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The Brain Research Centre (BRC) is a unique research facility that operates as a hub-and-spoke facility, with teams of neuroscientists (over 190 investigators) located at the University of British Columbia campus and other locations in Vancouver and beyond. The largest of its kind in Canada, the Centre’s structure and multidisciplinary approach maximizes the potential to bridge the gap between basic science and its clinical applications, while contributing to significant discoveries and the development of effective new therapies.

BRC’s main research goals are to:

• obtain new knowledge about the functioning of the human brain in both health and disease, use this knowledge to promote new treatments and diagnostics for brain diseases, improve the learning capacity of the human brain, and to prevent the declines that impede graceful aging;
• provide an environment in which students can obtain top-quality education and training; and
• develop industrial partnerships and new company spinoffs that can generate employment and wealth in the Canadian economy.

The space and infrastructure funded through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research are critically important to further the development of our neuroscience enterprise. This includes the construction of a new building just east of the Koerner Pavilion at the UBC Hospital. The building will represent a true bench-to-bedside facility for investigation and treatment of neurological and mental illness, and will serve as a showplace for investigations of brain function in British Columbia, Canada, and internationally. For 2009–2010 the Centre will undertake the following:

• Program confirmation: to be signed-off, consultant request for proposal (RFP), confirm user groups
• Functional program review and phasing plan, user meetings and an operational review analysis
• Schematic design — Phase One: user meetings, quantity cost survey, business case review and approval
• Early stages of Design Development — Phase One: design development meetings and drawings

CFI’s objectives for 2009–2010 are designed to deliver on its mandate within the context of the federal science and technology (S&T) strategy, to:

• strengthen the core assets of CFI programs to sustain, enhance, and support Canada’s research and development (R&D) capacity;
• continue to align CFI with the priorities of the Government and the research community;
• extend CFI capability by leveraging our relationships; and
• reinforce CFI’s accountability and transparency.

CFI has scheduled the following audit and evaluation activities for 2009–2010:
Audits:

• Value-for-money audit to be completed by March 2010 (started in 2008)
• Financial statement audit (annually)
• Internal audit (consulting engagement) of information technology (IT) security to be completed in 2009 (started in 2008)*

• Overall performance evaluation to be completed by March 2010 (started in 2008)
• 5 to 7 outcome measurement study visits to be completed by March 2010

•  Annual analysis of approximately 3,000 project progress reports

Canada School of Energy and Environment (CSEE) is a unique virtual institute, building on capacity within the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and the University of Lethbridge, and located in the heart of Canada’s energy sector. CSEE’s goal is to address the challenge of resource sustainability, while protecting environmental quality and addressing climate change, and to consolidate the best researchers, academics and technologists into a single coordinated centre to become the global leader in integrated research, policy and technology for the natural resources and energy sectors. It brings together the best thinking in academia, industry, and government for the economic, social, and environmental benefit of all Canadians. By doing so, it offers global solutions to common challenges.

In 2009–2010, CSEE will develop the go-to centre for energy and environment (E&E) solutions. This includes the design and implementation of an interactive website that provides real-time, interactive, international access and exchange of information through a powerful web-based environment that allows the CSEE user community to engage, participate and collaborate among peers.

CSEE will also meet with industry and researchers/scientists at various energy and environment institutes across Canada, and hold a conference on environment and energy in the fall. The CSEE web-based Information Exchange System (CSEE–WIES) will grow, over a period of 5 to 10 years, to become one of the world’s primary informational resources spanning E&E research, education and communication on a variety of levels. Through March 2010, development and launch of this website will be the main activity of the CSEE.

The School is pursuing a memorandum of understanding with Purdue University outlining a cooperative development strategy for HUBzero technology use and enhancement for the website project. A project strategy is also being developed which involves the creation of pillars of expertise, where pillars evolve and link to each other. Once created, each pillar will have staged growth on the website.

CIFAR is a not-for-profit corporation that supports networks of some of the best Canadian and international researchers in conducting long-term research on scientific, social and economic issues of vital importance to Canada.

In 2009–2010, CIFAR plans to continue to support its existing research programs in: cosmology and gravity, earth system evolution, experience-based brain and biological development, genetic networks, institutions, organizations and growth, integrated microbial biodiversity, nanoelectronics, neural computation and adaptive perception, quantum information processing, quantum materials, social interactions, identity and well-being, and successful societies.

CIFAR will continue to:

• explore new research questions targeting the humanities;
• build capacity in gifted young researchers and develop new generations of research leaders through the launch of its Junior Fellow Academy (which will support up to 30 junior fellows across 12 research programs);
• expand global partnerships and continue to build international linkages;
• develop and implement a systematic approach to knowledge transfer; and
• enhance and extend its research model.

CIFAR will continue to establish a higher public profile in order to help raise awareness of the work that it enables. A higher profile should result in increased fundraising opportunities and also create a broader awareness of the importance of advanced research to Canada and the world. Increased profile will also help CIFAR attain its overall vision and will support the achievement of other strategic priorities such as knowledge transfer, international outreach and endowment.

The Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education Inc. (CANARIE) operates and develops Canada’s advanced, high-speed backbone network that facilitates the development and use of next generation technologies. In partnership with advanced research networks in every province, the CANARIE network connects research facilities, educational institutions, hospitals, and other science facilities to each other and to their international peers. It is an essential tool for researchers and educators engaged in collaborative work.

CANARIE will continue to operate and develop the next generation network and foster collaborative arrangements among researchers, enabling them to participate in research activities across Canada and around the world. Through the Network-Enabled Platforms Program (NEP) and Infrastructure Extensions Program (IEP), CANARIE will extend access to the network and accelerate the development of cyber-infrastructure platforms to position Canada’s research community to take full advantage of the next transformation in the way research is conducted.

Results are reported back to Industry Canada on an annual basis.

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is an arms-length, not-for-profit organization that was established to assess the state of scientific knowledge underpinning key public policy issues. Its founding members are the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

The Government of Canada provided a $30 million one-time conditional grant in July 2005 from Budget 2005, which entitles the government to up to 5 assessments per year. All CCA assessments are undertaken by independent panels of qualified experts from Canada and abroad. Each assessment takes 12 months to 2 years to complete.

In July 2008, the CCA released the report Small is Different: A Science Perspective on the Regulatory Challenges of the Nanoscale. In 2008–2009, the CCA will complete 3 other assessments on: Energy From Gas Hydrates: Assessing the Opportunities and Challenges for Canada, Sustainable Management of Groundwater in Canada and Private Sector Innovation in Canada.

In addition, the Council is expected to make significant progress on an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of management, business and finance research in Canada. These assessments will not contain specific policy recommendations. Rather, they will report on the relevant science — identifying both what is known (or at least strongly supported by the existing evidence) and where there are gaps in our knowledge. Such findings will be relevant for policy decisions in cases where scientific factors play a significant role.

Genome Canada is an independent corporation that supports 6 regional genome centres across Canada. Genome Canada, the primary funding and information resource concerned with genomics and proteomics in Canada, has enabled Canada to become a world leader in key areas such as agriculture, environment, fisheries, forestry, health and new technology development, as well as ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social issues related to genomics (GE3LS).

In 2008–2009, Genome Canada will continue to deliver its mandate as the primary funding and information resource for genomics and proteomics research in Canada, aligning its activities to its five national objectives. It will continue to conduct ongoing monitoring and interim review of its large-scale research projects and science and technology (S&T) platforms in order to ensure milestones are met and to identify areas for improvement.

Genome Canada will undertake several activities with respect to assessing results of the research it has funded. These will include the commissioning of a third bibliometric study, which will offer indications on expected results (publications, patents, FTEs) of the federal government’s past investment of $700 million in Genome Canada as well as future investments. In addition, Genome Canada will undertake a performance audit to assess the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and programs, as well as an evaluation audit to assess the organization’s overall performance (2009–2010) in achieving its five objectives.

Genome Canada will continue to:

• develop a coordinated national strategy for genomics research;
• provide leading-edge technology to researchers in all genomics-related areas through regional genome centres across Canada;
• support large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects of strategic importance to Canada by bringing together industry, governments, universities, research hospitals and the public;
• provide leadership in the areas of ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social issues, and the communication of the relative risks, rewards and successes of genomics research to the public; and
• encourage investment by others in the field of genomics research.

The Heart & Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery (HSFCSR), affiliated with the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa, is developing a program of integrated, translational research that includes molecular biology, laboratory models and clinical studies that help pave the way for designing and testing post-stroke interventions and therapies more quickly.

The Centre’s primary research objective is to establish a program of excellence in brain recovery research that will be globally competitive and will have a realistic likelihood of leading to effective functional improvements after a stroke.

In 2009–2010 the HSFCSR will continue to: build research capacity by recruiting world-class researchers and acquiring the equipment to support their research; foster research collaborations across its cellular and molecular, physical rehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation themes; and will ensure its long-term sustainability by securing enduring commitments from its participating institutions, capturing competitive operating funds, and creating incremental revenues from private donors and not-for-profit organizations.

The HSFCSR progressive model of research integration and collaboration will lead to:

• more effective, customized rehabilitation;
• improved ability to save crucial brain cells during and after a stroke;
• enhanced brain plasticity and ability to establish new connections in the brain, after a stroke; and
• faster, more complete functional recovery for as many patients as possible.

Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (LKSKI) of St. Michael’s Hospital will bring together research, education and clinical care with a commitment to knowledge translation in order to bridge the gap between research knowledge and health care practice. The Institute will initially focus on inner city health, heart and lung disease, diabetes, nutrition, brain injury and multi-organ failure, building on existing research teams of scientists, research coordinators, programmers and technicians.

The Institute’s main objectives are to generate knowledge about the:

• biological mechanisms underlying health and disease;
• application of fundamental research to improve the understanding and treatment of human disease;
• best methods of preventing disease and providing health care;
• social, economic and policy determinants of health;
  • best methods of partnering with the wider community to generate policy relevant research and ensuring greater health equity; and
  • best methods of educating fundamental researchers, health professionals and managers.

Grant funding from the federal government has begun to be dispersed for construction costs on the building; however LKSKI has already embarked on developing new research programs. Examples of programs include the Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC), aimed at providing robust physical and human infrastructure to design, conduct and analyze clinical studies; and the Health Media and Innovation Lab (HMiL) focussed on combining the best of evidence-based medicine and the media to engage patients, families, clinicians and the public.

The majority of activities in 2009–2010 will be focussed on the construction of the building. During this time LKSKI will launch recruitment efforts and establish a solid baseline of performance to enable us to benchmark our activity going forward. LKSKI is confident that the physical structure will serve as a key attraction for the recruitment of superb scientists, while also ensuring the retention of its current cadre of excellent investigators.

The physical structure of LKSKI exemplifies a new vision for the integration of research and education, and will enable the realization of our vision of knowledge translation — bringing the best available evidence to the bedside in the most effective ways. This is a strong statement of its direction as an institute and of the expectations of the researchers and educators that will be housed there.

• An annual financial audit will take place at year end, March 31, 2009, for year 2008–2009.
• LKSKI has developed an evaluation model for its research and education activity.
• Implementation will begin in 2009–2010 with the goal of generating a set of pilot data for that year.
• LKSKI International Advisory Committee will be meeting in May 2009, to review LKSKI ’s performance.
• A compliance audit will be completed by September 30, 2010.

The Life Science Research Institute (LSRI) is a partnership of Capital Health, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre. LSRI will provide open concept research and incubator space for the Halifax region’s growing life sciences and biotechnology sector and has potential to create employment, attract investment, foster innovation and improve the quality of health care and life for people in the region.

The Institute’s objectives are to:

• provide infrastructure to support excellence in research in life sciences;
• foster and encourage collaboration, partnerships and networks that will facilitate new and innovative approaches to life science challenges;
• provide an environment where knowledge translation and commercialization opportunities can flourish and lead to economic benefits; and
• foster and promote outcomes from research to decision makers to improve healthcare and provide social benefits.

The LSRI is designed to provide a focus for research and development collaborations across research, health care and academic institutions, government and industry by providing a centrally-located facility and an organizational focus for life sciences research and development in Atlantic Canada.

Objectives to be attained using the grant funds in 2009–2010 include:

• completing construction of the LSRI building; and
• completing the installation of the facility’s mechanical, electrical and other interior systems.

The Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) is a teaching and research institute of McGill University in which multidisciplinary teams of researchers work to generate fundamental information about the nervous system and apply that knowledge to understanding and treating patients with neurological diseases. Over 80 faculty members contribute their world-class research and clinical strengths in multidisciplinary teams of investigators, trained in fields such as neurology, neurosurgery, cellular and molecular biochemistry, engineering and psychology.

In 2009–2010, MNI will continue to support ongoing research programs likely to have a significant translational or commercial impact. These include programs developing strategies to enhance nerve regeneration after injury and reduce chronic pain, programs characterizing cell biological dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease and abnormal brain growth in autism, and programs that aim to accelerate innovation in brain imaging and disease diagnosis.

• Internal audits of MNI are conducted yearly with McGill University and results will be reported to Industry Canada.
• A compliance audit will be completed by November 2009.

The Perimeter Institute (PI) for Theoretical Physics is an independent, non-profit, resident-based research institute devoted to foundational issues in theoretical physics at the highest levels of international excellence. PI pursues scientific research and educational outreach activities, where international scientists cluster to push the limits of understanding of physical laws and develops new ideas about the very essence of space, time, matter and information. PI provides a multi-disciplinary environment to foster research in areas of cosmology, particle physics, quantum foundations, quantum gravity, quantum information, superstring theory and related areas.

In 2009–2010, PI will pursue 3 strategic objectives: PI will:

• establish itself as a premier international centre for foundational physics in accordance with its mission statement as describe above;
  • integrate with the surrounding Canadian academic community and enhance the capability of, and national reputation, for fundamental physics research; and
  • develop and maintain a vigorous public outreach program geared to Canadians of all ages to promote fundamental inquiry and scientific discovery.

• A performance audit will be conducted by June 30, 2010.
• A program evaluation will be completed by March 31, 2011.

Precarn is Canada’s national organization for the development and commercialization of intelligent systems and robotics. In the Precarn model for commercializing research and development (R&D), a private-sector technology developer enters into a formal collaborative agreement with Precarn. This agreement incorporates a commercialization plan and a marketing strategy for the technology under development.

Under this program, Precarn commits to undertaking a 5-year technology commercialization program. Precarn will disburse its funds by issuing requests for proposals to industry and by undertaking a formal, rigorous and transparent assessment of the submissions it receives. The most promising proposals will be forwarded to Precarn’s board of directors for final approval. Results are reported back to Industry Canada on a quarterly and annual basis.

• An evaluation framework for Phase 4 is in place.
• A compliance audit for Phase 4 was completed and submitted to Industry Canada in June, 2006.
• Precarn supplies annual financial statements which are certified by an independent auditor.
• Precarn will also undertake a summative program evaluation of Phase 4 and deliver it to the Minister before the program ends on March 31, 2010.

The Trudeau Foundation supports research and the dissemination of research findings in the humanities and human sciences, such as: Canadian studies, history, international relations, journalism, law, peace and conflict studies, philosophy, political economy, political science, sociology, and urban and community studies.

In 2009–2010, the Foundation will award 5 fellowships, 15 scholarships and 9 mentorships in the humanities and social sciences. The Foundation will also organize 4 annual public interaction events: the Trudeau Conference on Public Policy (November), the Trudeau Mentors–Scholars Retreat (January or February), the Summer Institute (May) and the new Trudeau Lectures Series by 5 fellows (fall/winter). The Foundation will sponsor 4 events organized by Trudeau Community members around the Foundation’s key themes.

The National Optics Institute (INO), located in Québec, is a world-class centre of expertise in optics and photonics, and works with businesses to help them find solutions and technology platforms to meet their needs. INO provides: research and development support for clients, prototype production, technology transfer, and promotes innovative projects. In the last 5 years, INO has generated earnings of $141 million, has created 20 new optics and photonics spinoffs, and has made 28 technology transfers to industry.

In 2009–2010 INO will continue its pan-Canadian expansion with increased resources in the Ontario office. It plans to locate 4 employees in this location. INO will also open a new office in Alberta where it plans to have 4 employees serving Western Canadian industries.

INO will also work on its 5-year objectives (2006–2011), which are: 11 new spinoffs; 16 new technology transfers; 100 new patents requested; and reaching 60% in self-financing.

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) supports and develops youth entrepreneurship. The youth business program provides loans, mentorship support and an interactive website to entrepreneurs between 18 and 34 years of age.

CYBF will continue to expand its programs to support young Canadians who see entrepreneurship as a viable option, but who would not typically be supported by traditional lending institutions. In addition to increasing the provision of loans, the program aims to enhance the fundamental business skills required to run a successful business.

CYBF will also increase the number of new community partners, augment its support and reach into local communities, establish new in-house mentoring programs and services, enhance and expand its Business Start-Up financing program, and implement a multi-tiered marketing and outreach strategy to increase the number of participants in, and the number of sponsors of, the program.

An evaluation measuring the overall performance of CYBF in achieving its objectives will be conducted by an independent third party by September 2009.

CYBF will make its annual report available to the public, in both official languages, within 6 months of the end of each fiscal year. The report also includes the annual audited financial statements reviewed by a professionally certified external accountant/auditor.