Editorial - 25-17

It's becoming clear that, by the time the federal government reviews the recommendations of the Jenkins Report, the transformation of the National Research Council will be largely complete. Under the leadership of president John McDougall, the NRC is evolving into a research technology organization (RTO) with a greater emphasis on meeting client needs through a strategically focused complement of technology portfolios and ever-changing programs.

McDougall offers a compelling vision of a transformed NRC that conducts industry-driven R&D and frontier science in areas where Canada has the best chances of success. The transformation now underway is proving to be something of a culture shock for employees grown accustomed to the institute-centric model that's dominated the organization for decades. But if it works, Canadian industry will have a powerful new ally.

The vision of the NRC being offered by the Jenkins Report calls for even more radical change. In essence, the NRC will cease to be a coherent whole, with institutes spun off into self-containing non-profit research organizations or affiliated with universities and government departments. The Industrial Research Assistance Program would become part of a larger new entity to fund and deliver government support for business innovation.

Many questions remain. Is the choice for a new NRC an either/or decision for government? Will fiscal restraint stymie efforts to overhaul Canada's largest R&D organization? The next few months leading up to the next Budget will determine which vision ultimately becomes reality.