |
$332.5 |
$333.9 |
Special Research Opportunity Grants |
$11.1 |
$9.9 |
$9.9 |
Perimeter Institute |
$5.0 |
– |
– |
Research Capacity Development in Small Universities |
$2.1 |
$2.1 |
$2.1 |
Research Tools and Instruments |
$18.8 |
$12.2 |
$8.8 |
Major Resources Support Grants |
$23.9 |
$27.9 |
$27.9 |
General Support |
$1.5 |
$1.5 |
$1.5 |
Total |
$390.2 |
$386.1 |
$384.1 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
124 FTP |
127 FTP |
127 FTP |
This program activity focuses on basic research that provides the foundation for advances in all disciplines within the NSE, and also trains people who can generate new knowledge in Canada. Furthermore, funding for basic research ensures Canada has the capacity to access and understand knowledge created at other research institutions internationally. This is critical, as Canada performs only three per cent of the world’s research activity and generates four per cent of the world’s scientific knowledge, as measured by published scientific papers.7
This program activity supports NSERC’s priority of building on Canada’s strength in discovery by providing support for Canadian researchers to conduct their programs of research.
Programs within this activity include:
Performance indicators for these programs include data on the creation and dissemination of knowledge to the research community and end users, the practical research experience gained by students and fellows who work with supported researchers, the employment of postgraduate students in well-paying jobs, and the diversified intellectual and infrastructure base maintained at postsecondary institutions across Canada.
NSERC will evaluate the performance of the SRO program based on the increase in international collaborations in which Canadian researchers participate, the number of long-term research collaborative relationships initiated through such support, recognized breakthroughs in research areas supported by the program, and the development of research collaborations and project plans in emerging areas of science and engineering.
2.2 Fund research in strategic areas |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Strategic Project Grants |
$47.5 |
$48.5 |
$50.6 |
Collaborative Health Research Projects |
$3.3 |
$4.3 |
$4.3 |
Total |
$50.8 |
$52.8 |
$54.9 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
28 FTE |
28 FTE |
28 FTE |
This program activity funds research projects in areas of research that are of strategic importance to Canada.
This program activity addresses NSERC’s priority of seizing emerging research opportunities. In addition, NSERC funds encourage experts in these areas of interest to pursue their research careers in Canada, and also help Canadians realize the benefits of public investments in research. Finally, students and fellows involved in such projects receive excellent training in disciplines of national importance.
Programs within this activity include:
These programs are evaluated on a variety of indicators, including data on knowledge creation and dissemination; experience gained by students and fellows supported through such research and subsequent employment and salary levels; the development of relationships between partners; and the increased collaboration between researchers in different disciplines and the new knowledge or technologies that result from such interdisciplinary collaborations.
Wealth is created when Canadians add value in producing goods and services that are sold in world markets. Knowledge is the modern basis for adding value. NSERC aims to maximize the value of public investments in research for the benefit of all Canadians by promoting research-based innovation, university-industry partnerships, technology transfer activities and the training of people with the required scientific and business skill sets to create wealth from discoveries in the NSE.
3.1 Fund university-industry-government partnerships |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Collaborative Research and Development Grants |
$47.6 |
$46.3 |
$46.3 |
Research Partnership Agreements |
$4.7 |
$2.3 |
$1.9 |
Networks of Centres of Excellence |
$40.2 |
$40.2 |
$40.2 |
Strategic Network Grants |
$12.6 |
$16.2 |
$16.2 |
Total |
$105.6 |
$105.1 |
$104.6 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
78 FTE |
79 FTE |
79 FTE |
This program activity fosters collaboration between university researchers and other sectors, including government and industry, in order to develop knowledge and expertise in response to expressed needs, and to transfer this knowledge and expertise to Canadian-based organizations based on their identified needs. This activity supports NSERC’s priority of realizing the benefits of public investments in research.
Programs within this activity include:
Performance indicators for each program vary depending on their particular nature and purpose, but may include criteria such as: research funds leveraged from partners; knowledge creation and dissemination to the research community and users; experience gained by students and fellows and subsequent employment and income levels; long-term relationships established between partners; numbers of patents and licences generated; products, processes or services developed or improved; and economic value of intellectual property generated through funded research.
3.2 Support commercialization |
Program |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Intellectual Property Mobilization |
$3.3 |
$3.4 |
$3.0 |
Idea to Innovation |
$11.1 |
$11.2 |
$11.8 |
College and Community Innovation |
$1.4 |
$1.8 |
$1.8 |
Total |
$15.8 |
$16.4 |
$16.6 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
6 FTE |
6 FTE |
6 FTE |
This program activity supports innovation and promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology to Canadian companies.
It directly addresses NSERC’s priority of realizing the benefits by funding the pre-commercial development of promising innovations, supporting technology transfer activities and R&D at Canadian universities, and supporting the training of people with the scientific and business skills sets required to harness new discoveries for economic benefit.
Activities in this program include:
NSERC has experienced a rising demand for support of activities aimed at increasing the commercialization of research results. In order to meet this demand, the IPM program budget was increased. These increases, together with the new College and Community Innovation pilot program, allow NSERC to exceed the target of tripling its funding for commercialization activities by 2006-07, within the three-year time frame outlined in Budget 2004.
Each of these programs will be evaluated according to criteria appropriate to their nature and objective. The IPM program will be assessed on the performance of supported institutions in managing their intellectual property (IP) assets for economic and social benefits, as well as the number of commercialization specialists trained and their subsequent employment and income levels. The I2I program will be evaluated on the number of patents, licences, copyrights and new products and services developed as well as the number of continuing collaborations on new projects between college and university faculty and industrial partners.