ARCHIVED - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada - Supplementary Tables

Strategic Outcome:

1.0 People - Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada
2.0 Discovery - High quality Canadian-based competitive research in the natural sciences and engineering
3.0 Innovation - Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: All

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Grants and Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 1978

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on October 31, 2011)

Description: NSERC’s class grant Grants and Scholarships program supports university-based basic and project research, college-based project research, provides scholarships and fellowships to young researchers, and facilitates links between universities, colleges, the private sector, and governments.

Expected results:

• Enhanced research capacity resulting from a supply of highly qualified people with leading edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government, and universities;
• Enhanced discovery, innovation and training capabilities of university and college researchers in the natural sciences and engineering; and
• Strong linkages created between universities, colleges, industry and government supporting the transfer of knowledge and technology with economic and/or social benefits to Canadians.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada

Program Activity: 1.2 Support Students and Fellows

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 2003

End date: No end date

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master's or doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering. 

Expected results:

• Supports up to 5,000 Canada Graduate Scholarship holders each year, awarded to students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement; 2,500 at the Master's level and 2,500 at the Ph.D. level; plus the short-term addition of 2,500 additional scholarships over three years based on Budget 2009 investments;
• A significant incremental increase to the existing total funding commitment from the granting agencies for graduate studies and research training through various mechanisms.
• Increased enrolment in graduate studies in Canada;
• Improved time to completion of degrees for CGS scholarship holders, relative to national statistics for time to completion in their discipline;
• Enhanced capacity of Canadian universities to attract the best and brightest young people who will become the next generation of researchers;
• Highly qualified personnel, expert in research, available to pursue various knowledge-intensive careers within industry, academia, government and other sectors of the economy; and
• Improved branding of Canada as the home of research excellence and of Canadian universities as world-class research centres.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada

Program Activity: 1.2 Support Students and Fellows

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 2008

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on July 31, 2013)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program provides financial support to Canadian and International students who have achieved outstanding success in their studies and will pursue a doctoral program at a Canadian university in the areas of natural sciences and engineering. 

Expected results:

• Establishment of a Canadian doctoral scholarship that is internationally competitive and internationally recognized, similar to other international scholarships such as the Fulbright and Rhodes;
• Enhanced capacity of Canadian universities to attract the best and brightest students from Canada and the world with the potential to become leaders in the next generation of researchers in Canada;
• Attract to Canada top students from other countries who will bring with them new knowledge and ideas and enrich the Canadian learning environment;
• Retain Canada’s top doctoral students in the face of intense international competition for the brightest researchers;
• Promote and brand Canada as a home of research excellence and Canadian universities as world-class institutions of research and higher learning e.g. by improving their standing on the list of the 100 top universities internationally;
• Establish effective research collaborations and networks between Canada and the recipients’ home countries; and
• Create an alumni of “ambassadors” for Canada worldwide who will promote Canada as a destination for research excellence and higher learning.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 1.0 People − Highly skilled science and engineering professionals in Canada

Program Activity: 1.3 Attract and Retain Faculty

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada Excellence Research Chairs (voted)

Start date: 2008

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on July 31, 2013)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grants Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program to attract Canadian and international leaders who can positively contribute to our global competitiveness, future prosperity and well-being, as well as provide deeper understanding of the human dimension of technological change in the areas of natural sciences and engineering.

Expected results:

• Attract world-leading researchers to Canada;
• Create new research teams at Canadian universities in areas of priority for Canada; and
• Create training opportunities for students.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Innovation − Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: 3.2 Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Industrial R&D Internship Program (voted)

Start date: 2007

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire November 29, 2012)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Industrial R&D Internship (IRDI) Program provides financial support to eligible, non-for-profit organizations to match graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with private sector organizations for private sector research internships involving expertise in natural sciences and engineering. The interns work on research projects jointly developed by their private sector partner and academic supervisor. 

Expected results:

• New S&T solutions developed for business needs;
• Private sector exposure to S&T benefits;
• Strengthened linkages between businesses and universities;
• Increased private sector investment in S&T;
• New positions for S&T graduates; and
• S&T graduates exposed to real world business problems.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Innovation−Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: 3.2 Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)

Start date: 1997

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on September 19, 2013)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Networks of Centres of Excellence program to mobilize Canada's research talent in the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors and apply it to the task of developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians.

Expected results:

• Increased networking and collaboration among researchers from Canada and abroad;
• Leading edge research findings that are relevant to the needs of the user sector (e.g., private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations, and others) and Canada's socioeconomic development;
• Nation-wide, multidisciplinary and multisectoral research partnerships between universities and the user sector (e.g., private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations, and others); and
• Training that promotes multidisciplinary and multisectoral research approaches and encourages trainees to consider the economic, social, environmental and ethical implications of their work.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Innovation−Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: 3.2 Fund University-Industry-Government Partnerships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)

Start date: 2007

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on June 13, 2012)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program establishes networks conducting research in priority areas resulting in a long-term competitive advantage to consortia of Canadian firms, supported by networks of academics and government researchers in areas of natural sciences and engineering. This program is included within the class grants Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

Expected results:

• Increase private sector investment in R&D and advanced technologies;
• Provide high quality post-graduate and postdoctoral training in innovative applied research and increase the business skills and know-how of the young researchers;
• Strengthen public-private sector collaboration, including links between researchers and firms, to address significant research challenges that meet business needs; 
• Increase industry R&D capacity, including among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and receptivity to the results of R&D;
• Outline a clear path to market or business application for the proposed research;
• Seek commercialization benefits that position Canadian firms in high value segments of production chains;
• Create, grow and retain companies in Canada that are able to capture new markets with new innovations;
• Accelerate the commercialization of leading edge technologies, goods and services in priority areas where Canada can significantly advance its competitive advantage; and
• Strengthen domestic collaboration that ensures that benefits spill over to a wide array of firms, sectors and regions of the country.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Innovation −Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: 3.3 Support Commercialization

Name of Transfer Payment Program: College and Community Innovation Program (voted)

Start date: 2007

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire November 29, 2012)

Description: NSERC's portion of the tri-agency class grant College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program increases innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in areas of natural sciences and engineering. It supports applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies, in areas of strategic importance to Canada.

Expected results:

• New technologies and processes are adopted by local industries and other organizations;
• Existing technologies and processes are adapted by local industries and other organizations;
• College students acquire applied research knowledge and experience;
• Teaching activities of college faculty are enhanced including new courses and improved course content;
• Increased R&D investment by local industries and other organizations;
• Increased applied research collaborations between colleges, local industries and other organizations;
• Increased awareness of local industry of the capacity of the colleges to assist with applied research projects; and
• Increased involvement of faculty in applied research.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategic Outcome: 3.0 Innovation − Knowledge and skills in the natural sciences and engineering are transferred to and used productively by the user sector in Canada

Program Activity: 3.3 Support Commercialization

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (voted)

Start date: 2007

End date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire on June 29, 2012)

Description: NSERC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program supports the operation of commercialization and/or research Centres that bring together people, services, and infrastructure to maximize the benefits of the government’s investments in skills and research and to encourage greater private sector investment in science and technology, in areas of natural sciences and engineering.

Expected results:

• Create sufficient scale and focus to position Canada at the forefront of international research breakthroughs that will yield economic, social or environmental benefits to Canadians;
• Draw on existing research strength, infrastructure, networks and funding sources to enhance capacity;
• Attract top research talent (including postgraduate and postdoctoral students) from around the world;
• Provide high quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training in innovative and internationally competitive research;
• Open up new opportunities for Canadian researchers and firms to access world-class research equipment, facilities and networks;
• Develop relationships with major international centres and research programs;
• Create, grow and retain companies in Canada that are able to capture new markets with breakthrough innovations;
• Accelerate the commercialization of leading edge technologies, goods and services in priority areas where Canada can significantly advance its competitive advantage;
• Draw on existing commercialization strength, infrastructure, networks and funding sources to enhance capacity;
• Attract investment (including foreign direct investment and venture capital);
• Attract and retain top talent (including internationally recognized business leaders);
• Strengthen domestic collaboration to address significant research challenges and ensure that benefits spill over to a wide array of firms, sectors and regions of the country; and
• Brand Canada as the host of internationally recognized centres of excellence in commercialization of research results.

Summary of the 3 Year Plan: NSERC Three Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

Strategies / Comments

NSERC incorporates environmental performance considerations in procurement decision-making processes. For example, NSERC:

• Reuses functional office supplies that are left behind when offices are vacated;
• Integrates a recovery program for used batteries;
• Adheres to the toner cartridge recycling program;
• Effectively uses computers and technology to reduce paper consumption;
• Uses environmentally friendly products, such as vegetable based inks and paper containing recycled fibres; and
• For assets that cannot be reused or recycled, NSERC uses environmentally friendly disposal mechanisms and approved companies in the provincial recycling program.