R-D Collaboratory 2016-03-23

• The budget provides new funding for the granting councils, who have seen their budgets decline over the past few years. On top of the combined $46 million they were previously receiving, Budget 2016 provides an additional $95 million/year, with the CIHR and NSERC each receiving $30m and SSHRC receiving $16m (the leftover $19 is for indirect costs). As 
• Alex Usher pointed out in his helpful analysis, these commitments aren’t being tied to specific initiatives or applied research, which is a deviation from previous years. However, the budget states that the Minister of Science will conduct a review to, among other things, “examine the rationale for current targeting of granting councils’ funding.”
• $2 billion over three years for  a Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, “a time-limited initiative that will support up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs of infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions and affiliated research and commercialization organizations.” The budget lists the establishment of accelerators and incubators as examples.
• $800 million over four years to support innovation networks and clusters designed to increase collaboration and promote innovation.
• $19 million for indirect costs borne by postsecondary institutions undertaking federally sponsored research.
• $73 million over four years for co-op placements between employers and work-integrated learning opportunities, through the Post-Secondary Industry Partnership and Cooperative Placement Initiative.
• Word is that this is going to be through tax-credits to businesses.
• They specify that “further development of support for co-op placements will be integrated in the Government’s commitment to advance an Innovation Agenda.”
• And that commitment to develop an Innovation Agenda is key. Plans for the Innovation Agenda are outlined in chapter two of the budget. Some of the investments listed above can be thought of as “down payments” while an innovation strategy is being developed.
• Broader analyses, here are some links:
• Toronto Star: Winners and losers of the 2016 federal budget
• The Globe: Inside Trudeau’s budget: read the highlights
• Vice Canada: Ten you missed in the federal budget, which you didn’t read anyways