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Table - Departmental Plan for Transfer Payment Programs (TPPs)


Name of transfer payment program (fiscal year)
(Column 1)
Forecast spending for current fiscal year (millions of dollars)
(Column 2)
Last evaluation Fiscal year of next evaluation
(Column 5)
Comments
(Column 6)
Fiscal year of last evaluation
(Column 3)
Recommendation as a result of last evaluation
(Column 4)
Grants for research projects and personnel support (2000-01) $ 841.5 2005-06 Continuation 2010-11  
Canada Graduate Scholarships (2003-04) $ 36.1 2008-09 Amendment 2012-13  
Networks of Centres of Excellence (2000-01) $ 27.5 2008-09 Continuation 2012-13 A tri-council evaluation being led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Institute Support Grants (2000-01) $ 13.0 2005-06 Continuation 2010-11  
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (2007-08) $ 4.4 N/A N/A 2009-10 A tri-council evaluation being led by NSERC
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (2008-09) $ 2.8 N/A N/A 2013-14 A tri-council evaluation being led by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (2008-09) $ 1.7 N/A N/A 2013-14 A tri-council evaluation being led by NSERC

Details of Transfer Payment Programs (TPP)

Strategic Outcomes: 1.0 Advances in Health Knowledge, 2.0 People and Research Capacity, 3.0 Knowledge Translation and Commercialization

Program Activities: 1.1 Open Research, 1.2 Strategic Priority Research, 2.1 Researchers and Trainees, 2.2 Research Resources and Collaboration, 2.3 National and International Partnerships, 2.4 Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI), 3.1 Knowledge Translation of Health Research, 3.2 Commercialization of Health Research

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Grants for research projects and personnel support

Start date: October 2000

End date: N/A

Description:

CIHR provides a wide array of funding programs under this transfer payment program. This includes Research Funding (grants) which are programs that provide support for the direct costs of research projects, or for the training of researchers, or for activities that support the translation of research findings, conducted by either an investigator working alone or by a group of investigators working together. Research Personnel (awards) are programs that provide direct salary and stipend support to individual researchers/scientists and research trainees. Infrastructure Grants is funding that provides an optimum environment for the conduct and support of health research. This includes funding for: conferences and workshops to establish research priorities; researcher networking and collaborative activities; scientific exchanges between Canadian and international researchers; programs that inform researchers and other stakeholders about aspects of health research; and grants to selected organizations engaged in research-related activities such as the Canadian Council on Animal Care and the National Council on Ethics in Human Research. Partnerships use the mechanisms covered in the first three categories, this family of programs is designed specifically for partner participation in the planning, co-funding, and evaluation of programs of research support.

Expected results:

  • Excellent health research conducted responding to best researcher ideas, through effective funding programs. 
  • A supply of highly qualified health researchers and trainees is available to conduct excellent research in areas of strength or need as a result of effective funding programs.
  • High quality research resources are available for excellent health research as a result of effective funding programs.
  • Appropriate resources available that enable adequate research resources for health research.
  • National and international health research agendas are formulated and implemented, and increased relevance and quantity of research is achieved as a result of strong alliances and partnerships.
  • Health research conducted more ethically as a result of effective funding programs.
  • Health research is translated more effectively as a result of funding programs.
  • Health research is commercialized more effectively as a result of funding programs.
  • Appropriate resources available that enable commercialization of health research.

Indicators:

  • Success of CIHR-funded research resources and collaboration programs including results, awareness, satisfaction levels and appropriateness of funding opportunities for research resources.
  • Types of support by area of health research (by theme and Institute).
  • Proportion of excellent applications received by CIHR that are funded.
  • Proportion of overall expenditures from CIHR grants budget.
  • Outputs and impacts of funded research.
  • Proportion of overall expenditures for research targeted to strategic areas pertaining to ethical, legal and social issues in the context of health and health research.
  • Number, scope and diversity of knowledge translation activities supported by CIHR (and its partners where relevant) or resulting from CIHR activities (e.g. synthesis papers, briefs, participation in policy task forces).
  • Number and types of stakeholders as well as types of knowledge translation activities during the research process.
  • Number and dollar value of grants issued for Commercialization research.

(in millions of dollars) Forecast Spending
2008–09
Planned Spending
2009–10
Planned Spending
2010–11
Planned Spending
2011–12
Total grants 853.3 841.5 847.5 841.1
Total contributions   -   -   -   -
Total other types of transfer payments   -   -   -   -
Total Transfer payments 853.3 841.5 847.5 841.1

Planned evaluations:

As part of its five-year Evaluation Plan, CIHR is planning to complete several key evaluations during the 2009-10 fiscal year, including:

  • Evaluation of the Open Operating Grant Program;
  • Evaluation of the Randomized Controlled Trials Program; and
  • Evaluation of the Pandemic Preparedness Research Initiative.

CIHR is also planning to commence several evaluations during the 2009-10 fiscal year, which should be finalized during the 2010-11 fiscal year:

  • Evaluation of the Canada Research Chairs Program (a tri-council program with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)) where SSHRC is the lead on the evaluation;
  • Evaluation of Salary Support Programs;
  • Evaluation of Strategic Salary Support Programs;
  • Evaluation of the Strategic Priority Operating Grant Program;
  • Evaluation of the Large Strategic Initiatives Program; and
  • Evaluation of Commercialization Funding Programs.

In addition, CIHR is currently planning to engage an independent international panel to review CIHR and its programs during the 2010-11 fiscal year. A similar International Review was finalized in February of 2006.

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Knowledge Translation and Commercialization

Program Activity: 3.1 Knowledge Translation of Health Research

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Networks of Centres of Excellence

Start date: October 2000

End date: N/A

Description:

The Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program is a federal class grants program administered jointly by the three federal granting agencies—CIHR, along with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)—in partnership with Industry Canada. Networks are not-for-profit corporations with an established Board of Directors and are unique partnerships among the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors. These nation-wide, multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral partnerships connect excellent research with industrial know-how and strategic investment. Networks put in place well-defined strategies to transfer knowledge to users—ensuring that discoveries and technological advances are turned into social and economic benefits for all Canadians.

Expected results:

  • increased networking and collaboration among researchers from Canada and abroad.
  • leading-edge research findings that are relevant to the needs of the user sector (e.g., private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations, and others) and Canada's socio-economic development.
  • nation-wide, multidisciplinary and multisectoral research partnerships between universities and the user sector (e.g., private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations, and others).
  • training that promotes multidisciplinary and multisectoral research approaches and encourages trainees to consider the economic, social, environmental and ethical implications of their work.
  • acceleration of the exchange of research results within the network and the use of this knowledge within Canada by organizations that can harness it for Canadian economic and social development.
  • attraction and retention of world-class researchers and highly qualified personnel (HQP) in areas essential to Canadian economic and social development.
  • creation of functional multi-regional interdisciplinary research teams.
  • development of a pool of HQP in areas essential to Canadian economic and social development.
  • increase in Canada's international visibility and reputation.

Indicators:

  • Number and types of stakeholders as well as types of knowledge translation activities during the research process.
  • Proportion of overall expenditures from CIHR grants budget.
  • Proportion of excellent applications that are funded.

(in millions of dollars) Forecast Spending
2008–09
Planned Spending
2009–10
Planned Spending
2010–11
Planned Spending
2011–12
Total grants 26.1 27.5 27.5 27.5
Total contributions   -   -   -   -
Total other types of transfer payments   -   -   -   -
Total Transfer payments 26.1 27.5 27.5 27.5

Planned evaluations:

The next program evaluation will commence by March 2012 in order to accompany the renewal of the program's terms and conditions. As a tri-agency program, the evaluation of the NCE program will be overseen by the Interagency Evaluation Steering Committee, which is comprised of the Heads of Evaluation of CIHR, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and a representative of Industry Canada.

Strategic Outcome: 2.0 People and Research Capacity

Program Activity: 2.1 Researchers and Trainees

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Start date: 2003/2004

End date: N/A

Description:

CIHR's portion of the tri-agency class grants Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program provides financial support to develop future health researchers at both the Masters and Doctoral levels in all health related fields in Canada, providing them with an opportunity to gain research experience.

Expected results:

  • Increased capacity to meet demand for highly qualified personnel in the academic, public and private sectors.
  • Appropriate resources available that enable superior health research trainees in all areas of health research to be qualified to pursue careers in health research.

Indicators:

  • Number of students completing degrees.
  • Average degree completion rate of CIHR recipients versus general population.
  • Increased numbers of students funded for graduate studies.
  • Proportion of excellent applications received by CIHR that are funded.
  • Proportion of overall expenditures from CIHR grants budget.

(in millions of dollars) Forecast Spending
2008–09
Planned Spending
2009–10
Planned Spending
2010–11
Planned Spending
2011–12
Total grants 19.2 36.1 36.3 28.3
Total contributions   -   -   -   -
Total other types of transfer payments   -   -   -   -
Total Transfer payments 19.2 36.1 36.3 28.3

Planned evaluations:

Strategic Outcome: 2.0 People and Research Capacity

Program Activity: 2.3 National and International Partnerships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Institute Support Grants

Start date: October 2000

End date: N/A

Description:

The Institute Support Grant program provides funding to select Canadian academic institutions, including universities and teaching hospitals, to assist them in hosting the 13 Institutes of CIHR. The Institutes help CIHR maintain strong ties to Canada's research communities and to understand their needs. Each CIHR-appointed Institute Director is among the top scientists in his/her field. Institutes help CIHR define its strategic health research priorities and develop research partnerships with other interested parties concerned with health research. Institutes also organize conferences, seminars, and workshops, all with the goal of developing and disseminating health-related knowledge and best practices.

Expected results:

  • Effective domestic and international health research agendas as well as alliances and partnerships in areas related to the mandate of each Institute.

Indicators:

  • Evidence of Institute's leadership within the Canadian research and research user community, including examples of Institute innovation in identifying and responding to National health threats and opportunities.
  • Proportion of overall expenditures from CIHR grants budget.

(in millions of dollars) Forecast Spending
2008–09
Planned Spending
2009–10
Planned Spending
2010–11
Planned Spending
2011–12
Total grants 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0
Total contributions   -   -   -   -
Total other types of transfer payments   -   -   -   -
Total Transfer payments 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0

Planned evaluations:

Evaluations of each of the 13 Institutes were completed in 2005-2006. In addition, the External Review of CIHR, conducted by an International Panel in February 2006, was finalized in 2006-2007. It included a comprehensive review and evaluation of CIHR's thirteen Institutes. An update to the Results-based Management and Accountability Framework including a common Evaluation Framework occurred in 2007-2008. Each of the 13 Institutes will again be formally evaluated commencing in the 2010-11 fiscal year.