Report Breaks Ground in Understanding Atlantic Canadian R&D

The Atlantic Canadian research and development (R&D) environment is dominated by its universities -- a stark contrast to the rest of Canada where business enterprise plays a much larger role. This is one of the main findings of R&D Funding in Atlantic Universities, a report released today, Nov. 29, by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC).

The report examines trends in R&D funding since the commission's first analysis, released in 2000.

"Atlantic universities have kept pace with funding at the national level, investing more than $100 per capita in R&D," said Léandre Desjardins, acting chief executive officer of the commission. "At the same time, however, funding from the region's business sector lags far behind the national level. In fact, on a per capita basis, Atlantic businesses invested just 16 per cent of the national amount."

Investment from the business sector is an essential component of federal research-funding programs. Therefore, the gap in funding from this sector is important.

In the federal R&D vision, universities and businesses are expected to play complementary roles, acting as catalysts for economic growth through R&D. Several new funding initiatives require universities to obtain matching funding before they can receive federal money. In Atlantic Canada, however, universities do not have the level of partnering support found elsewhere in the country.

"The intuition that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work is evident throughout the report," said Sam Scully, vice-chair of the commission. Dr. Scully is also chair of the Association of Atlantic Universities-MPHEC advisory committee on information and analysis -- the committee that oversaw the development of the report.

"This region is dominated by primarily undergraduate universities and a business sector comprised mainly of small-to-medium size enterprises. Our governments are also cash-strapped, with limited, though increased, funds set aside for university R&D. As such, a national approach relying on substantial investment from various sectors just cannot be used to cultivate R&D in this region," said Dr. Scully.

The report indicates that universities, businesses, and governments must come together to develop region-specific objectives for R&D and determine how each sector can best support these objectives. The report also states that it is important to consider how the objectives might impact other university functions, given the heavy reliance on universities for R&D.

"Increased R&D activity and focus comes at a price," cautions Dr. Desjardins. "In order to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs, it is crucial that any discussion of the future of R&D in the post-secondary setting include consideration of how universities can maintain an effective balance of their core functions, particularly the balance between teaching and research."

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission was established in 1974 to assist institutions and governments in enhancing the post-secondary learning environment. The commission's 19 members are from the Maritime provinces and represent higher education institutions, provincial governments and the general public.