ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

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Section II –
Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Analysis by Program Activity

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 2007-08, NSERC will spend $40.8 million on the administration of the programs below, which represents approximately 5% 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 Architecture (PAA) to ensure programs’ classifications reflect their primary objective, as well as to harmonize the PAA with recent program changes and evolution. To this end, NSERC will prepare a submission to the Treasury Board Secretariat in 2007 to update its PAA. Pending Treasury Board Secretariat approval, such changes will be reflected in the 2008-09 Estimates.

NSERC Program Activity Architecture

	1.0 People	2.0 Discovery	3.0 Innovation
Strategic Outcomes	Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada	High quality Canadian-based competitive research in the NSE	Productive use of new knowledge in the NSE in Canada
Activities	1.1 Promote Science and Engineering 1.2 Support Students and Fellows 1.3 Attract and Retain Faculty	2.1 Fund Basic Research 2.2 Fund Research in Strategic Areas	3.1 Fund University-Industry-Gov’t Partnerships 3.2 Support Commercialization
Programs	1.1.1 Science Promotion and Education Research 1.2.1 Undergraduate Students Research Awards 1.2.2 NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships 1.2.3 Canada Graduate Scholarships 1.2.4 Postdoctoral Fellowships 1.2.5 Industrial R&D Fellowships 1.3.1 Canada Research Chairs 1.3.2 Industrial and Other Research Chairs 1.3.3 Prizes	2.1.1 Discovery Grants 2.1.2 Special Research Opportunity Grants 2.1.3 Perimeter Institute 2.1.4 Research Capacity Development in Small Universities 2.1.5 Research Tools and Instruments 2.1.6 Major Resources Support Grants 2.1.7 General Support 2.2.1 Strategic Project Grants 2.2.2 Collaborative Health Research Projects	3.1.1 Collaborative Research and Development Grants 3.1.2 Research Partnership Agreements 3.1.3 Networks of Centres of Excellence 3.1.4 Strategic Networks 3.2.1 Intellectual Property Mobilization 3.2.2 Idea to Innovation Program 3.2.3 College and Community Innovation Program

Strategic Outcome #1: Highly Skilled Science and Engineering Professionals in Canada

NSERC will help 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.

Program Activities

1.1 Promote science and engineering

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Science Promotion and Education Research	$3.9	$3.9	$3.9
Total	$3.9	$3.9	$3.9

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
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:

• PromoScience – This program supports non-profit organizations that work with young Canadians in order to build their interest in science and engineering, motivate and encourage their participation in science and engineering activities, and that assist teachers who are responsible for the science and math education of young Canadians.
• Michael Smith Awards – The Michael Smith Awards recognize the efforts of Canadians who have inspired public understanding and helped Canadians develop abilities in science and engineering.
• Centres for Research in Youth, Science Teaching and Learning (CRYSTALs) – This pilot program is designed to establish effective collaborations between researchers in education and those in science, mathematics and engineering, as well as with the education and science promotion communities. Given that K-12 education is a provincial responsibility, NSERC conducted a year-long series of consultations with provincial counterparts before awarding the five grants announced in May 2005. This pilot program is discussed further in Section III.

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

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Undergraduate Student Research Awards	$19.2	$19.2	$19.2
Postgraduate Scholarships	$56.9	$55.1	$50.8
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	$129.6	$127.8	$123.5

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
54 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 student or fellow.

NSERC provides direct financial support to students from the undergraduate to the postdoctoral levels through programs such as:

• Undergraduate Student Research Awards – Held in university or industry laboratories, these awards support a four-month work term for an undergraduate student. This program helps attract the best students to a career in research. It is also important for the development of research capacity at small universities in Canada that do not have postgraduate degree programs.
• Postgraduate Scholarships – At the master’s and doctoral levels, NSERC provides an annual stipend that enables selected students to pursue advanced degrees. Up to four years’ support is available over the course of a candidate’s graduate education. Opportunities are available for study at institutions in Canada and abroad as well as at Canadian industrial laboratories. Canada Graduate Scholarships (tenable only at Canadian universities) are awarded to outstanding candidates.
  A limited number of scholarship supplements are also available for awardees involved in particular activities. For example, the Northern Research Internship supplements help defray the high costs of conducting research in the North in relation to one’s studies.
• Postdoctoral and Industrial R&D Fellowships – These awards provide two years of support to researchers who have completed their Ph.D. They provide them with funds to further their knowledge and experience in a specialized area and to develop their own distinct program of research. Postdoctoral fellowships may be held at any academic institution in Canada or abroad while Industrial R&D Fellowships are held at the facilities of a company that conducts research.

The evaluation of these programs considers 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

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Canada Research Chairs	$133.2	$133.2	$133.2
Industrial and Other Research Chairs	$29.6	$29.7	$29.7
Prizes	$2.1	$2.1	$2.1
Total	$164.9	$165.0	$165.0

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
23 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:

• Canada Research Chairs – This tri-council program supports up to 2,000 professors across Canada, including 600 positions within the NSE. The program’s key objective is to enable Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of research excellence and to become world-class research centres in the global, knowledge-based economy.
• Industrial Research Chairs – This program helps universities develop a critical mass of expertise and long-term relationships with corporate partners in areas of research that are of importance to industry. Industrial Research Chairs can also enhance the ability of universities to recruit senior-level researchers and research managers from industry or other sectors.
• Other Chairs and Faculty Support Programs – Support of university faculty in targeted areas such as Northern Research, Design Engineering and Women in Science and Engineering encourages capacity building in areas with specific needs.
  The University Faculty Awards program has been re-designed to enhance the recruitment, retention and early career progression of women and Aboriginal people in tenure-track faculty positions in the natural sciences and engineering, in Canadian universities, by providing opportunities for them to establish a strong research record.
• Prizes – NSERC prizes recognize outstanding Canadian researchers, research teams and students. They enhance the career development of highly promising scientists and engineers and celebrate the sustained excellence of Canadian university faculty members. They also publicly recognize lasting partnerships in R&D between university and industry, and celebrate young Canadian entrepreneurs. Examples of NSERC prizes include the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, the E.W.R Steacie Memorial Fellowships, the Synergy Awards for Innovation and the Innovation Challenge Awards.

Faculty support programs are 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.

Strategic Outcome #2: High Quality Canadian-based Competitive Research in the NSE

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 important economic sectors and emerging areas of science. These programs also support the creation of scientific knowledge in Canada and the ability to draw on such knowledge generated around the world.

Program Activities

2.1 Fund basic research

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Discovery Grants20 and Accelerator Supplements	$334.3	$336.7	$338.7
Special Research Opportunity Grants	$11.1	$10.1	$12.5
Research Capacity Development in Small Universities	$2.2	$2.1	$2.1
Research Tools and Instruments	$8.5	$3.8	$3.8
Major Resources Support Grants	$29.8	$32.8	$23.8
General Support	$1.5	$1.5	$1.5
Total	$387.4	$387.0	$382.4

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
127 FTE	127 FTE	127 FTE

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 3% of the world’s research activity and generates 4% of the world’s scientific knowledge, as measured by published scientific papers.²¹

20Includes funding for Discovery Grants to groups and individuals, subatomic physics projects, institutes, ship time and Northern Research Supplement funding.

21NSERC Departmental Performance Report 2005-06, Figure 18: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/0506/NSERC-CRSNG/nserc-crsng01-eng.asp.

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:

• Discovery Grants and Accelerator Supplements – The discovery, innovation and training capabilities of university researchers in the NSE are highly dependent on the availability of stable support for the direct costs of maintaining an ongoing program of basic research. The Discovery Grants program is the mainstay of support for university-based research, and accounts for 38% of NSERC’s total grants budget.
  These grants recognize that creativity and innovation are at the heart of all research advances, whether made individually or in groups. Researchers have the flexibility to make adjustments to their program of research to pursue new avenues, provided they still fall within NSERC’s mandate. To be funded they must demonstrate both research excellence and high productivity.
  Discovery Accelerator Supplements will provide a small number of Discovery Grant recipients with substantial and timely additional resources in order to accelerate progress and maximize the impact of outstanding research programs.
• Special Research Opportunity Grants (SRO) – This open and responsive program enables researchers to pursue emerging research opportunities at the time they become apparent, or investigate and develop collaborations to respond to national and international research opportunities and invitations. These grants provide a mechanism for supporting research breakthroughs and high-risk research, and for investigating and developing time-sensitive new collaborations in Canada or abroad. This program supports pre-research workshops and research projects of up to three years.
  Through this program, NSERC can respond to new research funding opportunities by issuing targeted calls for proposals, addressing the priority of seizing emerging research opportunities. This is particularly important in situations where there is a limited “window of opportunity” to address a particular research interest, such as the opportunity to participate in a multi-agency collaborative research effort.
• Research Capacity Development in Small Universities – This pilot program was launched in 2004 and helps reduce barriers to increased research productivity faced by smaller universities. This pilot program is discussed in Section III.
• Research Tools and Instruments Grants (RTI) – RTI grants enable professors to purchase the laboratory equipment necessary to conduct world-class research. This critical source of funding ensures researchers have access to the modern research tools required to ensure the maximum return on other investments in research, such as Discovery Grants.
  While there are three categories of RTI grants, only RTI 1 grants (which fund equipment purchases between $7,000 and $150,000) are currently being considered. The RTI 2 and 3 grants (which fund research equipment and installations greater than $150,000) have been under a moratorium since 2003-04, as budget pressures faced by NSERC would result in an unacceptably low competition budget and funding rate and since these needs are currently more appropriately met through the CFI.
• Major Resources Support (MRS) – The MRS program (formerly Major Facilities Access Grants) supports researchers’ access to major regional, national or international research facilities by helping these facilities remain in a state of readiness for researchers to use. This program is the vehicle for NSERC investments in facilities such as the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory and high performance computing resources.
  In 2006-07, NSERC developed a new mechanism for funding of large facilities and institutes. Following consultations with the research community, the new MRS program was announced on July 4th, 2006.
• General Support – Miscellaneous grants for proposals that do not fit any of NSERC’s defined programs, but still fall within NSERC’s mandate, may be funded through this small budget envelope. Parental leave supplements for students and postdoctoral fellows supported through NSERC awards are also paid through General Support.

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.

The performance of the SRO program is evaluated based on the increase in international collaborations in which Canadian researchers participate, the number of long-term research collaborative relationships initiated through such support and recognized breakthroughs in research areas supported by the program.

2.2 Fund research in strategic areas

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Strategic Project & Workshop Grants22	$49.6	$51.6	$51.6
Collaborative Health Research Projects	$4.3	$4.3	$4.3
Total	$53.9	$55.9	$55.9

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
28 FTE	28 FTE	28 FTE

This program activity funds 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.

22Includes Innovation Platforms

Programs within this activity include:

• Strategic Project & Workshop Grants – This program increases research and training in targeted areas that could strongly enhance Canada’s economy, society and/or environmental stewardship within the next 10 years.
  
  NSERC has completed a review of target areas for this program, and the target areas for 2006-07 to 2011-12 are:
  
  • Advanced Communications and Management of Information
  • Biomedical Technologies
  • Competitive Manufacturing and Value-Added Products and Processes
  • Healthy Environment and Ecosystems
  • Quality Foods and Novel Bioproducts
  • Safety and Security
  • Sustainable Energy Systems (Production, Distribution and Utilization)
  Strategic Workshop Grants foster the development of new university-industry research relationships through the support of workshops to plan collaborative research initiatives. Workshops are co-led by business and university researchers.
  In order to consolidate support in strategic areas, the seven target areas listed above will also be applied to the Strategic Network Grants program.
• Innovation Platforms – Through this initiative, NSERC plays a more strategic role in shaping the direction of Canadian research in a targeted area. There are two active projects, the Nano Innovation Platform,²³ established in 2002-03, and the Quantum Works²⁴ Innovation Platform approved by Council in October 2005 that will accelerate Canadian research and training in areas of quantum information and computing. Funding for Innovation Platforms is contained within the budget of the Strategic Project and Workshop Grants program.
• Collaborative Health Research Projects – Funded jointly with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), this program supports focused collaborations involving convergence of a field of the NSE and the health sciences. Projects are expected to lead to health benefits for Canadians, more effective health services or economic development in health-related areas.

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.

23http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/NSERCnanoIP/

24http://www.quantumworks.ca/

Strategic Outcome #3: Productive Use of New Knowledge in the NSE in Canada

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.

Program Activities

3.1 Fund university-industry-government partnerships

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Collaborative Research and Development Grants	$46.3	$46.3	$46.3
Research Partnership Agreements	$3.3	$1.9	$1.9
Networks of Centres of Excellence	$40.2	$40.2	$40.2
Strategic Network Grants	$15.3	$16.2	$16.1
Total	$105.1	$104.6	$104.5

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
79 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 in accordance with their identified needs. This activity supports NSERC’s priority of realizing the benefits of public investments in research.

Programs within this activity include:

• Collaborative Research and Development Grants – This program enables companies to access the unique knowledge, expertise and resources available at Canadian postsecondary institutions, and offers opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations, jointly funded by NSERC and the industrial partner(s), which result in economic benefits to Canada. It also facilitates world-class research and ensures a strong source of well-trained graduates.
• Research Partnership Agreements – The objective of these partnerships is to build strong research linkages between the private sector, researchers in universities and researchers in federal institutes. Agreements with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Forest Service and the Earth Sciences Sector of Natural Resources Canada have or will expire by March 31, 2007. The agreement with the Department of National Defence will continue; two to four new applications are received each year under this agreement.
• Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCEs)²⁵ – These unique partnerships among universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations work to turn Canadian research and entrepreneurial talent into economic and social benefits for all Canadians. They are nationwide, multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral research partnerships that link excellent research with industrial know-how and strategic investment. They create a critical mass of research capacity dedicated to developing new knowledge and applying it for the economic, social and health benefits of Canadians.
• Strategic Network Grants²⁶ – this program funds large scale, complex research programs that involve multi-sectoral collaborations on a common research topic. The topic to be investigated can be of local concern, requiring a focused local network, or of regional or national importance, requiring a larger network. The Strategic Network Grants program supports research projects within the target areas identified for the Strategic Project Grants program approved by NSERC’s Council in late 2005.

25A list of all 23 NCEs is available at: http://www.nce.gc.ca/nets-eng.htm 26A list of all Strategic Networks is available at: http://www.nserc.gc.ca/stratnet/

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

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Program	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
Intellectual Property Mobilization	$3.4	$3.0	$3.0
Idea to Innovation	$9.2	$9.8	$9.9
College and Community Innovation	$1.8	$1.8	$1.8
Total	$14.4	$14.6	$14.7

Human Resources

2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010
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:

• Intellectual Property Mobilization (IPM) Program – This tri-council program accelerates the transfer of knowledge and technology residing in Canadian universities and hospitals for the benefit of Canada. In partnership with universities, the IPM program supports regionally-based university networks related to managing and transferring intellectual property resulting from publicly funded research performed at universities.
  The Networked Training Initiative is a critical component of the IPM program. This successful initiative provides seed funding for the development of specialists of technology transfer and commercialization through internship programs.
• Idea to Innovation Program – I2I accelerates the pre-competitive development of promising technologies and promotes their transfer to Canadian companies. The program supports R&D projects with recognized technology transfer potential by providing crucial assistance to researchers in the early stages of technology validation and market connection. In February 2006, NSERC extended eligibility for this program to include faculty members from eligible colleges²⁷ across Canada.
  The I2I program helps increase the rate of technology transfer of university and college advances by providing a flexible funding arrangement in two phases. The first is a proof-of-concept phase, during which NSERC supports 100% of the costs of R&D. The second phase focuses on technology enhancement, and research costs in this phase are jointly supported by NSERC and a private-sector partner.
• College and Community Innovation Program – This pilot program increases the capacity of colleges to support innovation at the community or regional level. The program design and funding are intended to stimulate new partnerships and increased entrepreneurship, and to help the colleges take risks and be nimble in developing new ways of working with local businesses and industries to spur innovation and economic growth.

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.

27A list of eligible colleges is available at: http://www.nserc.gc.ca/institution/list_inst-eng.htm

 

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