Funding partnerships | Ottawa wants to turn scientific knowledge into innovative products and processes
Federal science minister Gary Goodyear emphasized the need to connect science with commerce last week, even as he announced $400 million in funding for basic science work by more than 3,800 researchers.
On Parliament Hill May 21, Goodyear announced winners of a competition to share in basic “blue sky” research funding over the next five years. It is money already announced in previous budgets.
However, the minister of state for science and technology told a news conference he was unapologetic about what critics say is a move away from basic science in favour of industry-driven research aimed at creating commercial products and opportunities.
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He said a commitment to basic “discovery science” remains strong, but it needs applications.
“We are improving the linkages between public research and private sector needs through programs that help companies partner with universities and colleges, and we are focusing on the conditions for a healthy innovation system, which are in fact supportive of marketplace frameworks,” he said.
Goodyear said the perception in agriculture that Ottawa is pulling back from basic research in favour of industry-driven priorities isn’t fair, but he did not want to comment on another minister’s file.
However, he said the government is committed to making publicly funded research more industry friendly.
“We are obviously putting a balance to the system that needs to be done based on the changing situation around the world and the need for the country to actually do a bit more on the industry side,” he said.
“We are very, very strong in basic research (and) I’m committed to keeping it that way.”
However, he said there is a problem.
“Where we are not so strong is in the translation of that knowledge into products and processes. We can’t continue to fund programs that allow knowledge to sit on a shelf.”
Goodyear said Canada’s private sector has not been as active in re-search and product development investment as companies in other countries.
He said some companies argue the economy is doing well so why invest in research and development?
Others are too small to have significant research and investment budgets.
However, he said a timid Canadian business culture is the fundamental problem.
“It goes all the way through our culture that we do need to be a little less worried about failure,” he said.
“Failing is not the problem. Not learning from it is the problem.”
He said Canadian industry should rediscover the culture of risk-taking.
“It’s a decades-old problem,” he said.
“Now we are taking the opportunity to try to change the way we work with business through partnerships … that hopefully will encourage businesses to understand their need to be competitive in a global marketplace. Competition is not across town. It is a mouse click away.”
