Strategy for PartnershipsAnd Innovation

NSERC’s Research Partnerships Programs NSERC’s Research Partnerships Programs Trends and Strategy for Partnerships and Trends and Strategy for Partnerships and InnovationInnovation

Presentation for Western Universities’ Vice Presentation for Western Universities’ Vice Presidents’ Conference Presidents’ Conference

Guy Levesque; Manager, NSERC- Prairies Rick Warner; Manager, NSERC-PacificFriday March 5th, 2010Victoria , BC

NSERC Vision and MissionNSERC Vision and Mission

VISIONNSERC will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians.

MISSIONNSERC will achieve this by investing in people, discovery and innovation through programs that support post-secondary research in the natural sciences and engineering on the basis of national competitions.

NSERC’s Five GoalsNSERC’s Five Goals

1. Fuel the advancement of knowledge in science and engineering and ensure that Canadian scientists and engineers can be leaders and key players in a global knowledge community.

2. Connect and apply the strength of the academic research system to addressing the opportunities and challenges of prosperity for Canada.

3. Inspire new generations of students to pursue careers in science and engineering, and provide them with the means to develop their full potential.

4. Demonstrate NSERC’s accountability and how the results of its investments in Canadian research and training benefit Canadians.

5. Increase the visibility of Canadian research.

People AdvantageAttract, retain and grow base of knowledge workers.

Entrepreneurial AdvantageTranslate knowledge into wealth, wellness and well-being

Knowledge AdvantageBuild on research strengths, generate new ideas

Alignment with the S&T Strategy Advantages

NSERC

1,400 company partners

26,500 students

12,000 professors

NSERC’s Budget(millions of dollars)

588651

732803

859 895

1,013 1,030 1,053 1,051

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2001-02 2004-05 2007-08 2010-11

Fiscal Year

(mill

ions

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dolla

rs)

NSERC Funding on the Prairies

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

($0

00

’s)

NSERC Funding on the Prairies

($00

0’s

)

0

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10,000

15,000

20,000

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98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Saskatchewan

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40,000

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98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Alberta

($00

0’s

)

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20,000

25,000

98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Manitoba

($00

0’s

)

NSERC Funding in British Columbia

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

($0

00

’s)

NSERC Budget 2005-06(millions of dollars)

Innovation$165M - 19.1%

Administration$41M - 4.7% People

$272M - 31.4%

Discovery$387M - 44.7%

Total : $865

NSERC Budget 2009-10(millions of dollars)

Total : $1,054

Business Spending on R&D is Low

Innovation and Business Strategy: Why Canada Falls Short, CCA, April 2009

University R&D is Canada’s Advantage

State of the Nation 2008, Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation System, Science, Technology and Innovation Council, 2009

NSERC Context• 20,000 companies file SR&ED claims:

NSERC currently partners with:• 65 of top 100• perhaps 7% (1400) of all R&D companies• 2% of small companies (70% are unaware of

NSERC)

• Universities provide: Disruptive innovation, students, publish or perish

• Most SMEs want: Incremental innovation, projects in weeks, secrecy

Performance Measures

All Companies by Sectors and Size As of October 1, 20092004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total Companies 989 1013 1065 1184 1257Total Companies excluding Strategic

782 808 861 917 971

Total Companies for Strategic Only

362 357 376 463 496

Total of New Companies (first time participation)

231 217 249 301 261

Leveraging Gov’t Investments: New Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation

Goal: Better connect and apply post secondary research to create prosperity for Canada

4 Point Solutions-oriented Action Plan:• Build relationships: Help researchers and companies collaborate• Streamline access: Program changes and initiatives to increase

the relevance of university and college research to industry innovation

• Connect people and skills: Incent innovating companies to hire people with advanced degrees

• Focus on national priorities: Build depth on the basis of technical area, industry, and/or region by focusing resources

Regional offices working with companies. Pilots with current resources.

Innovation (Entrepreneurship) …1 of 2

Two types of input: 1. From companies that see value in university-industry

partnerships we heard: Intellectual property is a major challenge Projects need to be more targeted Professors’ research does not align with our needs

NSERC has introduced:• A more liberal IP policy • Support for project management for partnered grants• Support for market studies for researchers

Innovation (Entrepreneurship) … 2 of 22. From Companies that want to explore university industry

partnerships we heard:

• NSERC who?

• Need help in identifying potential university/industry partners

• Building trust takes time and effort

• Identifying and getting funding is complex and difficult NSERC has:

• Launched an eBulletin about partnerships and NSERC

• Provided supports for early costs for researchers to make connections with companies (Interaction, ROF and SWP)

• Provided for support first time collaborations between companies and professors (Engage)

Issues with Actions over five years

1 2 3 4 5

People & Skills IRDF w/ IRAP

Post-ProjectHiring Promoscience+ Business

Skills

Relationshipbuilder

CapabilityProjects

InteractioncostsBuilding

Relationships

eBulletin Speed Dating

Staff Exchanges

(I)Concierge BIZPAL-i

Structural

Tech. Int’nCentres

EquipmentAccess SBIR

Tech. AccessCentres

Problem Posting

IPSME

LeverageProject Mgmt.

Costs

Market Studies

I2I+

Year

Vouchers

IRMFFocus on Priorities

Strategic Priorities

Note: Actions will be integrated with existing NSERC activities;

many into existing programs

What could the Strategy mean?

• By fiscal year 2014-2015: Industry invests an additional $250M/year (cash) in university

collaborations, leveraging support from NSERC Increase NSERC’s industry participation rate from 7% to 15% 1,400+ additional companies involved with colleges &

universities (yearly) The successful Collaborative Research & Development program

more than doubles• This will substantially improve Canada innovation

success: More successful company innovations More capable work force Stronger collaborations with post-secondary researchers

Interaction & Engage Grant ProgramsPurpose & GoalsHow to contribute even more to make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of Canadians

20,000 R&D active companies,

majority <50 employees with lower R&D capacity Only 2% active with NSERC-RPP

Huge potential for improvement creation of more partnerships, foster more innovation, create more wealth and well being through applications.

Interaction & Engage Grant ProgramsPurpose & Goals

Interaction and Engage grants…

fast and easy access: 3 and 4 to 6 weeks, two stage, two complementary purposes, no peer review, simplified application process, no industrial cash, IP belongs to the company No prior collaboration

Interaction & Engage Grant ProgramsPurpose & Goals

Interaction and Engage grants…

encourage new partners to collaborate Give a chance to get to know each other, Identify a company specific challenge, Explore a strategy to jointly solve it, Tryout a short collaboration, See what value was created, Decide whether to continue or not,

…in any possible way.

Interaction Grant

Timeline: maximum 3 months (extendable?)

Deliverable Up to $5,000 from the ROF, To cover for travel, accommodation and venue, For the applicant, UILO and/or company staff if justified.

Objective Allow academic researchers to meet with potential

industrial partners to discuss and identify a challenge specific to the company, that could be addressed by a subsequent R&D partnership.

Engage GrantTimeline: maximum 6 months

Deliverable Up to $25,000 from Ottawa, Direct cost of research,

HQP, User fees, equipment, consumable, publication, field travel,…

Objective Allow academic researchers to do the necessary

research to address the identified company specific problem.

Try out – see if it works – consider the value/pertinence of subsequent collaboration

Initial Launch - Allocation

Interaction is not a prerequisite for Engage

Interaction can lead directly to another partnership

Interaction Engage

2009/10 Budget

73 @ $5K

$365,000

73 @ $25K

$1,825,000

Pacific and Prairies

22 @ $5K

$110,000

22 @ $25K

$550,000

EG Applications by Region {FY 2009-10}

27%

9%

48%

9%7%

BC

PRA

ON

QC

ATL

EG Applications by Company Size {FY 2009-10}

80%

11%

9%

Small

Medium

Large

EG Applications by University Size {FY 2009-10}

23%

25%

52%

S

M

L

Regional Opportunities Fund and Strategic Workshops Program

• ROF - Funding requests for small to medium-size events and activities range from $1,000 to $5,000.

• SWP - Funding requests up to $25,000 to hold workshops to build collaborative networks.

• Both provide opportunities for relationship building and research collaboration between industrial and post-secondary communities;

• Promote participation in NSERC’s Research Partnership Programs

Contact

Rick Warnerrick.warner@nserc-crsng.gc.ca604-666-8811

NSERC-PacificManager

Guy Levesqueguy.levesque@nserc-crsng.gc.ca 204-984-6300

NSERC-PrairiesManager

Discussion

Questions?

Thank You!