Canadian Science Policy Conference outlines plans for future expansion

Funding remains key issue

The Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC) is quickly becoming the go-to event for young science graduates and veteran policy makers as the largest conference of its kind in Canada. And there are plans to make it a lot bigger as the centrepiece of a multi-faceted virtual centre now being floated before a wide range of potential funders.

CSPC backers outlined their vision for the virtual centre on the final day of the 3rd annual CSPC conference in Ottawa earlier this month, which sold out with 525 attendees and participants including 100 speakers and panelists. In addition to mounting the conference, the virtual centre plans to develop a national collaborative network, a platform for mentoring future science and innovation policy practitioners, contribute to the development of science for science policy and develop a sustainable business model to carry the centre through its first five years.

"We're suggesting a dynamic network, not a physical centre, with three pillars — a national network of science policy people ... engagement with youth and the advancement of science policy," says CSPC chair Dr Mehrdad Hariri, adding that the current structure of the conference, which relies entirely on volunteers, is unsustainable. "A unique aspect is that it would be multisectoral including representatives from business, non-governmental organizations, government and academia."

A report commissioned by CSPC from Halifax Global Inc shows that implementing the CSPC vision will not be cheap. The report — based on a survey, workshops and review of pertinent literature — concludes that major financial backing is required that could reach nearly $650,000 by the fifth year. Revenues would be derived from membership fees (44%), running the annual conferences and several thematic conferences (41%), research projects (8%) and grants and support funding (8%).

Hariri says the plan is to table the report with potential funders which include the granting councils, arm's length research funding agencies such as Genome Canada, government departments and the federal S&T Integration Board, universities and industry.

"We will need continuous funding to stabilize the conference. It needs its own secretariat to professionalize the conference functions," he says. "The chances of holding a fourth conference next year are good. There's a huge level of interest."

Many members of the science policy community from all sectors have supported the evolution of the CSPC, including Paul Dufour, principal of Paulicy Works and a veteran science policy expert. Dufour says the growing number of young people attending the conference is probably the single most important reason for ensuring CSPC's viability.

"Students and young entrepreneurs attend to get a better sense of science policy and how they can manage their professional careers. CSPC needs to build on the success of the conference and move into other areas," says Dufour. "The science community in this country needs to promote this and pony up on these key issues that are affecting everyone."

More than 200 attendees at the Ottawa conference attended the final session on the viability of expanding the CPSC's current activities, hiring paid staff and morphing into a central focus for the Canadian science policy community.

business reacts to jenkins report

The conference itself featured several provocative panels including regulatory issues surrounding genomics, science and politics, science and innovation policy, innovation drivers in chemical-related industries and business reaction to the Expert Panel Report on Federal Support for Business R&D (the Jenkins Panel).

The latter — added at the last minute — provided the first public reaction by business to the Jenkins Panel, with representatives from the pharmaceutical, information and communication technology (ICT) and clean tech sectors. Moderated by David Watters, president of Global Advantage Consulting and a former ADM with Finance Canada, the session featured an in-depth discussion on the impact the Panel's recommendations would have on business R&D, productivity and commercialization.

Watters provided his view of the report's strengths, weaknesses and omissions. While he commended the panel for several strong recommendations, he also criticized the report on several fronts. These include a lack of focus on global markets and industry sectors, a weak recommendation on risk capital, little mention of entrepreneurial and skills training and above all no sense of urgency and an absence of innovation targets.

Céline Bak, a principal with Analytica Advisors, said small companies in her sector of expertise — clean tech — are "absolutely committed to R&D". As a result, they would benefit from several of the Jenkins Report's recommendations including a single point of entry for government programs, a clear focus on procurement and direct support for R&D. She noted that funding for Sustainable Development Technology Canada was only extended for one year, leaving the clean tech sector without an obvious program for public support.

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