AUCC adds new fodder to federal government's pending S&T Strategy

Canada's universities have weighed in with a timely dose of advice for the government's federal S&T strategy. The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) calls for a range of expensive yet uncosted recommendations that touch on all aspects of the university research funding environment, including provisions for new training support, management and governance.

The AUCC prepared its submission following the government's release of its Economic and Fiscal Update and accompanying Advantage Canada document. The latter reaffirms the government's intent to release an S&T Strategy, increase spending to boost science capacity and consider transfering management of certain government laboratories to the academic sector (R$, November 27/06).

The submission to the ministers of Industry and Finance contains recommendations in three broad areas: expanding the university research enterprise while developing critical mass in selected areas, research talent and governance, measurement and evaluation (see chart). They are intended to encourage the government to enhance its support for university-based research as a means to confront increasing global competition for knowledge and talent.

"The AUCC has been consistent in laying out what is needed for the future and these three areas reflect that consistency," says AUCC president Claire Morris. "The (S&T) Strategy has been a moving target but Advantage Canada provides pretty broad guidelines for where the government wants to go. It's likely to be a broad strategy — a framework as opposed to a full action agenda."

The AUCC submission is accompanied by two discussion papers intended to provide guidance for measuring the impact of federal investments in university research and maximizing the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of those investments. Morris says the main submission pulls all of the AUCC's recommendations into one formal document that is both timely and pertinent to the Strategy's ultimate impact.

"This is not intended to be a budget submission. The S&T Strategy is a long-term strategy and investments are needed so you're looking at a fairly robust sum," she says. "This is our sense of what the government is trying to do in developing a strategy, not short-term budget initiatives."

While many of the recommendations such as 40% support for indirect costs are not new, others reflect a more holistic perspective on the research environment. The Canada Foundation for Innovation is now referred to as one of four federal granting agencies while CANARIE is recognized as a key piece of the country's knowledge infrastructure.

The release date of the federal S&T Strategy has yet tobe announced but is expected along with, or shortly after, the March 19th Budget.

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