ACCC R&D Symposium examines ways to maximize impact of increased R&D support

The mood was upbeat at the recent R&D Symposium of the Association of Canadian, Community Colleges (ACCC) as recent initiatives by the federal government provided encouraging evidence that the role of applied research is becoming an increasingly important element of Canada's innovation agenda.

With a record 190 attendees, the symposium showcased the advances colleges have achieved in boosting industry collaboration. It heard from two key organizations — the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) — and discussed ways to better access funding and demonstrate outcomes.

"I see applied research as a wonderful way to give students a multidisciplinary experience," said David Agnew, president of Seneca College and a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council. "Applied research is at the heart of our academic strategic plan."

The main vehicle for funding college applied research is NSERC's Community College and Innovation Program (CCIP), which is now worth $50 million annually following a $12 million top-up announced in the recent federal Budget. NSERC officials explained how the budgets of CCIP's various components will vary in future competitions. They also noted that the Applied Research Tools and Instrument (ARTI) program will rise to $10 million in 2013 before faling to $6 million in 2014, and $2 million in 2015 before settling at $1 million on a permanent basis.

NSERC commissioned a study on the CCIP which focused on Innovation Grants as the most mature component of the program. Covering the period 2008 to FY11-012, it found that 85% of participating firms were small- and medium-sized enterprises, with 38% located in Quebec and 37% based in Ontario. The study found that 86% of firms were satisfied with their interaction with colleges, with 69% engaged in product development, 69% prototype development and 77% product improvement.

The CFI also presented at the symposium and discussed its experience with the College-Industry Innovation Fund. CIIF senior programs officer Sylvie Boucher said the number of submitted proposals dropped in the latest round and suggested that colleges need to develop better proposals, especially in the area of demonstrating the potential for business innovation.

Metrics were also a key discussion point at the symposium as colleges strive to demonstrate the impact their participation in the innovation ecosystem. Statistics Canada currently fields a survey on college R&D but many within the college community feel it doesn't accurately capture the range of their research activities. A presentation from Statistics Canada resulted in a verbal agreement to strike a working group aimed at refining the survey.

Part of the problem in accurately measuring college applied research is the sketchiness of the data colleges provide to StatsCan. Dr Robert Luke, associate VP research and innovation at George Brown College, said the data on applied research is "piecemeal" and suggested developing a logic model for college research capacity which accounts for the purpose for conducting applied research, inputs, outputs and outcomes (impact).

"We know about the geography of research but nothing about the geography of applied research and nothing about the geography of the two and their relation to the geography of industrial activity," said Luke.

To that end, Luke has developed a free online resource for industry to find an innovation support provider in community and clinical organizations, and government and academic institutes in Canada. Called P3RD (Public + Private Partnership in R&D), Luke is looking into whether another entity is willing to take it over for further development. (www.p3rd.ca).

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