Editorial - 21-7

After years of trying, Canada finally has a program dedicated to R&D collaboration with other nations. With an appropriate industrial focus and seasoned leadership, the International Science and Technology Partnerships Program is a welcome addition to the mix of instruments designed to increase innovation.

But with a budget of just $20 million over five years, the benefits stemming from the initiative will inevitably be limited. The pressure is therefore on the management of ISTPCanada (the program's operating arm) to show quick results and convince government to increase funding.

One only has to look as far as Israel to appreciate the value of bi-national collaborative R&D. A tiny country with virtually no natural resources or domestic market, Israel has become a technology leader largely by partnering with other countries for mutual benefit. It has dozens of bi-national programs and spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually on international cooperation.

The results are impressive. Israel's gross expenditures on R&D are approaching 4.5% of GDP, with business R&D accounting for about 75% of the total. High tech wages are comparable, if not higher, than Canada's.

Back in 2000, the Advisory Council on S&T recommended that Canada spend $170 million annually on international cooperation and business-to-business collaboration. Canada has much to gain through these kinds of partnerships. But the scale of the effort must be commensurate to the need. Bilateral collaboration with four countries is a good start, but it's only a start.