Transcript Document

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 5th, 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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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.
Connect and apply the strength of the academic research system to
addressing the opportunities and challenges of prosperity for
Canada.
Inspire new generations of students to pursue careers in science
and engineering, and provide them with the means to develop their
full potential.
Demonstrate NSERC’s accountability and how the results of its
investments in Canadian research and training benefit Canadians.
Increase the visibility of Canadian research.
Alignment with the
S&T Strategy Advantages
Entrepreneurial Advantage
Translate knowledge into wealth,
wellness and well-being
Knowledge Advantage
Build on research strengths,
generate new ideas
NSERC
1,400 company partners
26,500 students
12,000 professors
People Advantage
Attract, retain and grow base
of knowledge workers.
NSERC’s Budget
(millions of dollars)
(millions of dollars)
1,200
1,053 1,051
1,013 1,030
1,000
732
800
600
588
803
859
895
651
400
200
0
2001-02
2004-05
Fiscal Year
2007-08
2010-11
NSERC Funding on the Prairies
160,000
140,000
($000’s)
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
NSERC Funding on the Prairies
Alberta
Saskatchewan
40,000
80,000
35,000
70,000
30,000
($000’s)
60,000
50,000
40,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
10,000
5,000
0
0
98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
Manitoba
25,000
20,000
($000’s)
($000’s)
90,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
NSERC Funding in British Columbia
140,000
120,000
($000’s)
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
NSERC Budget 2005-06
(millions of dollars)
Administration
$41M - 4.7%
Innovation
$165M - 19.1%
People
$272M - 31.4%
Discovery
$387M - 44.7%
Total : $865
NSERC Budget 2009-10
(millions of dollars)
Administratio
n
$48.6 - 5%
Innovation
$300.2 - 28%
People
$302.6 - 29%
Discovery
$ 402.6 38%
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, 2009
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total Companies
989 1013 1065 1184 1257
Total Companies
782 808 861 917 971
excluding Strategic
Total Companies
362 357 376 463 496
for Strategic Only
Total of New Companies
231 217 249 301 261
(first time participation)
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
Speed
eBulletin
Dating
Interaction
Problem
Building
costs
Posting
Relationships
Capability
Projects
Relationship
builder
Tech. Access
Centres
Structural
Equipment
IP
Access
Project Mgmt. Tech. Int’n
Costs
Centres
(I)Concierge
Staff
Exchanges
I2I+
SME
Leverage
IRDF w/ IRAP
Note: Actions will be integrated
with existing NSERC activities;
many into existing programs
Promoscience+
Business
Skills
3
4
IRMF
Strategic
Priorities
Focus on
Priorities
Year
Post-Project
Hiring
1
2
SBIR
Vouchers
Market Studies
People &
Skills
BIZPAL-i
5
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 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
2009/10
Budget
Pacific and
Prairies
Interaction
73 @ $5K
$365,000
Engage
73 @ $25K
$1,825,000
22 @ $5K
$110,000
22 @ $25K
$550,000
Interaction is not a prerequisite for Engage
Interaction can lead directly to another partnership
EG Applications by Region {FY 2009-10}
7%
9%
27%
9%
48%
BC
PRA
ON
QC
ATL
EG Applications by Company Size
{FY 2009-10}
9%
11%
Small
Medium
Large
80%
EG Applications by University Size
{FY 2009-10}
23%
S
M
52%
L
25%
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
Guy Levesque
[email protected] [email protected]
604-666-8811
204-984-6300
NSERC-Pacific
Manager
NSERC-Prairies
Manager
Discussion
Questions?
Thank You!