ARCHIVED - National Research Council Canada

Strategic Outcome: Canadians have access to research and development, information and infrastructure

Program Activity: National Science and Technology Infrastructure

Name of Transfer Payment Program: 1. Contributions to International Telescope Programs

Start date: 1978 (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT))

End date: December 2012 (US National Science Foundation in support of Gemini)

Description: NRC, in partnership with other international bodies, provides financial contributions that support the management and operations of four international, offshore observatories and their related facilities (2 telescopes for Gemini Observatory, 66 for Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)), and participates in the oversight and direction of the facilities and research. Astrophysics research and development requires large, costly and very precise telescopes and related instruments situated in areas that will provide ideal viewing conditions. It is beyond the capacity of individual organizations or even countries to support the costs of developing and maintaining the facilities required to conduct forefront astrophysics research, thus it is necessary for public sector organizations, through international partnerships, to support this research and development. NRC is a critical participant in the international astronomical community and through our international collaborations work is ongoing for Canada's Long Range Plan for Astronomy (LRP).

Expected results:

• Facilitated access to forefront facilities and technology for Canadian astronomers, permitting the Canadian research community to perform at world-class level; and
• A prominent role for Canada in international scientific endeavours, as a member of G8 and the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD).

Strategic Outcome: Canadians have access to research and development, information and infrastructure

Program Activity: National Science and Technology Infrastructure

Name of Transfer Payment Program: 2. Contribution to the University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Carleton University, L'Université de Montréal, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto, and University of Victoria operating a Joint Venture known as TRIUMF

Start date: April 1, 1977

End date: March 30, 2010

Description: The Facility for Sub-Atomic Research (TRIUMF), is Canada's national laboratory for nuclear and particle physics, and one of Canada's key investments in large-scale research infrastructure. It provides world-class facilities for research in subatomic physics, life sciences, nuclear medicine and materials science. A consortium of seven Canadian universities own and manage the operations of TRIUMF. TRIUMF receives its federal funding in five-year allocations via a Contribution Agreement from NRC. NRC plays an important oversight and stewardship role for TRIUMF, providing funds to the facility on behalf of the Government of Canada via a contribution agreement. TRIUMF has five-year funding of $222 million for the 2005-2010 period. TRIUMF is currently seeking renewed funding for its new Plan, covering the period 2010-15.

Expected results:

• Facilitated access to the forefront facilities of TRIUMF and at at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), permitting the Canadian research community to perform at world-class level; and
• A continued prominent role for Canada at the forefront of international science, as a member of G8, OECD, and NATO.

Strategic Outcome: Advancements in innovative technologies and increased innovation capacity in targeted Canadian industries and national priority areas

Program Activity: Industrial Research Assistance

Name of Transfer Payment Program: 3. Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Start date: April 1, 2008

End date: March 31, 2013

Description: This program provides a range of technical and business-oriented advisory services, as well as financial support for small and medium-sized (SME) Canadian businesses engaged in research and development of technological innovations. The program is important for enabling enterprises to generate significant economic activity for Canadian industry by augmenting the capacity and capability of enterprises to innovate and commercialize. Financial support is provided through a transfer payment program delivered by a cross-Canada network of more than 250 professionals, including over 230 Industrial Technology Advisors (ITAs), and located in approximately 100 communities. The field staff of professionals, recognized for their scientific, technical, engineering, business expertise, and knowledge of SMEs, provides clients with customized value-added advice, information, referrals and financial assistance. They work with clients at all stages of the innovation-commercialization continuum, including: project development; access to technical assistance, financial, business, marketing or management advice; access to competitive technical information; patent searches; and access to local, regional, national or international linkages. NRC-IRAP Innovation Network Advisors (INAs) represent and promote NRC-IRAP in the community innovation system and build effective regional innovation system relationships for the benefit of SMEs. This includes working with organizations that receive NRC-IRAP contributions as well as with other organizations to facilitate the implementation of multi-sector, multi-partner initiatives that are relevant to SMEs regionally and nationally. As well, the program supports the placement of graduates in SMEs through its participation in the delivery of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

Expected results:

• SMEs in Canada have merit-based access to effective and efficient innovation support resulting in increased wealth.

Part A: Green Procurement Capacity Building

Part B: Use of Green Consolidated Procurement Instruments

Part C: Reduction Initiatives for Specific Goods

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI)

Name of lead department(s): National Research Council (NRC)

Lead department program activity: Health and Life Sciences Technologies

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: 1999-2000

End date of the Horizontal Initiative: 2010-11 (The current phase of GRDI is from 2008-09 to 2010-11)

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $234,100,000

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The GRDI was established for the purpose of building and maintaining capacity inside government departments to do genomics research. As an enabling technology, genomics provides powerful tools and precise information to support operational mandates and upon which policy and regulatory decisions can be based. Federal science-based departments and agencies interact with partners, stakeholders and clients and link these enabling tools and technologies to value-added applications that enable Canada to respond to national priorities, deliver on government mandates and support the development of wealth for Canadians.

These applications range from international requirements for genomics-enabled testing to support access of exported products; the ability to interpret and assess genomics information submitted with product information for regulatory oversight; the development of assays and products using genomics approaches for enhancing Canadian's lives (e.g. public health, food safety), the environment and sustainability of human activities; socio-economic and ethical considerations related to the use and integration of genomics in healthcare, environmental sustainability activities, and consumer and industrial products and applications; and facilitating Canadians' access to accurate and understandable information concerning genome sciences.

Shared outcome(s): A revised Results-based Management Accountability Framework (RMAF) was prepared for GRDI in 2006-07 based on an ultimate outcome of enhanced quality of life in terms of health and safety, environment, and socio-economic development. Long-term outcomes include: improved health care (e.g. diagnostics and treatment, reduced heath and environmental risks, reduced heath costs); reduced environmental impacts (e.g. water quality, healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, agriculture, forestry and aquaculture); and improved competitiveness of Canadian companies (e.g. diversification, improved productivity, cost reductions, sustainable development).

Governance structure(s): An interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Coordinating Committee has been established to oversee collective management and coordination of the federal GRDI. The Committee ensures that effective priority setting mechanisms are established within departments, and that government objectives and priorities are addressed.

The Committee also ensures that common GRDI management principles are implemented and horizontal collaborations between organizations are pursued wherever relevant and possible. The committee includes members from each of the organizations receiving funding and a representative from Industry Canada.

An Interdepartmental Working Group (WG) supports the work of the committee. The mandate of the WG is to provide recommendations and advice to the ADM Coordinating Committee regarding strategic priority setting and overall management of the GRDI. The WG also supports evaluation and reporting requirements related to the initiative. NRC is the lead agency for the Initiative and chairs the Coordinating Committee and the Working Group.

Planning Highlights: Fiscal year 2010-11 is the last year of GRDI Phase IV. Participating departments and agencies continue to invest in programs and projects that were selected at the beginning of the planning cycle (2008-09), following assessments of satisfactory performance.

The global context has evolved since the policy authority was provided for GRDI in 1999 and in the current climate of limited resources, genomics R&D in federal laboratories largely depend on this initiative. Canada needs to realign its intramural activities to address this new context, to prepare for next generation technologies that will revolutionize genomics research, and to avoid losing ground. It needs to deliver on the federal government's commitment to "promote more effective horizontal management of cross-cutting issues that touch on government-wide priorities, and application of consistent mechanisms for promoting high accountability in the use of federal S&T resources." With this in mind GRDI will build on the success and relevance of this horizontal initiative, consider Canada's evolving economic, scientific and policy contexts, and actively address the recommendations received from the GRDI's Formative Review. The federal genomics R&D community is currently planning a refocused GRDI with strengthened delivery mechanisms around strategic priorities and improved interdepartmental integration to best fulfill the role of federal research towards economic and social goals for Canada. It reflects the view that the new GRDI must seek to a) Deliver high-impact solutions to identified enduring and emerging issues through horizontal integration and effective partnerships for economic, social, and environmental benefits for Canadians; and b) Support the priorities, policies and mandates of government through concerted high calibre genomics research in areas where federal laboratories have distinct roles and competencies.

Expected Results:

1. Commercially relevant advances in areas of genomics R&D related to human health (e.g. genetic testing, diagnostics, microbial genomic applications, treating and preventing human diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and pathogen detection).

2. Improvements in crop value in cereals, soybean and canola through quality improvements in areas related to plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses (e.g. resistance to disease, tolerance to drought and cold), as well as seed development and metabolism (e.g. related to oil content for biofuels and nutraceutical applications).

3. Sustainable management of aquatic resources through the use of genomics tools to: manage fishery openings; generate increased understanding of population genetics and structure; further understanding of behavioural, physiological and immunological responses to the environment; and through the management of aquatic animal diseases.

4. Positioning the Canadian regulatory system for health to enable innovation while minimizing the risks to Canadians through a focused genomics R&D program aimed at strengthening capacity in priority areas such as genetic information, biotechnology products, human genomics and microbial genomics, on human, animal and environmental health.

5. Increased knowledge for forest generation and protection methods, and for addressing environmental impact considerations, through a focused genomics R&D effort on species and traits that are of economic importance to Canada.

6. Development of genome-science applications to support regulatory and enforcement activities in key areas such as environmental risk assessment and management; enforcement and compliance; pollution detection, monitoring and prevention; conservation biology and wildlife genetics.

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners: N/A

Contact information:

Gary Fudge, P. Eng.
Director, Life Sciences Horizontal Initiatives
National Research Council Canada
613-949-0542