RESEARCH ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENTNew Partnerships for Ag Research in AAFC

PRES2008-04-16

TETRAPARTITE 2008Bordeaux, France

Dr. Christiane Deslauriers A/Director GeneralBioproducts and Bioprocesses

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Agricultural research in Canada has longenjoyed a close association with industry

• In 1886, the 'Dominion Agricultural Service' set up its five original Research Farms in agricultural communities; more were added as the industry needs grew

• Eventually, Research Centres underwent regular review by Advisory Committees consisting of research and extension collaborators and clients in industry

• In 1932, the CASC system was established to provide regular industry advice on research priorities

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AAFC's role eventually shiftedfrom leadership to collaboration

• A national consultation in 1992 engaged industry, provinces and academia in discussion on the future direction of the Research Branch

• The result was a recommendation to change our perception of industry from client to collaborator

• This led to the creation of the Matching Investment Initiative (MII) to support research cost-shared with industry

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MII helped reorient 20% of AAFC R&D to address industry priorities through collaboration

From 1994 to 2002, MII:• Funded 3000 projects involving 1400 industry groups

• Leveraged $235 million AAFC direct cash investment with matching industry cash and in-kind

• Has generated net economic benefits estimated at $2.2 billion, approximately 10 times the AAFC direct cash investment

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MII accelerated technology transfer and increased government / industry collaboration

• About 1/3 of projects contributed to the development of new or improved products or processes

• Another 1/3 contributed to cost savings or increased sales revenue for industry

• MII contributed to an increase in R&D activity on the part of industry over that period and to much of the 20% increase in AAFC research collaboration with industry

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Other approaches were developed concurrently

• With universities– AAFC researchers imbedded in university departments– AAFC Research Centres on University campuses

• Provincial and market services housed within Research Centres

• St Hyacinthe Centre designed and built for industrial collaboration– Industrial program– Industrial incubator

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We are piloting Research Clusters for more complete integration of multidisciplinary research

• Where complex problems extended beyond one organization's reach, AAFC contributed to the construction, fitting up, staffing and operation of collaborative R&D clusters: – The Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine

(Winnipeg) with St-Boniface General Hospital and University of Manitoba

– The Centre for Bioresources and Health (Charlottetown) with the National Research Council Canada's Institute for Nutrisciences and Health and the University of Prince Edward Island

• Each party brings different expertise, mandate and client base in addition to staff, equipment, and funding.

• Research objectives and work plans are developed jointly.

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But new funding models are needed for research along the entire value chain

The Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) is providing:• New funds • For substantial multidisciplinary, multipartner networks• To undertake research, development and commercialization of

non-traditional products from agricultural feedstocks• Eligible recipients include:

– AAFC and other government departments– Universities and other public research institutes– The private sector

The goal is to produce tangible outcomes within the period of the program

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ABIP will support 15 networks

Working on: • Crop-based platforms (4)• Animal product-based platform (1)• Health and wellness (5)• Bio-based materials including energy (4) and

composites (1)

With funding between $ 1M and $ 23M per network, a total over $100M, over the next three years.

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ABIP / FP7 "twinning" extended collaboration to the international level

• Principal Investigators / Network Leaders from each Program met in February to exchange information

• All projects identified at least one 'twinning' opportunity– Some one-on-one bilateral– Some multilateral (more than one partner)

• A small amount of funding in each program was earmarked for exchange of personnel, protocols or material between Canada and the European Commission (EC)

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We continue to develop and modify this model

• A further opportunity to exchange with the European Commission (EC) on food-related programs has been identified

• Officials from Canada and EC will meet in June in view of investigators’ meeting in the fall

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Development of innovative models of research delivery is ongoing

• Bringing together different resources, mandates and client bases to address complex issues– AAFC / NRC National Bioproducts Program

• Further clustering opportunities are being considered across the federal government with universities and the private sector– CRC / GCRC / CIGI in Winnipeg