Editorial - 26-16

While most agree that the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program has been one of the most successful additions to Canada's small arsenal of commercialization programs, there was widespread concern that its finite funding window (five years) constituted a major policy flaw.

That shortcoming has been eliminated with the decision to allow centres to apply for renewed or additional funding.

The Centre for Commercialization of Research (CCR) is one centre that has been particularly effective in stimulating company formation, growth and financing. It is among the first tranche of CECRs that will be competing for extended public support and a CCR-commissioned report by Nordicity and The Evidence Network amply demonstrates the impact of its programs and services (see page 5).

CCR works at the early stages of company development — a period where even angel investors are reluctant to venture. Without some level of public support, many promising technologies would never make it out of the lab.

That high risk environment won't change after five years. The original stipulation of a finite funding period for CECRs made no sense and the government was wise to fix the policy.

If anything, CCR needs more company in the space it inhabits. Other than the CECR, Business-Led NCE and government procurement programs, there's been precious little funding devoted to commercialization. This critical aspect of the innovation cycle needs more support if the billions we devote to university-based research are to have their full impact.