CFI set to fund major science facilities, colleges

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) plans to assume key responsibility for the funding of Canada's major science facilities, according to a letter written by outgoing CFI president and CEO Dr Eliot Phillipson to all institutional presidents. The measure is contained in the CFI's strategic plan, which was completed and approved by its board of directors in November/09 but remains unreleased nearly nine months later.

And it appears that the funding agreement between CFI and Industry Canada on how it will spend the $600 million received in Budget 2009 includes the expansion of its mandate as spelled out in the strategic plan.

"The Funding Agreement … reflects an important and laudatory decision by the Government of Canada to create a framework and predictability in funding for some of Canada's MSI (major science initiatives)," writes Phillipson. "The importance of this shift should not be underestimated; and the designation of the CFI as the vehicle to deliver such a program validates the philosophy of the foundation model."

The letter — a copy of which was obtained by RE$EARCH MONEY —indicates that the CFI will re-introduce a competition for colleges "to enable partnerships with the private sector". Although the broad strokes of the CFI strategic plan and the contribution agreement with government are well known within the research community, the details won't be released until Industry minister Tony Clement signs off on the agreement.

Several of Canada's major science facilities (now termed initiatives) have struggled in recent years to secure operating funds because "Canada has not developed an overarching perspective across the spectrum of MSI nor an overall management framework", according to the Phillipson letter.

Former National Science Advisor Dr Arthur Carty prepared a study on major science facilities and in 2007 CFI led an Inter-Agency Working Group that produced a discussion paper on the issue. Last year CFI provided $24 million in operating funds to the NEPTUNE and VENUS underwater lab facilities based at the Univ of Victoria (R$, March 19/10).

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