CIFAR's new strategic vision receives boost with huge response to Global Call for Ideas

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) has whittled down the 280 respondents to its first ever Global Call for Ideas (GCFI) to 12 as it accelerates its transition to a research organization that represents the cream of the world's top researchers and attracts a greater portion of private sector support.

The GCFI will ultimately add two to four new global research networks to the current slate of 12 that address important questions in the theme areas of improving human health, transforming technology, building strong societies and sustaining the earth.

"This was our first ever global call and we didn't know what to expect," says CIFAR president and CEO, Dr Alan Bernstein. "Were aiming for 50 and got six times that many. It excited members of our research community. People are curious about CIFAR as we are unique and people are always looking for money."

GCFI is the second major initiative designed to help achieve CIFAR 2.0 — a new strategic vision for the 32-year-old organization — following the creation of a new global academy and a leadership program for young researchers in collaboration with the Banff Centre (R$, February 21/13).

"CIFAR 2.0 will include a focus on encouraging the careers of young people and extending our global research beyond the 16 countries we have in North America and Western Europe. We want the very best here and we believe strongly that you need to go wherever they are," says Bernstein. "The new programs we start need to be based on this kind of global competition."

The GCFI comes as CIFAR moves in the second year of its five-year, $25-million funding agreement with Industry Canada and follows the April release of the department's evaluation of the organization which included a document review, literature review, key interviews and a comparative cost study. The Industry Canada evaluation found that CIFAR was consistent with federal priorities "related to support for fundamental research and the attraction, training and retention of research as set out in the 2007 Science and Technology Strategy" and that its virtual model is efficient "when compared to the more traditional models used by other advanced research organizations".

It also noted that CIFAR has achieved some success in attracting a greater portion of CIFAR's activities as support by the provinces has waned in recent years.

Bernstein says the new programs launched through GCFI will depend on funding and that partner discussions are currently underway to augment its current annual budget of approximately $15 million.

"It's currently entirely Canadian funding sources and we want to expand our sources. The Global Call allows us to enter discussions with new partners," he says. "We're a global organization tackling global problems so it's reasonable to have funding partners from outside Canada. We're now talking with government and funding organizations. We need to align as best we can the key questions facing the planet and where our funding comes from ... It's not going to be done in 12 months. It will take five years at least."

The task of selecting 12 letters of intent to submit full proposals fell to CIFAR's Global Ideas Selection Panel. Proposal proponents will be interviewed by CIFAR staff and then four to six will be selected for full workshops "to see if there's something there to pursue". Full proposals will be assessed by an International Assessment panel whose members have yet to be announced.

"We're very pleased with the process. We may do it again," says Bernstein."

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