Policy Concentrates RESEARCH FUNDING
Canada recommits to basic science Trudeau government proposes to add 4 billion Canadian dollars over five years for research programs
government. NRC’s new mission will be to “catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs,” the government says. That new mission, Canada is on track for a significant investmeet the $1.3 billion-per-year threshold, however, does not mean a large increase ment in science and research, according the budget makes “important advances in NRC’s budget, which is slated for a to the federal budget proposal announced on the road map developed by the Naylor 10% increase to $1.1 billion in 2018–19 Feb. 27. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s report,” says Paul Davidson, president of and would be stagnant after that. government plans to commit an additional Universities Canada, which advocates for The budget also changes the govern4 billion Canadian dollars (3.1 billion U.S. Canadian universities. ment’s previous focus on large grants dollars) for research programs over the Kathleen Walsh, director of policy at for “boutique” research, in which a small next five years. Evidence for Democracy, calls the budget number of senior researchers head big Of that $4 billion, $925 million is a historic investment in fundamental projects. The overall goal is to allow for earmarked for the country’s three main research in Canada. She also lauds the greater diversity among grant recipients. research-granting councils in what the government’s proposal to create a new “By my calculations, there was signifigovernment says is “the single largest intri-council fund to support research that cantly less spent on specific projects this vestment in fundamental research in Cais “international, interdisciplinary, fast year compared to last year,” Walsh says. nadian history.” The Natural Sciences & breaking, and higher risk.” Canada’s 2017 budget, for example, inEngineering Research Council, Canadian In addition to increased funding for cluded renewed funding of $6 million in the granting councils and CFI, the 2018 Institutes of Health Research, and Social 2017–18 for the Stem Cell Network. The budget announced a “reimagined” NaSciences & Humanities Research Counnetwork does not get a separate line item tional Research Council (NRC), Canacil will each get a 25% boost in funding in the new proposed budget. da’s federal research and development phased in over three years, after which University of Ottawa ecologist Jeremy organization, which focused largely on their funding will stabilize. Kerr, who has spoken publicly about the The budget also calls for stable funding commercial research under the Harper need to fund early-career for the Canada Foundation researchers, says he was for Innovation (CFI), which Prime Minister Trudeau proposes to increase basic research especially pleased to see the pays for equipment and fafederal government dedicate cilities at institutions across funding starting in 2018–19. Total science and technology funding across the Canadian government was $11.3 billion in an additional $210 milthe country. CFI funding 2017–18. lion over five years for the has fluctuated since it was Canada Research Chairs established in 1997. The plan Millions of Canadian $ Program. That program now is to more than double (U.S. $ millions) ◾ 2013–14a ◾ 2017–18a ◾ 2018–19b aims to attract younger sciCFI’s budget over the next entists to and retain them in five years, then stabilize it. 456 Canada Foundation for Canada. The 2018 budget’s focus 373 Innovation 399 (309) “The government expects on research responds to last these newly appointed earyear’s government-commis1,084 ly-career researchers will sioned Fundamental SciCanadian Institutes of 1,105 be diverse. They’ve written ence Review report, which Health Research 1,131 (877) this into the budget,” Kerr recommended an increase says. “It’s a really important of $1.3 billion in annual 1,018 National Research message to move the previfunding for the granting 1,019 Council Canada ous status quo, which discouncils and CFI to make up 1,110 (861) proportionately saw these for years of underspending 1,162 Natural Sciences & chairs going to men, and not relative to other countries. 1,228 Engineering Research very diverse men.” The report, led by former 1,251 (970) Council of Canada Although the fiscal University of Toronto presyear starts on April 1, the ident C. David Naylor, high756 Social Sciences & Canadian Parliament typlighted a growing shortfall 788 Humanities Research ically passes a temporary in science funding after cuts 802 (622) Council of Canada spending measure to cover under previous prime minthe first few months, then ister Stephen Harper’s Cona Actual, converted for inflation to 2018 dollars using Bank of Canada calculator on March 8. completes budget appropriservative government. b Proposed; figures converted from Canadian to U.S. dollars at the March 8 exchange rate of ations in June.—SHARON While the announced $1.00 Canadian = $0.78 U.S. boost to science doesn’t OOSTHOEK, special to C&EN Sources: Statistics Canada, Government of Canada Budget Plan 2018
Canada’s science spending
APRIL 2, 2018 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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