Artikkelit
20.11.2024
Science policy in Canada is shaped by initiatives from both federal and provincial governments, Sari Tojkander
Canadian science policy aligns with international commitments and joint sustainable development goals. Policy decisions have been one of the key factors contributing to Canada's scientific success through the strong emphasis on basic research. The government provides substantial support for science through various funding agencies and foundations, and by supporting collaborations between academic institutions, industries, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations. This collaborative approach has allowed addressing complex challenges linked to climate change, health, and development of new technologies. Recent policies also underscore the importance of diversity and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in science.
Federal science policies
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is a Canadian department that is responsible for promoting science and innovation, regulating industry, and supporting economic development. ISED is led by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (currently François-Philippe Champagne) who oversees all the operations in the department. Additionally, ISED collaborates with Canadians across various sectors and regions to foster a more favorable environment for scientific breakthroughs, boosts innovations, and investments to promote competitiveness on the global markets.
Besides ISED, The Office of the Chief Science Advisor is supporting the federal departments and agencies in advancing federal policy-making by offering guidance on scientific matters. It also has a role in giving advice on strategies related to availability of the research data and in insuring that the scientific data is used in public policy decisions.
The Role of Provincial Governments
In Canada, the provinces are very independent in decision-making, and provincial governments also play a crucial role in shaping the Canadian science policy landscape. While the federal government determines the national agenda for science and innovations, as well as provides substantial funding, the provinces have their own initiatives and funding mechanisms to support research and innovation activities. They provide direct funding to research institutions, offer tax incentives, and invest in research infrastructure. Additionally, provinces develop their own science and technology strategies that align with national priorities but at the same time address regional needs. They also collaborate with the federal government on joint funding initiatives and ensure policy coherence.
In Canada, research funding can thus be provided to the research institutes directly from the federal or provincial sources. Additionally, provinces get funding from the federal sources that they can use for scientific activities as they wish. The focus areas of research and innovation in distinct provinces vary a lot. For instance BC, British Columbia is clearly prioritizing clean technologies and sustainable development while in Quebec AI and aerospace are emphasized in funding decisions.
Federal Funding for Science
Universities play a vital role in Canada’s research landscape and recent federal budgets have directed increased funding for academic institutions but also for other research organizations and infrastructure to facilitate scientific work. Emerging global challenges are clearly also reflected to the federal funding for science in Canada and recent federal budgets have allocated significant resources to enhance the funding capacities of Canadian research funding organizations.
The key funding sources in Canada include the National Research Council (NRC) and the Tri-Agency funding bodies. Tri-Agency consists of three separate councils, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which provide grants to researchers across various disciplines. The Canadian funding agencies also cooperate with international research and innovation funding agencies to support bilateral or multilateral projects.
Of the above funding bodies, NRC, has a comprehensive mandate to facilitate scientific advancements, innovation and industrial research across the whole country. NRC serves as a valuable resource for both Canada and the international science and technology community, and provides various funding and cooperation possibilities. NRC´s 2024-25 departmental plan outlines its priorities for the next three years, and emphases the following focus areas in its actions: 1. Climate Change and Sustainability 2. Health and Biomanufacturing 3. Digital and Quantum Technologies 4. Foundational Research. Additionally, NRC aims to enhance its operations by strengthening research excellence and enhancing the connections with businesses. It also mentions promoting inclusive innovations and ensuring the health and safety of all personnel. NRC is cooperating with many international R&D funding bodies to support global cooperation.
In May 2023, the Canadian government announced a notable increase in science funding as part of its budget initiatives. This included an additional $1.2 billion over three years for research funding through the Tri-Agencies. The budget also highlighted enhanced support for climate change research initiatives, and increased funding for scientific infrastructure to facilitate groundbreaking research across the country. In addition, in May 2024, the Government of Canada announced an investment of over $800 million through the Strategic Science Fund (SFF) to support 24 science and research organizations across the country. The SSF is designed to enhance the effectiveness of federal investments in science and research by funding third-party organizations. This funding aims to address significant challenges, including healthcare solutions and climate change. Furthermore, it aims for advancements in emerging technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence. The initiative seeks to strengthen Canada's research ecosystem and enhance STEM education. Since 2016, the government has invested more than $16 billion in science and research, with additional funding planned to support graduate students and modernize research facilities. The next call for applications for the Strategic Science Fund is expected to be in 2026-2027.
While Canada is investing significantly to research, it faces also certain challenges. One such challenge is the relatively low level of private sector investment in R&D compared to other developed countries. To address this issue, the government has implemented various policies and incentives to encourage private sector investment in R&D.
Past and future objectives in R&D
The Canadian government’s approach to science and technology has evolved significantly over the past two decades. The Science and Technology Strategy that was launched in 2007, aimed to enhance Canada's global competitiveness through investments in R&D. The key focus areas have since included enhancing collaboration between academia and industry, and promoting innovation in the private sector. In addition, strengthening the role of federal research organizations has been one of the focus areas. Since its launch, the Science and Technology Strategy has played a significant role in shaping the research landscape, ensuring that science and innovation remain central to economic and social development in Canada.
In 2021, the government updated The Science and Technology Strategy with “Science Vision 2025 initiative”. This initiative highlighted the critical role of scientific research in addressing global challenges. Science vision 2025 framework prioritized open science and data sharing, diversity and inclusion, and emphasis on building public trust in research findings. In 2024, the new 2024–2029 Science Strategy on “Environment and Climate Change Canada” (ECCC) was released. It focuses on solving complex environmental challenges through cooperation. This strategy supports enhancing collaboration across various stakeholders to mobilize scientific insights for meaningful actions. It also underscores the integration of indigenous knowledge into research and emphasizes open access to scientific data together with evidence-directed decision-making. Furthermore, international cooperation is strongly emphasized in this initiative.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, ISED, has also outlined in its 2024-2025 plan the priorities for Canada´s benefit: ISED will collaborate with federal partners to enhance Canadian innovation and foster sustainable economic growth. As Canada moves towards a net-zero economy, special agreements have been established with industry leaders such as NextStar Energy and Volkswagen PowerCo to boost the production of lithium battery cells and electric vehicles (EVs). These initiatives aim to strengthen Canada's position in the EV manufacturing sector, along with the investments in critical minerals through a Strategic Innovation Fund.
ISED 2024-2025 plan naturally mentions also critical technologies: For the urgency of ethical AI development, ISED is investing up to $20 million in the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) to promote research and innovation on AI sector. An additional $19 million will support 12 separate AI projects in manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness of Canada on this field. The National Quantum Strategy (NQS) will advance Canada's leadership in quantum technology, while the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) will improve broadband access for underserved communities, aiming eventually in connecting 98% of Canadian households by the year 2026. ISED is also investing $225 million in AbCellera for biomanufacturing capabilities that are crucial for health preparedness. Additionally, the Strategic Science Fund will support diverse organizations in advancing research and knowledge mobilization. Separate initiatives are additionally targeted for small and medium-sized companies, especially for under-represented entrepreneurs.
Canada´s strategy for the future innovation activities has been recently discussed among the researchers and experts on various fields. Canadian Science Policy Center promoted the public discussion, which ended in the publication of the “National Conversation on Canada´s Innovation Strategy”. The publication includes perspectives from various representative of Academia, Industry and Non-Profit organizations on focus areas of Canada´s innovation activities. The publication is found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AuyoM5yWS_CNIuWRVl7gq6fuRfRM2uMS/view .
Sari Tojkander, Councelor for Science and Higher Education, Los Angeles
Tiia Kiuru, Edufi Intern, Los Angeles
Photo: Guidance of science policy by federal and provincial governments in Canada has been a key factor in contributing to the success of Canadian research and innovation activities. Focus areas have, for the last years, been very much on enhancing cooperation between the academia and industry.
Pictures from the delegation of Finnish Higher Education Institutions to Vancouver and Toronto in February 2024. During the visits, we had a chance to learn about the scientific focus areas and innovation activities of many top universities in Canada. Pictures: Sari Tojkander.
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9628333/
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/scientific-research-experimental-development-tax-incentive-program/provincial-territorial-research-development-tax-credits.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/learn-about-canada/governement.html
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-science-vision/en
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/strategic-science-fund/en/about-strategic-science-fund
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/sc-hc/H14-39-2008E.pdf
https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2024/05/government-of-canada-invests-in-cutting-edge-research-and-the-next-generation-of-scientists.html
https://sciencepolicy.ca/posts/category/editorials/2024-canadas-innovation-strategy/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AuyoM5yWS_CNIuWRVl7gq6fuRfRM2uMS/view
https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/office-chief-science-advisor
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/national-quantum-strategy/en/canadas-national-quantum-strategy