A major change in focus at the National Research Council of Canada is not expected to affect its staffing levels or facilities, according to NRC president John McDougall.
The council announced earlier this month that it is being transformed into an industry-focused research and technology organization that tailors its activities to meet the needs of private sector businesses and industry partners.
Ottawa has committed $121 million over two years to assist with the transition.
McDougall said he does not anticipate immediate changes to the NRC’s annual budget, which is generally $900 million to $1 billion per year.
Read Also
VIDEO: Prairie crops on track for average yields
LANGHAM, SASK. – Western Canadian farmers will harvest an average crop this year provided cooler temperatures prevail and the region…
“The last two (federal) budgets have each provided … the continuing support to allow us to move along, so they’ve sustained us,” he said.
“We’re in the process of repointing the ship and after we get things repointed and we see how this new approach is playing out, I think that’s the time to have the conversations about (budgets).”
NRC staffing levels have been reduced in recent months as the council re-evaluates requirements. However, McDougall said numbers are expected to rebound as research priorities evolve.
NRC staffing levels have historically been maintained at around 4,000.
“Overall, our level has come down a little bit, but we would expect it to get back (to) about where it was,” McDougall said. “The expectation is that we’ll probably see growth be-cause we expect to see more industry participation.”
He said the refocused NRC will be an “industry-inspired organization” that identifies industry needs and appoints key personnel to address them.
“Before, what we really had were projects that were driven by the principal investigator,” he said.
“Now, we’re … identifying the issues, we’re building the team and we’re steering the researchers to put their expertise in that direction.”
In Saskatoon, the participation of NRC researchers in the recently announced Canadian Wheat Alliance will result in fewer staff and resources involved in canola research.
Canola genomics and oilseed research had been a major programming area at the NRC’s Saskatoon facility in recent years.
To accommodate work in the wheat alliance, the NRC will increase research activities in the areas of genomics and the development of enhanced and more efficient breeding technologies.
