RESEARCH. Chapter Six. Chapter Highlights. eae.alberta.ca/capr

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1 Chapter Six RESEARCH Chapter Highlights Of all institutional sectors, Comprehensive Academic Research Institutions (CARIs) attract the bulk of sponsored research funding about $759.6 million in From 26 7 to , total sponsored research revenue to the CARI sector increased by 5.6%. Non-CARI institutions attracted about $26.3 million in Non-CARI institutions have seen a significant jump in sponsored research revenue in recent years, with a 69.7% increase from -11 to This growth in research funding can be attributed to increasing applied research capacity in the non-cari sector, onetime opportunities, and the development of federal and provincial programming. In , EAE contributed $217 million in grant funding to Alberta Innovates corporations to support research, innovation and technology commercialization in the province. In, Alberta employed 16,3 personnel in research and development; about 69.2% were researchers, 2.1% were technicians, and 1.7% were support staff. 66

2 System Overview On behalf of the GOA, EAE facilitates effective coordination of the provincially funded research and innovation system. EAE guides this system through the Alberta Research and Innovation Plan (ARIP). The core purpose of the ARIP is to communicate the research and innovation priorities of the GOA to system stakeholders. The ARIP identifies three provincial-level outcomes: 1. Broadened Economic Base 2. Effective Resource and Environmental Management 3. Healthy, Resilient Communities The ARIP also provides strategic direction for the system by establishing a range of priorities in areas that require collective focus for system stakeholders. ARIP priorities are derived from GOA ministries, in collaboration with the Alberta Innovates corporations, and are informed by related policies and strategies. While the ARIP priorities are focused, they do not preclude specific research initiatives of ministries or the broad interests of academia, but rather signal where provincial resources will be focused to achieve results for Albertans in the longer term. Ultimately, the ARIP is the key document that communicates provincial research and innovation direction to Campus Alberta s post-secondary institutions as a means of informing their annual research planning. The role of post-secondary Research Categories Pure research involves the generation of new knowledge, must pass peer review, generally includes the involvement of graduate students, and may or may not have immediate application. Applied research is conducted to discover new knowledge with a more identifiable and immediate practical application. This form of research tends to be more focused on the identification of practical solutions or applications. In general, applied research lends itself more readily to third-party support, including financing from the private sector, granting councils, and communities. institutions within Alberta s research and innovation system includes creating and sharing knowledge; attracting, retaining, and supplying highly qualified and skilled personnel; and providing solutions to industry and public interest challenges. Based on the Post-secondary Learning Act13 and the Roles and Mandates Policy Framework5, the Campus Alberta system is configured into six sectors based on credentials offered, type and intensity of research activity, institutional program base in relation to the breadth of other institutions within the system, and geography served and client base. Pure and applied research is primarily conducted in the CARI sector, while applied research and scholarly research activity may be conducted to enhance the instructional mandates of the remaining five non-cari sectors. Alberta Innovates Alberta Innovates is a significant component of the provincial research and innovation system. Alberta Innovates, consisting of the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority and four provincial corporations, is designed to strengthen the province s role as a world leader in using science to seek solutions. The four corporations that receive support from the GOA to be catalysts of innovation by building on Alberta s strengths in the bioresources, energy and environment, and health sectors are: Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment Solutions Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Alberta Innovates works with key innovation support agencies, publicly funded post-secondary institutions, industry, and government to invest in research and innovation and increase Alberta s competitiveness in the global economy. In , EAE provided $217 million in grant funding to Alberta Innovates corporations to support research, innovation and technology commercialization in the province. Scholarly activity is developmental research that is conducted in support of faculty professional development. It is supplemental to the instructional function and geared to faculty enhancement and maintenance of their knowledge base to support instruction. It is aligned with degree programs offered, and may or may not involve peer review, but does not require the support of graduate students. It may or may not involve the support of external research funding. Where appropriate, scholarly activity may be conducted in collaboration with CARIs. 5 For more information, see the Roles and Mandates Policy Framework for Alberta s Publicly Funded Advanced Learning System, available online at policy/roles.aspx 67

3 Sponsored Research Revenue Alberta s post-secondary institutions receive research funding from a variety of sources. Sponsored research revenue131 is funding garnered outside of institutional operating grants, including contracts, grants, and donations that are used to support the operating and infrastructure costs associated with research. CARIs attract the bulk of sponsored research funding garnered by Campus Alberta institutions $759.6 million in From 26 7 to , total sponsored research revenue garnered by the CARI sector increased by 5.6% an indication of the sector s strength and competitiveness in attracting research funding. CARI-Sponsored Research Revenues, 26-7 to Fund Source Proportions for CARIs and Non-CARIs 1% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 15% 1% 8% 8% 4% 44% 6% Other Income 29% Endowment Non-Profit Industry 4% Other Government $1, Provincial Federal $8 $759.6 M $6 2% 39% 42% $4 % $ CARIs Non-CARIs $ Non-CARI institutions attracted about $26.3 million in Non-CARI institutions have seen a significant jump in sponsored research revenue in recent years, with a 69.7 % increase from 11 to This growth in research funding is attributable to increasing applied research capacity in the non-cari sector, one-time opportunities, and the development of federal and provincial programming. The large increase in non-cari research revenue between 8 and 28 9 is, in part, due to enhanced reporting beginning in Total research sponsorship of the four CARIs by the provincial government has decreased 2.5%, from $223.8 million in 26 7 to $218.3 million in This decrease in research funding is largely due to the completion of capital projects and the variability in the size and timing of funding competitions. In , the GOA contributed $11.4 million in research funding to non-cari institutions, an increase of 62.8% from the previous year. At 44%, the province is the largest research funder to non-cari institutions. Non-CARI-Sponsored Research Revenues, 26-7 to $3 $26.3 M $25 $2 $15 $1 $ $ 68

4 Personnel Engaged in Research and Development Total personnel engaged in R&D in Canada declined by 5.9% from 235,32 in to 221,36 in, and in Alberta the total number declined by 7.8% from 17,38 in to 16,3 in (see graph to the right). The decline is observed across Canada except in the case of Manitoba. About 42% of performers of research and development are from the higher education, second to business enterprises. A closer look at the Alberta higher education s breakdown of personnel shows a slight increase from to mostly from researchers from 6,25 to 6,8 personnel (see graph below). Alberta s overall decline in personnel is consistent with the overall decline in Alberta s total funded research and development expenditures over the same time period (see graph below). The declines in and values may reflect the true effects of the 28 recession as they regained some budget flexibility. Although the number of personnel engaged in R&D provides a measure of the research intensity at the input side of research activities, the outputs of research must also be explored in order to completely understand the contributions of research and innovation to the province. Alberta Personnel Engaged in R&D Total personnel 28 Researchers Technicians Support staff Source: Statistics Canada. Table Provincial distribution of personnel engaged in research and development, by performing sector and occupational category, annual (number) Alberta Higher Education Personnel Engaged in R&D Total personnel 28 Researchers Technicians Support staff Source: Statistics Canada. Table Provincial distribution of personnel engaged in research and development, by performing sector and occupational category, annual (number) Alberta Funded Domestic Expenditures on R&D Mobilization of research and development (R&D) is made possible by personnel who conduct research in all sectors of the economy. Statistics Canada shows that in, Canada employed 221,36 personnel (researchers, technicians, and support staff) engaged in R&D in government, businesssector, post-secondary education, and private non-profit organizations. Most of the employed were researchers (67.3%), followed by technicians (22.5%) and support staff (1.2%). In this same year, Alberta employed 16,3 personnel engaged in R&D. About 69.2% were researchers, 2.1% were technicians, and 1.7% were support staff. Of all of Canada s R&D personnel, Ontario employs 44.9%, followed by Quebec (29.4%), British Columbia (15.3%), and Alberta (7.2%). This is a relatively small number when compared to Alberta s share of the nation s real GDP (16.8%)132 and population (11.3%).133 This suggests that Alberta s economic and human resource strengths are not reflected in its R&D personnel Source: Statistics Canada Table Gross domestic expenditures on research and development, by science type and by funder and performer sector annual, funded by the province and performed by all sectors. 69

5 Overview & Policy Implications Alberta has a dynamic research and innovation system that helps to achieve the key outcomes identified in the Alberta Research and Innovation Plan (ARIP): Broadened Economic Base; Efficient Resource and Environmental Management; and Healthy Resilient Communities. Our research and innovation system is a collaborative network of researchers, industry, entrepreneurs, investors and post-secondary institutions that is supported and guided by the GOA. Campus Alberta and Alberta Innovates are key publiclyfunded partners in achieving results. A key focus of the ARIP is to generate benefits for Albertans through the research and innovation system. A renewed focus on working collaboratively was deemed critical to identify key opportunities to create transformative or widereaching change and then work together to achieve these outcomes. Through the identification of shared research and innovation priorities, Campus Alberta institutions are primed to work collaboratively with each other and the broader research and innovation system to advance the outcomes delineated in the ARIP. The synergy and results achieved through collaboration create value when translated into new processes, products, services or policies. It is the extraction of value, whether economic, environmental or social, that will deliver benefits of research and innovation to Albertans. Strengthening the connections amongst GOA ministries, Alberta Innovates, Campus Alberta institutions and industry is critical to maximize the research and innovation system s effectiveness in delivering benefits for the province and Albertans. The research and innovation system can generate solutions to immediate challenges and will help to create and identify emerging opportunities for the province. To be effective in this current climate of fiscal restraint, the alignment and coordination of resources and expertise around key priorities to achieve the ARIP outcomes is more important than ever. 7