CCSIP in limbo as financial pressures in California delay funding for new projects

The future of the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) appears to be hanging in the balance, with no new projects or funding from either side forcing the organization into a period of hibernation. Launched with considerable fanfare and a high-profile visit to Canada by then California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, its original champions on both sides of the border have moved on to other jobs, leaving its remaining proponents assessing its future direction.

"There's been no meeting of the steering committee for several months. There's very little to steer," says Dr Denis Thérien, CCSIP co-chair and recently appointed VP research at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. "We're waiting for the final report (on completed and ongoing CCSIP projects) and then we will have to take action. Some completed projects need follow-up."

One such project — Ultra-Efficient Joint High-Performance Computing Data Centre for California and Canada — between the Univ of California San Diego (UCSD) , McGill Univ and Hydro-Québec could result in the re-location of the UCSD data servers to a centre in Quebec where they can be powered by hydro electricity.

The project is one of 15 that received a total of $1 million last year, with many completed or nearing completion.

The most likely cause of inaction is the financial crisis that has hit California and the Univ of California (UC) — the primary conduit for project activity and funding.

Of the four bilateral research consortium arrangements UC had undertaken, the Canadian consortium is the only one left. Those with China, India and Mexico either cancelled or postponed (R$, February 19/10).

"University of California finances are a mess and deteriorating even more," says Thérien. "It's been a rough ride for them."

Canadian universities are also feeling the fiscal pinch and have yet to renew their financial commitment to CCSIP, especially while their California counterpart is unable to make further contributions in the foreseeable future. The CCSIP is managed on the Canadian side by ISTPCanada and is responsible for preparing a progress report on CCSIP projects.

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