1. A Unique 3-Way Partnership
The College and Community Innovation - Pilot Program
Janet Walden, Vice-President, NSERC
Terry Anne Boyles, Vice-President, ACCC
Jeff Brownlee, Director of Communications, CME

2. What is NSERC?
The national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada’s capability in science and technology
Canada’s largest university research funding body
Invests over $700M p.a. in academic research
Funding based upon excellence and peer review
NSERC has impact
it is the largest single funder of university research in the natural sciences and engineering
funding 16% of the $2.9B in R&D carried out by Canadian universities in 2001.

3. Science and Engineering Research Canada discovery innovation people
Prosperity and high quality of life for Canadians
Vision and
Mission
Science and Engineering Research Canada
We invest in:
discovery
innovation
EXCELLENCE
Competitive research in science and engineering, providing access to new knowledge from around the world
Productive use of new knowledge in all sectors of the economy and society
people
Highly skilled, well educated and capable of lifelong learning
NSERC:
invests in people, discovery, and innovation to build a strong Canadian economy and to improve the quality of life of all Canadians.
supports research in universities and colleges, research training of scientists and engineers, and research-based innovation.
has influence -- three main thrusts of NSERC:
Discovery Grants (Discovery):
research grants to more than 9,600 university professors, and growing (101 new this year)
average grant of $30,000 per year
Training (People):
15,600 students supported through individual scholarships and fellowships and by professors from research grants and projects, and growing because of the new Canada Graduate Scholarships program (NSERC’s share is 30% of the 2000 Master’s and 2000 doctoral students (or 600 new of each). CGS is $270M over four years.
Research Partnerships (Innovation):
817 partners (687companies) partner in 689 research projects. Company contributions average $1.84 for each $1 from NSERC.
This is where we encourage industry to invest and what I will focus on.
Our goal is Canadian excellence in:
WORKING IN ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and some university faculty
USING NEW KNOWLEDGE
Partnerships of universities with industry and other sectors for project research
CREATING KNOWLEDGE
Research Grants for basic research in the universities
We do this through peer-reviewed competitions in three programs
NSERC also works towards its goals by exerting INFLUENCE beyond our program reach

4. NSERC Vision: The new actions
People: help to improve science and math education (pilot)
Discovery: develop and validate a national framework for “Big Science” and support regional capacity building in research (pilot)
Innovation: support community colleges, build innovation at the community level (pilot)
A central aspect to the new NSERC vision includes:
reaching out across the country to meet important needs in research, in innovation and in the education of highly qualified personnel that have been brought to our attention.
These needs are different in different parts of Canada.
To do a good job in meeting them, we will
develop a local presence in the regions of Canada - We will open five regional offices across the country to strengthen our interactions with the community
we have already announced our Prairie location, Winnipeg, and that we are searching for a location in the Atlantic
We expect to launch the first offices in 2004.
The second element in NSERC’s vision relates to improving the quality of science and math education in Canadian schools.
We are looking at ways to partner with others who share our concern that our youth require strong science literacy and numeracy skills in the modern economy. Together with partners, we believe that we can help in developing and improving the skills of science and math teachers and the resources available to them.
Canada has no policy or consistent process for making decisions on “Big Science” projects, but such a policy and process are badly needed in light of the large number of competing worthy proposals
As a third element in our strategy, NSERC is working with the NRC to develop a framework for assessing and ranking “Big Science” proposals that include networks and field research, as well as the more traditional stationary facilities.
The fourth element in the NSERC strategy relates to the need for regional capacity building.
Through numerous visits to universities in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies, NSERC has been made aware of the particular needs of regional and smaller institutions across the country
We will develop a program, starting with a pilot, to remove institutional barriers to research productivity and assist these researchers in becoming more competitive in our regular programs.
The final element of our new vision is about extending our reach to communities through the support of innovation in community colleges.
Community colleges are a valuable knowledge resource in hundreds of communities across Canada. Working with the colleges, we are designing a pilot program to enable the colleges to play a bigger role in supporting innovation at the community level.
The initiatives at the program and organizational level that I have briefly described are examples of how NSERC is evolving in this era of change.

5. NSERC Vision: The new actions
To be effective in doing these new things...
develop a regional presence across Canada
strive for public recognition by doing business under a new label
Why “Pilot”?
need to prove the approach AND no new $ yet

6. Research Partnerships Program’s Goal...
Universities (Colleges as co-applicants)
Colleges and Universities
NSERC
NSERC
Government
Industry
Government
Industry
People and ideas
People and ideas
Build on NSERC’s primary role in support of excellent research and training
Maximize the benefits to Canada and Canadians of results of university-based research
Link university researchers with the public and private sectors through collaborative research projects
Expose students to challenges and opportunities in industry & government (encourage retention)
Promote innovation through flexible and responsive programming (one size does not fit all) and special initiatives
Budget: $129.41M in (~20% of the NSERC budget)
Historically
Today
To stimulate and build research relationships with potential economic and / or social benefits for Canada

7. NSERC Partnerships  a flexible continuum
CCIP
IPM
I2I (2)
I2I (1)
CRDs
Innovation Projects
Strategic Projects
Research Networks
Collaborative R&D Grants
Research Partnership Agreements
Building Critical Mass
Chairs
Technology Transfer
Idea to Innovation
Intellectual Property Management & Networked Training
College & Community Innovation Pilot
RPAs
RNs
Chairs IRCs
Research  Development
Innovation Projects
Strategic Projects (early stage research in targeted areas)
Research Networks (research clusters)
Collaborative R&D Grants (joint university-industry projects)
Research Partnership Agreements (link universities, industry and government labs)
Building Critical Mass
Chairs (flexible people support in areas of relevance to industry)
Technology Transfer
Idea to Innovation (pre-commercial concept/technology development)
Intellectual Property Management & Networked Training (infrastructure & training for tech transfer)
College & Community Innovation Pilot (innovation at the community level)
There are a number of opportunities at NSERC.
SPP
Industry Participation 

8. NSERC and The Colleges Innovation Strategy
need to increase R&D performance & training across all sectors
2002 NSERC Management visit colleges across Canada -- finding:
Not research as NSERC knows it, BUT… a vibrant range of innovation activity contributing significantly to local & regional economic development
ACCC and NSERC initiate college pilot program
Key Findings:
the advanced education of students;
addressing the technical needs and opportunities of local and regional industry; and
building extremely productive links to university and government research

9. NSERC and ACCC ACCC facilitated NSERC college visits
ACCC Task Group on Applied Research and the Innovation Agenda ( )
ACCC survey on R&D activity in colleges
ACCC & NSERC form Advisory Committee
to help develop the College and Community Innovation Pilot Program
ACCC encourages colleges to apply for eligibility to administer NSERC grants

10. A unique 3-way partnership
ACCC
College needs, opportunities and linkages
NSERC
Peer review, excellence and funding
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Program promotion
Commitment to work with colleges

11. College and Community Innovation Pilot Program
Objective:
To increase the capacity of colleges to support innovation at the community and/or regional level
Pilot:
To prove the feasibility of the approach using existing NSERC funds

12. Anticipated Impacts
Colleges working with local businesses and industries
Students trained in innovation activities
Local companies adopting new technologies, launch new and improved products and processes

13. College Eligibility Requirements
College faculty engage in innovation activities related to the natural sciences and engineering
Institutions provide facilities and absorb the indirect costs of research
Institutions understand their role and responsibilities in managing federal grants
Institutions have appropriate policies in place
research ethics and integrity

14. Funding Available $3.6M over three years
Up to six awards of $100,000/year for three years
for activities supporting innovation in an area where the college has recognized expertise that meets community needs
Opportunity to leverage funding from partners in
year two (up to an additional $100,000 from NSERC) and
year three (up to an additional $200,000 from NSERC)
Emphasis on bullet number 3 that funds may be matched by partners!!

15. Request for Proposals Deadline: May 28
Peer Review Committee: July – August
Results announced: by August 30
Funding starts: by end of September

16. Proposals Be concise Must describe:
proposed activities and how they relate to college’s strategic plan
involvement of local companies
impact on local community
incentive-driven budget requirements
performance measures (tailored)

17. Activities Supported
Flexible guidelines accommodate a variety of activities and needs
Examples:
Teaching release time for faculty
Supporting student involvement
Outreach to companies in the community
Prototype development & technology evaluation

18. Selection Criteria
Potential to contribute to local and/or regional innovation
Quality of the proposal
Demonstrated need for resources
Pilot
a learning experience, therefore…will support excellence and reflect the diversity of the college community

19. More Information NSERC Web site www.nserc.ca for complete description
application instructions
Contact NSERC
Anne Alper
Tel. (613)

20. Thank you