Editorial - 25-19

The inability of the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) to generate enough revenue to sustain themselves after five years has been known since the program's inception. Despite widespread recognition of this fundamental flaw, the federal government has done nothing to rectify the situation.

Not surprisingly, the lack of certainty surrounding the future of the 22 CECRs is a source of considerable concern for centre managers and centre partners, many of which are in the midst of commercialization and research projects intended to benefit the future economy.

Lack of funding sustainability is not unique to the CECR program. Successive governments have allowed key S&T organizations to run to the end of their mandates with no indication that funding will be renewed. In the past, the resulting atmosphere of uncertainty has resulted in the prospect of being unable to meet payroll (TRIUMF) or loss of key personnel (CANARIE).

Currently the Canada Foundation for Innovation, CANARIE and others are facing a similar scenario, creating waves of uncertainty rippling throughout the S&T community. Without clear pledges of continued funding, the ability of organizations to partner with others or leverage their spending power is compromised.

Governments at all levels need to be clear about their long-term intentions for programs they are responsible for. The prospect of undermining good work due to poor management or political indecision is the last thing Canada's struggling ecosystem needs.