Funding Policies Threaten Excellence

• Published in: CAUT Bulletin 2005-06, Vol.52 (6), p.A3
• Main Author: Siminovitch, Lou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Competition; Federal government; Fiscal policy; Government (Administrative Body); Innovation; National Programs; Policy implementation; Research and Development; Resource Allocation; Scientific method; Scientists
• ISSN: 0834-9614

IN spite of resources that are relatively modest for a G8 country, Canadians have made and continue to make more than their share of contributions to the world's science literature. They've made a difference. It is encouraging, therefore, that over the last five to 10 years, the Canadian government has increasingly understood the importance of investment in innovation and in research and development to our country's future economic health. The government has shown its commitment by seriously escalating funding and development of new programs. The new funds have had a significant impact on Canada's science environment, attracting world-class scientists from around the globe, including from the United States. Let me explain "co-funding." It's a process in which a funding agency provides only a fraction of the cost of the project. The scientists must then find the other funds from alternative sources. This has the effect of "extending" the apparent funding of the agency, but it doubles the work for the researcher. In some circumstances, it can work well (in, say, industrial partnerships) but it also means that the ultimate decision to fund is based on whether the scientist has secured the co-funding, rather than on the project's scientific merit There's much virtue in policies that promote such initiatives, but where they've become the sine qua non for success in funding, excellence is not well served. We all understand innovation will fuel future industrial competitiveness, but it's less well understood that the nidus of innovation is best catalyzed by allowing scientists to dream. Emphasis on strategic objectives, partnering, and due diligence won't do the trick.