Claire Morris

Research investments make sense

By Claire M. Morris

When I arrived in Saskatoon for the opening of the Canadian Light Source synchrotron at the University of Saskatchewan a few months ago, my taxi driver immediately asked if I was in town for the opening. We talked about the synchrotron’s impact on the community and how excited he was that the university’s new research tool would bring people from around the world to Saskatoon. Visitors and researchers would need taxis from the airport, they’d stay in Saskatoon’s hotels, and eat in the city’s restaurants, he explained.

But the excitement wasn’t just about taxi drivers looking forward to a few extra fares. There was a definite feeling of pride throughout the city that its university had become a global centre where researchers from around the world would gather to develop more effective drug therapies, understand the molecular secrets of the human body and find improved ways to deal with environmental pollutants.

It’s a scenario that’s been playing out across Canada on the heels of the federal government’s investments since 1997 to re-energize the university research community through increased funding to the granting agencies and by setting up a number of key programs, such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canada Research Chairs, a permanent program to fund the indirect costs of research, and increased financial support to graduate students.

But developments such as the synchrotron don’t give us the luxury to step back and admire our successes We need to keep moving forward to maximize return on investment. There’s a crescendo of energy flowing through our universities and it has Canada on the verge of something truly special.

All of these gains have us on track to exceed a commitment made by AUCC in 2002 to the federal government on behalf of Canada’s universities, to substantially increase research and commercialization performance by 2010 and to contribute to the economic and social development of communities across the country.

We also committed to producing a public report on the progress universities have made in research and knowledge transfer. In our report, which will be published this fall, Canadians will see that our universities have repatriated almost 200 top Canadian minds from abroad and attracted another 200 international researchers through the Chairs program since 2001.

They’ll hear about critical CFI infrastructure projects strategically aligned to research priorities that have leveraged an additional $4 billion in funding for universities and other research institutions from other partners, bringing the total to $7 billion since the program was established.

They’ll see how $6.8 billion invested in university research through the granting councils since 1997 has expanded the boundaries of our knowledge and helped Canadians solve pressing issues they face, such as developing the world’s first treatment for age-related macular degeneration, enhancing the competitiveness of our pulp and paper industry while lessening its environmental impact, and developing new curricula to reduce high school drop out rates among Aboriginal youth.

They’ll see university graduates contributing to economic prosperity through collaboration with industry by performing almost $5 billion in basic research for Canada’s private sector over the last 10 years and bringing financial returns to Canadian firms.

And they’ll see young researchers benefiting from 4,000 new graduate scholarships, providing research skills for Canada’s future leaders. The skills gained by attending university are the single greatest return on public investments in university research.

We must leverage these successes to seize the enormous opportunities that lie ahead. It will only happen through a commitment to build on the strengths of our universities and the thousands of researchers across Canada who continue to transfer knowledge, experience, and ingenuity that goes right to our societal bottom line and enhances our quality of life.

At home, research leads to improvements in our social foundations and to a better understanding of our place in the world. Globally, investment in university research reinforces Canada’s commitment to be a premiere centre of innovation in the 21st century and a leader in the knowledge economy.

Canada is already richer, healthier, greener and more prosperous because of the knowledge gained from university researchers. A continued commitment today is the best way to guarantee a rising standard of living, with quality jobs and higher wages.

Key to maximizing our return on investments is a sustained dedication to the federal government’s bold and coherent strategy on university research.

The federal government must continue to increase investments in the indirect costs — expenditures universities incur when undertaking research, such as maintaining labs, libraries and computer networks, facilitating the research process and knowledge transfer, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and safety protocols. These costs currently put a strain on universities’ tight operating budgets, adding 40 cents for every research dollar attracted. And that cost is still only partially offset by the federal government’s indirect costs program.

The federal government must also ensure that there continues to be growth in funding for the direct costs of research, providing research grants .

And, equally important, should year-end funds be available to the federal government as in previous years, an investment in the CFI would allow it to sustain its vital efforts to build much-needed strategic university research infrastructure, with the kind of careful, long-term planning and effective oversight that is its hallmark.

One thing is certain: by continuing to build on our investments in research, our universities will play a leadership role in assuring Canadians enjoy continued health, prosperity, and quality of life in the 21st century.

They’ll help us develop leading edge technology to address immediate concerns and contribute to the country’s overall productivity and competitiveness, while encouraging an informed and engaged citizenry, enhancing understanding of our diversity, improving a wide range of social services.

Opportunity is clearly knocking at Canada’s door and seizing it will depend directly on crucial, strategic investments that we make in university research today.

Claire Morris is president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, representing 92 public and private not-for-profit institutions.