Strategy for Partnerships And Innovation

NSERC’s Research Partnerships Programs Trends and Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation Presentation for Western Universities’ Vice Presidents’ Conference Guy Levesque; Manager, NSERC- Prairies Rick Warner; Manager, NSERC-Pacific Friday March 5 th, 2010 Victoria, BC

NSERC Vision and Mission VISION NSERC will help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. MISSION NSERC 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 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 Advantage Attract, retain and grow base of knowledge workers. Entrepreneurial Advantage Translate knowledge into wealth, wellness and well-being Knowledge Advantage Build 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)

NSERC Funding on the Prairies ($000’s)

NSERC Funding on the Prairies ($000’s) Saskatchewan Alberta ($000’s) Manitoba ($000’s)

NSERC Funding in British Columbia ($000’s)

NSERC Budget (millions of dollars) Total : $865

NSERC Budget (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

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 2 2.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 People & Skills IRDF w/ IRAP Post-Project Hiring Promoscience+ Business Skills Relationship builder Capability Projects Interaction costs Building Relationships eBulletin Speed Dating Staff Exchanges (I)Concierge BIZPAL-i Structural Tech. Int’n Centres Equipment Access SBIR Tech. Access Centres Problem Posting IP SME Leverage Project Mgmt. Costs Market Studies I2I+ Year Vouchers IRMF Focus 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 :  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 Programs Purpose & Goals How 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 Programs Purpose & 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 Programs Purpose & 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 Grant Timeline: 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 InteractionEngage 2009/10 Budget $5K $365,000 $25K $1,825,000 Pacific and Prairies $5K $110,000 $25K $550,000

EG Applications by Region {FY }

EG Applications by Company Size {FY }

EG Applications by University Size {FY }

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 Warner NSERC-Pacific Manager Guy Levesque NSERC-Prairies Manager

Discussion Questions? Thank You!