NSERC's College and Community Innovation program open for business

Canada's community colleges have taken a major step forward in their bid to be recognized as a key player in Canada's innovation system with the rollout out of a permanent program designed to facilitate applied R&D. The College and Community Innovation (CCI) program will provide $48 million in grants over five years with three competitions slated for 2008. Up to 25 college-based R&D projects will be supported by the program, which is managed by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

But the association representing colleges says the program, while welcome, only addresses a portion of the untapped innovation capacity contained within the more than 150 colleges and polytechnics spread throughout Canada. It took seven years from the time the ACCC began to advocate for federal support of its R&D activities until the CCI was made permanent with its announcement in the last federal Budget. It was preceded by a $1.8-million pilot program that funded six projects (R$, March 3/04).

"This is a real breakthrough. It's the first time the government has recognized the college contribution to research and working with the private sector ... Now we need to demonstrate the value-added for Canada, local economic development and productivity enhancement," says James Knight, the recently installed president of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). "The key issue is what will happen in subsequent years. We will document with great care and precision the great outcomes (from the program). We will be in a position in one or two years to ramp it up. That's clearly our intent."

flexible objectives to suit college activity

CCI is aimed at increasing innovation at the community and/or regional level by boosting the capacity of colleges to work with local firms. Project funding will support activities such as applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization , as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies. Funding is provided through grants and while there is no matching provision, contributions from industry, colleges and other sources are encouraged.

In 2002, an ACCC Task Group, headed by Red Deer College president Ron Woodward, recommended $116 million in annual support for college R&D. The suite of recommendations included $50 million for 200 so-called innovation chairs, $20 million through the Networks of Centres of Excellence, $18 million for fellowships and internships, $15 million for a business incubator fund, $10 million for a Technical Assistance Program and $3 million for a Student Technical Assistance Program for small businesses (R$, July 8/02).

The Task Group recommendations, while dated, remain valid and Knight says work will continue to convince federal policy makers that colleges require distinct recognition. Woodward agrees and says that the pilot program has primed the college community to embrace innovation and utilize their unique capabilities to engage industry.

"Colleges have learned from the pilot program, developing proposals and being better connected and collaborating," he says. "We need to give colleges the resources to work with SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises). Economic development and competitiveness are embodied in smaller companies and they often don't have the resources to become more competitive."

first competition worth $18 million

The first CCI competition is worth $18 million and will fund successful projects up to $2.3 million over five years ($500,000 annually for the first three years and $400,000 for years four and five). There is a high degree of flexibility in the types of projects that are eligible, recognizing the different pressures under which college researchers operate.

The barrier to conducting college R&D most often cited is the lack of time required to lead and participate in applied research projects. It is closely followed by lack of access to both government and private sector support. Other barriers include lack of appropriate infrastructure, insufficient administrative support and faculty who lack skills, experience or interest.

"Colleges need funds to support faculty time to do R&D because there are currently no operating funds," says Marti Jurmain, director of research and innovation at Niagara College. "The new NSERC program is a terrific next step but it's still restrictive as not enough colleges will be successful. It's an interim measure for capacity building."

A 2006 survey by the ACCC shows that 71% of responding institutions include R&D in their strategic plans and mission statements, 58% have formal policies on applied research, 47% have developed policies on intellectual property and 42% have designated facilities to conduct applied research.

The survey also reveals that, among the responding institutions, federal sources of funding totalled $28 million, followed by provincial governments ($13 million) and industry ($4.2 million).

In 2005, there were 515 industrial and private sector projects conducted at responding institutions, resulting in 90 prototypes, six patents, five licences and 14 spin-off firms.

Helping to raise the profile of college R&D is the emergence of major R&D facilities at several institutions, many of which have been funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Examples include Red River College's Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (construction materials and building systems) and Niagara College's Centre for Advanced Visualization (land use management).

"These are big projects and more colleges are doing multi-million dollar projects. Some were funded under the NSERC pilot program," says Jurmain. "The CCI is really a regional innovation program because it requires that you have a recognized niche in areas that are relevant to specific regions."

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