Dr. T. Philip Hicks

International S&T: Are We Missing the Boat?

By Philip Hicks

If “ya talk the talk, you’ve gotta walk the walk” to really get anywhere. So, are we in Canada really serious about what we say and do with respect to international S&T? As outgoing S&T Counsellor (S&TC) from Tokyo, I’ve been in the fortunate position of observing full-time for several years the international side of Canada’s S&T and innovation programs. After all is said and done I’m not sure we’re really on track with the way those various programs are being implemented.

Sure, we’ve come a long way in the past 10 years. Recent budgets have shown the government stepping up to the plate and hitting home runs with innovation-supporting initiatives and new programs. We all know the litany: creation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canada Research Chairs, Canada Graduate Scholarships, Genome Canada regional centres, and others. These were all much needed, worthy endeavours which have brought our country and its research constituents onto the global playing field. But we should step back and, with open critical eyes, ask whether or not we’re properly capitalizing on these well-intentioned investments.

Put yourself in the shoes of a university academic and researcher at Carleton University, or a government scientist at the National Research Council. Ask yourself where you could seek funding support for a purely international research partnership you just brought together with some world-class, foreign associates. If you’re lucky and you’re in certain circumscribed fields like molecular biology or neuroscience, you could assume the lead on a group application to the Human Frontier Science Programme. But if you’re an earth scientist you’re out of luck. There’s always the NATO Science Programme, but it’s limited to participation by researchers from just a small number of relatively industrially advanced European countries.

A recommendation in the ACST report — Reaching Out: Canada, International S&T and the Knowledge-Based Economy — of 2000 suggested that a special fund be created and ever-greened. It would support of international projects, and be accessible by academic, public and private sectors alike. The ACST thought the fund should be pegged at least at 5% of the annual federal S&T expenditures or a fund of $150 million. But other than a one-off program set up by CFI, this important recommendation has been largely ignored.

Another key issue is how to effectively co-ordinate and bring coherence to the various money sources, as well a clear statement of “ownership” for international S&T. This is a delicate issue in turf-protecting Ottawa and its science-based department and agency community.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) has a team of six S&TCs in most G-7 capitals, plus several commercial officers with S&T responsibility in posts abroad. It’s eager to expand that network. This is a potentially valuable resource for all Canadian R&D players, useful not only to those in the hard and health sciences, but also for the social sciences, engineering and humanities communities. DFAIT has done a wonderful job of late in promoting the use of this network and in engaging other governmental departments with their programs.

LACK OF AWARENESS

But when I participated in the recent S&TC Ottawa week and Eastern Canada Tour, I was discomfited to realize that some universities and a surprising number of public sector agencies and institutions we visited, were only vaguely aware of the network. This lack of awareness extended to the network’s mandate, the research catalyzing funds at its disposal (e.g., the Going Global Fund), and the depth and richness of the S&T contacts each of us maintains in those same countries. It seems the “message” hasn’t got much beyond Ottawa.

This problem should be rectified by all of us — the S&TCs through some effective self-promotion, and the universities and other groups active internationally by contacting or CC-ing the embassy when considering foreign visits. You never know (literally they don’t) how those working ata post can be of real value and assistance in opening doors at labs and government offices abroad. Even though our small network is overburdened and maximally tasked, there remain numerous ways and means for us to provide enhanced service that can facilitate increased globalization. Routinely, S&TCs produce “as-requested” or ad hoc reports that can be sent without extra work to anyone expressing interest. However, even here there’s often a critical disconnect. Frequently after sending some sector-specific report to my contacts — in a university office of research services, or a poster advertising an important local conference to someone in a governmental international affairs office — I’ve found word never reached those faculty, researchers or post-docs most concerned. Again, an inefficiency and a disconnect.

If we as a country are truly serious about bridging this disconnect between insightful public policies and resources and effective implementation of government mandates, we must be mindful of the middle-ground where the translation of ideas and policy into effective action takes place. Yes, we “talk the talk” well. Everyone (finally) in Canada is singing from the same song-sheet (well, almost), but when we really get down to the nitty-gritty of effective implementation, there are critical lacunae that need filling.

We need a real international S&T fund, effectively managed by the councils, NRC or CFI, as recommended by the ACST. We need managers and directors to take their mandates seriously and champion opportunities within their respective communities at the grass-roots level (they’ll need additional human resources to accomplish this). Is our existing network abroad doing enough liaison with the provinces and the international trade commissioners? Is our domestic capacity large enough to accommodate a larger cadre of S&TCs, or a beefed-up support network abroad for them?

Our governments need to get serious about international S&T, recognize the quality, value-added support the S&TC network can provide, and put more resources there – in a place where people can really make the difference. All the best policies in the world (and Canada has more than its fair share, in my view) cannot substitute for real follow-through and commitment to “make a difference”.

It’s time we really got serious.

Dr. T. Philip Hicks is the outgoing S&T Counsellor in Tokyo and incoming president of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro NS.