NCE releases impact of federal Budget cuts

The Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program has received a 16.6% reduction in its budget over the next two years as a result of austerity measures announced in the last federal Budget. The cuts apply only to the traditional or academic-led NCEs and will result in fewer new NCEs being approved in the future. The NCE budget of $74.5 million will decline $6.2 million in FY12-13 to $68.3 million and a further $6.2 million in FY13-14 when it will stabilize at $62.1 million. The NCE funding is flowed through the three granting councils and the two-year cuts are as follows: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ($6.2 million/51%); Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($4.4 million/34%) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($1.8 million/15%).. The funding represents the NCE grants budget and does not include administrative costs....