2009-10
Report on Plans and Priorities
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Supplementary Information (Tables)
Table of Contents
- Details on Transfer Payments Programs
- Internal Audits
- Evaluations
- Sources of Respendable and Non-respendable Revenue
Details on NSERC's Transfer Payment Programs
- 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada
- 2.0 Discovery − High quality Canadian-based competitive research in the natural sciences and engineering
- 3.0 Innovation − Productive use of new knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Grants and Scholarships
Start date: April 1, 1978
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on October 31, 2011)
Description: NSERC’s class grant Grants and Scholarships program supports university-based basic and project research, college-based project research, provides scholarships and fellowships to young researchers, and facilitates links between universities, colleges, the private sector, and governments.
Expected results:
- Enhanced research capacity resulting from a supply of highly qualified people with leading-edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government, and universities;
- Enhanced discovery, innovation, and training capabilities of university and college researchers in the natural sciences and engineering; and
- Strong linkages created between universities, colleges, industry, and government, supporting the transfer of knowledge and technology with economic and/or social benefits to Canadians.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PEOPLE | ||||
Program Activity 1.1: Promote Science and Engineering | ||||
Total grants | 5.96 | 6.53 | 5.59 | 5.48 |
Program Activity 1.2: Support Students and Fellows | ||||
Total grants | 149.86 | 149.79 | 152.73 | 156.61 |
Program Activity 1.3: Attract and Retain Faculty | ||||
Total grants | 165.59 | 166.21 | 164.99 | 164.99 |
Total for PEOPLE | 321.41 | 322.53 | 323.31 | 327.08 |
DISCOVERY | ||||
Program Activity 2.1: Fund Basic Research | ||||
Total Grants | 364.18 | 361.18 | 358.76 | 354.76 |
Program Activity 2.2: Support for Research Equipment and Major Resources | ||||
Total Grants | 51.36 | 45.35 | 43.37 | 45.40 |
Total for DISCOVERY | 415.54 | 406.53 | 402.13 | 400.16 |
INNOVATION | ||||
Program Activity 3.1: Fund Research in Strategic Areas | ||||
Total Grants | 111.27 | 121.51 | 131.17 | 132.79 |
Program Activity 3.2: Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships | ||||
Total Grants | 120.25 | 103.60 | 99.98 | 98.39 |
Program Activity 3.3: Support Commercialization | ||||
Total Grants | 13.40 | 44.47 | 24.93 | 24.93 |
Total for INNOVATION | 244.92 | 269.58 | 256.08 | 256.11 |
Total for Program | 981.87 | 998.64 | 981.52 | 983.35 |
Planned Evaluations (year of completion) |
|
- 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Start date: April 1, 2003
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on (May 31, 2009)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program which is called the Alexander Graham Bell CGS, provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master's or doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering.
Expected results:
- Increased capacity to meet demand for highly qualified personnel in the academic, public and private sectors.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Activity 1.2: Support Students and Fellows | ||||
Total grants | 40.08 | 42.58 | 42.58 | 42.58 |
Total for PEOPLE | 40.08 | 42.58 | 42.58 | 42.58 |
Total for Program | 40.08 | 42.58 | 42.58 | 42.58 |
Planned Evaluations (year of completion) | Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) Evaluation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships (2008-09) |
- 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Start date: August 1, 2008
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on July 31, 2013)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program provides financial support to Canadian and International students who have achieved outstanding success in their studies and will pursue a doctoral program in a Canadian university, in areas of natural sciences and engineering.
Expected results:
- Establishment of a Canadian doctoral scholarship that is internationally competitive and internationally recognized, similar to other international scholarships such as the Fulbright and Rhodes;
- Enhanced capacity of Canadian universities to attract the best and brightest students from Canada and the world with the potential to become leaders in the next generation of researchers in Canada;
- Attract to Canada top students from other countries who will bring with them new knowledge and ideas and enrich the Canadian learning environment;
- Retain Canada’s top doctoral students in the face of intense international competition for the brightest researchers;
- Promote and brand Canada as a home of research excellence and Canadian Universities as world-class institutions of research and higher learning e.g. by improving their standing on the list of the 100 top Universities internationally;
- Establish effective research collaborations and networks between Canada and the recipients’ home countries; and
- Create an alumni of “ambassadors” for Canada worldwide who will promote Canada as a destination for research excellence and higher learning.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
PEOPLE | ||||
Program Activity 1.2: Support Students and Fellows | ||||
Total grants | - | 2.8 | 5.55 | 8.35 |
Total for PEOPLE | - | 2.8 | 5.55 | 8.35 |
Total for Program | - | 2.8 | 5.55 | 8.35 |
- 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Industrial R&D Internship
Start date: November 30, 2007
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire November 29, 2012)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Industrial R&D Internship (IRDI) program provides financial support to eligible, non-for-profit organizations to match graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with private sector organizations for private sector research internships involving expertise in natural sciences and engineering. The interns work on research projects jointly developed by their private sector partner and academic supervisor.
Expected results:
- Job opportunities with businesses are created for skilled graduates.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Activity 1.2: Support Students and Fellows | ||||
Total grants | 4.26 | 4.38 | 5.88 | 6.88 |
Total for PEOPLE | 4.26 | 4.38 | 5.88 | 6.88 |
Total for Program | 4.26 | 4.38 | 5.88 | 6.88 |
- 3.0 Innovation − Productive use of new knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Networks of Centres of Excellence
Start date: February 18, 1997
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on September 19, 2013)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Networks of Centres of Excellence program to mobilize Canada’s research talent in the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors and apply it to the task of developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians.
Expected results:
- 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; and
- Increase in Canada’s international visibility and reputation.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
INNOVATION | ||||
Program Activity 3.2: Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships | ||||
Total grants | 32.69 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 40.2 |
Total for INNOVATION | 32.69 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 40.2 |
Total for Program | 32.69 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 40.2 |
- 3.0 Innovation − Productive use of new knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence
Start date: September 28, 2007
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on June 13, 2012)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program establishes networks conducting research in priority areas resulting in a long-term competitive advantage to consortia of Canadian firms, supported by networks of academics and government researchers in areas of natural sciences and engineering. This program is included within the class grants Networks of Centres of Excellence program.
Expected results:
- To fund business-led world-class national research networks that yield research-related and commercialization-related benefits for Canada.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
INNOVATION | ||||
Program Activity 3.2: Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships | ||||
Total grants | 7.02 | 7.41 | 8.41 | 8.41 |
Total for INNOVATION | 7.02 | 7.41 | 8.41 | 8.41 |
Total for Program | 7.02 | 7.41 | 8.41 | 8.41 |
Planned Evaluations (year of completion) | Formative Evaluation of Business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence (2010-11) |
- 3.0 Innovation − Productive use of new knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: College and Community Innovation
Start date: December 6, 2007
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire November 29, 2012)
Description: NSERC's portion of the tri-agency class grant College and Community Innovation program increases innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly SMEs, in areas of natural sciences and engineering. It supports applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies, in areas of strategic importance to Canada.
Expected results:
- Increased capacity of Canadian colleges to support innovation at the community and/or regional level.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Activity 3.3: Support Commercialization | ||||
Total grants | 2.05 | 14.55 | 14.55 | 14.55 |
Total for INNOVATION | 2.05 | 14.55 | 14.55 | 14.55 |
Total for Program | 2.05 | 14.55 | 14.55 | 14.55 |
- 3.0 Innovation − Productive use of new knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
Program Activity: N/A
Name of Transfer Payment Program: Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research
Start date: June 29, 2007
End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on June 29, 2012)
Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program supports the operation of commercialization and/or research Centres that bring together people, services, and infrastructure to maximize the benefits of the government’s investments in skills and research and to encourage greater private sector investment in science and technology, in areas of natural sciences and engineering.
Expected results:
- To maximize the benefits of government investment in R&D and encourage the private sector to increase its investment in Science & Technology.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2008-09 |
Planned Spending 2009-10 |
Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
INNOVATION | ||||
Program Activity 3.3: Support Commercialization | ||||
Total grants | 26.66 | 19.12 | - | - |
Total for INNOVATION | 26.66 | 19.12 | - | - |
Total for Program | 26.66 | 19.12 | - | - |
Planned Evaluations (year of completion) |
|
Note: Funds are earmarked in the fiscal framework for the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) for 2010-11 and 2011-12 in the amounts of $28.485M and $28.835M respectively. The amounts allocated to each Council cannot be determined at this time.
Internal Audits
Upcoming Internal Audits (Next three fiscal years) |
In 2008-09, NSERC and SSHRC completed a merger of their internal audit units. Currently, the Internal Audit Team is developing detailed profiles of program components and evaluating risk exposures for the purpose of recommending internal audit projects for 2009-10. In addition, resources have been earmarked to assist in the conduct of horizontal audits, as may be directed by the Office of the Comptroller General. Specific projects have not yet been identified and, therefore, a list of upcoming audits is not available at the time of tabling of this report. |
Electronic link to audit reports: NSERC Internal Audits |
Evaluations (Next three fiscal years)
Name of Evaluation | Program Type | Status | Expected Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|
Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) Evaluation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships | Transfer Payment Program | Completed | 2008-09 |
Evaluation of NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships in Industry and in Academia | Transfer Payment Program | In progress | 2008-09 |
Tri-Agency Evaluation of the Canada Research Chairs | Transfer Payment Program | In progress | 2009-10 |
Evaluation of Collaborative Research and Development Grants | Transfer Payment Program | In progress | 2009-10 |
Formative Evaluation of the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research | Transfer Payment Program | In progress | 2009-10 |
Evaluation of PromoScience | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2009-10 |
Evaluation of Undergraduate Student Research Awards in University and in Industry | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2009-10 |
Evaluation of the Strategic Projects and Strategic Networks Grants | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2009-10 |
Evaluation of NSERC Prizes | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2010-11 |
Evaluation of the Postdoctoral and Industrial Research and Development Fellowships | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2010-11 |
Evaluation of the Collaborative Health Research Projects | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2010-11 |
Formative Evaluation of Business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2010-11 |
Evaluation of the Idea to Innovation Program | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2011-12 |
Special Study of the Chairs in Targeted Areas of Research | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2011-12 |
Evaluation of the Special Research Opportunities Grants | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2011-12 |
Evaluation of the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research | Transfer Payment Program | Planned | 2011-12 |
Sources of Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue
Program Activity | Respendable revenue | Forecast Revenue 2008-09 |
Planned Revenue 2009-10 |
Planned Revenue 2010-11 |
Planned Revenue 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subtotal | |||||
Total Respendable Revenue |
Program Activity | Non-respendable revenue | Forecast Revenue 2008-09 |
Planned Revenue 2009-10 |
Planned Revenue 2010-11 |
Planned Revenue 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | ||
Subtotal | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
Total Non-respendable Revenue | |||||
Total Respendable and Non-respendable Revenue | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
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