New Models of Collaboration: The Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) Program and the Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) Program Stéphanie Michaud, PhD Deputy Director, BL-NCE and NCE programs June 21 st, Madrid, Spain
Networks of Centres of Excellence Presentation Overview Canadian R&D and Innovation Landscape NCE Programs and Impacts List of Networks and Centres by Priority Area Governance
Universities Central to Research in Canada University of Ottawa Train engineers, master s and PhDs needed by industry, government and user sectors to carry out and apply R&D and create new companies; Represent one third of Canada s total R&D expenditures; and Represent one third of all R&D jobs
Higher Education Performance of R&D
Commercialization of University Inventions - Challenges Canada realizes substantially less commercialization impact (per capita or per GDP) than the US (AUTM annual survey)
Direct and Indirect Support of Business R&D
Business Expenditure on R&D
Canada-US Comparison
Evolving Canadian Landscape Review of Federal Support to R&D What federal initiatives are most effective in increasing business R&D and facilitating commercially relevant R&D partnerships? Is the current mix and design of tax incentives and direct support for business R&D and business-focused R&D appropriate? What, if any, gaps are evident in the current suite of programming, and what might be done to fill the gaps?
Canada s Federal Support for University Research SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE Canada Graduate Scholarships Canada Research Chairs Program CERC SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH CIHR NSERC SSHRC Genome Canada SUPPORT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE Canada Foundation for Innovation SUPPORT FOR INDIRECT COSTS Indirect Costs Program Support for Mobilization, Knowledge Translation and Commercialization Networks of Centres of Excellence
Mandate To mobilize Canada s research talent in the academic, private and public sectors, and apply it to the task of developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians. Established in 1989
How is the mandate achieved? Stimulate leading edge research in areas of importance to Canada Build on nationwide and international partnerships Develop and retain world-class research and research translation capabilities Create innovative knowledge and technology transfer opportunities and mechanisms Manage research resources and programs
Building a Sustainable, National, Competitive Advantage Through S&T Entrepreneurial Advantage Translate knowledge into practical applications to improve our wealth, wellness and well-being Knowledge Advantage Build on research and engineering strengths, generate new ideas and innovations, and achieve excellence People Advantage Grow the base of knowledge workers by developing, attracting and retaining highly skilled people Core principles: Promoting World-Class Excellence, Focusing on Priorities, Fostering Partnerships, Enhancing Accountability
Networks of Centres of Excellence programs: Networks of Centres of Excellence - 1989 (14 active) Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research - 2007 (22 active) Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence - 2008 (4 active) Industrial R&D Internship program - 2008-09 (1,000 internships yearly)
Networks of Centres of Excellence Program $82.4 million per year Geographically distributed virtual centres performing R&D and translation-commercialization activities Focus on broad Canadian issues using multi-disciplinary approaches Emphasis on generating the best partnerships for effective knowledge translation and utilization Required to demonstrate unique value-added HQP training Networks must articulate targets/milestones and define performance indicators
20 Years of Impacts and Experience Involvement of over 1,700 NCE partners annually 1,000s of patents, 100s of licenses Over 100 spin-off companies Innovative training of students Proof of concept support (TechnologyGAP, etc.) Policy and practice impacts (AB Forest Management, National Stroke Strategy) Support of government priorities
Business-Led Networks Program $46 million over four years Led by not-for-profit private sector consortia Responds to private sector S&T needs, with research partnerships (academia, private sector and government) Must have 50% matching funds from partners 75% of administrative costs from BL-NCE Funds Pilot program duration of four years
Business-Led Networks Program Four Networks funded: ArboraNano - Canadian Forest NanoProducts Network Pointe-Claire, Quebec ($8.99 million) CQDM - Le Consortium québécois sur la découverte du médicament Iles des soeurs, Québec ($8 million) STEPS - Sustainable Technologies for Energy Products ($10.5 million) GARDN - Green Aviation Research and Development Network Ottawa, Ontario ($11.82 million)
ArboraNano - Canadian Forest NanoProducts Network ArboraNano funds the development of sustainable, carbon-neutral, high-value nanoproducts and nanomaterials through the conversion of wood and wood fibre into unique products Network is supporting 11 R&D projects with 21 partners, Network is supporting 11 R&D projects with 21 partners, including: 9 industrial leaders 8 Canadian universities NRCan, NRC, Ministère des resources et de la faune FPInnovations
GARDN - Green Aviation Research and Development Network GARDN funds the development of aviation technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of the next generation of aircraft, engines and systems that will enter into service in 2015-2025. Network is supporting 9 R&D projects with 26 partners, including: 3 industrial leaders 12 Canadian universities 9 SMEs NRC 1 European university
CQDM - Le Consortium québécois sur la découverte du médicament CQDM seeks to identify, fund and support innovative research activities, primarily focusing on enabling technologies in drug discovery, fulfilling the innovation needs of the pharmaceutical industry; and create a collaborative ground between the academic and private sectors in Quebec based on trust, creativity and mutual benefit Network is supporting 7 R&D projects and includes: 6 Major pharmaceutical leaders 2 SMEs 4 Canadian universities FRSQ, MDEIE International program: CQDM/Alsace BioValley Joint Program
STEPS - Sustainable Technologies for Energy Products STEPS funds research, development and demonstration of advanced technologies that address hydrocarbon energy production sustainability challenges for Saskatchewanlike fossil fuel resources. Network is supporting 3 large R&D projects including: Industrial leaders in the oil and gas industries Canadian universities NRCan, SRC, Saskatchewan Ministry of Industry and Resources
What does the future hold? Sunsetting program Program occupies a niche: business-led approach provides a unique perspective to the nature of the research being undertaken and the linkages to industry Research agenda set by private sector needs (not university and their stakeholders) Less basic research and more applied research of direct relevance to the needs of the industry sector and firms involved
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program $285 million since 2007 Internationally recognized centres of commercialization and research Four priority areas (Health, Energy/Natural Resources, ICT, Environment) Funds for operating and commercialization activities (75% / 50%) cost-shared with partners Commercialization centres expected to become self-sustaining Major criteria for funding: Benefit to Canada, Track Record/Potential of Applicants, Business Plan
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program Currently 22 CECRs are in operation Currently non-renewable grant Still early to measure many of the intended outcomes, there are some early indications of progress toward both research and commercialization outcomes Health related centres have longer time horizons
The programs play a critical role in reducing the pre-commercialization gap by funding initiatives that help the private sector use the research expertise available within Canada to solve pressing research needs either to seize an opportunity or to mitigate a threat and thereby gain an entrepreneurial advantage Hon. Perrin Beatty, Chair, Private Sector Advisory Board; President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Networks and Centres by Sector Health and Life Sciences Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization Centre for Drug Research and Development Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence in Personalized Medicine Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer Commercialization of Research MaRS Innovation (MI) Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise The Prostate Centre's Translational Research Initiative for Accelerated Discovery and Development
Networks and Centres: Information and Communication Canadian Digital Media Network MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre Wavefront Wireless Commercialization Centre
Networks and Centres: Environment GreenCentre Canada Oceans Network Canada Centre for Enterprise and Engagement
Networks and Centres: Natural Resources Bioindustrial Innovation Centre Centre of Excellence in Energy Efficiency Leading Operational Observations and Knowledge for the North Tecterra
Networks and Centres: Cross Sectoral Advanced Applied Physics Solutions Inc. Centre for Commercialization of Research
Governance STANDING SELECTION COMMITTEE
Networks of Centres of Excellence Steering Committee NCE programs managed by the Steering Committee Chair, Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President, NSERC Administered by: NCE Secretariat Location: NSERC
Review Process Highly competitive 10 % approval rate Letters of Intent (LOI) reviewed: Selection Committee for NCE program PSAB for CECR and BL-NCE programs LOI assessed against respective program criteria Full Application stage: Full Applications reviewed by Expert Panel Selection Committee or PSAB, then make funding recommendations to Steering Committee based on reviews Steering Committee makes final funding decision for all NCE, CECR and BL-NCE program grants
Private Sector Advisory Board A tri-council private sector advisory board for the granting councils to provide advice on the implementation of business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence, Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research, and the college initiatives. Chaired by: Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Industry Representatives: Amika Mobile Corporation Provincial Aerospace IBM Canada Northwest Mettech inovia Capital Tembec Enterprises Cossette Media GlaxoSmithKline Syncrude Canada Esterline/CMC Electronics Environmental Biodetection products BelAir Networks and Tundra Semiconductor Corporation
The NCE programs can enhance the quality of science by enabling researchers of different disciplines to work in parallel on projects that we couldn t otherwise have attempted. Dr. Michael Smith, Canadian Nobel Laureate
For more information: www.nce-rce.gc.ca or please contact me directly: stephanie.michaud@nce-rce.gc.ca