News & Views item - March 2007

 

 

Canada's Federal Budget for R&D Increases Significantly. (March 21, 2007)

    On March 19 Canada's Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, tabled that nation's 2007-08 budget.

 

Overall government spending rose Ca$10.3 billion (A$11.1 billion) to Ca$233.4 billion (A$250.4billion), including a government-projected Ca$9.2 billion (A$9.9 billion) for science, technology, and related activities.

 

The journal Science reports, "The nation's three research-granting councils each received 5% hikes in their base budgets. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research each received Ca$37 million (A$39.7 million), raising their budgets to roughly Ca$727 million (A$780.1 million) and $737 million (A$790.8) respectively.

    "Eight existing research institutes were singled out by the departments of Finance and Industry for large infusions of cash. One, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, will receive Ca$50 million (A$53.7 million). The other seven, including the Montreal Neurological Institute, each received Ca$15 million (A$16.1 million). All eight, along with hundreds of other research institutes in Canada, will be eligible to compete next year for a share of a Ca$195 million (A$209.3 million) pot of money that will designate an unspecified number of sites as Centers of Excellence for Commercialization and Research."

 

It's understood that a degree of matching funding will be required as part of the conditions for the Centers of Excellence for Commercialization and Research grants.

 

While most contacted by Science were pleased by the budget, Canadian Association of University Teachers Executive Director Jim Turk told the journal he was appalled that the government had selected labs for early largesse without conducting any form of peer review. "Sprinkled through all their discussions on research is a greater focus on targeting and the federal government choosing the targets," he said.

 

Other budget allocations for R&D included Ca$510 million (A$547.5 million) for new scientific equipment in university laboratories; $35 million (A$37.6 million) to create 1000 more Canada Graduate Scholarships for master's and Ph.D. students, and a $15 million (A$16.1 million) boost for supporting indirect costs associated with research in all university laboratories.